Catalina Lotero's Raiki: Harnessing Tree Electricity at Design Indaba

During the 25th edition of Design Indaba, Global Graduate Catalina Lotero unveiled Raiki, an innovative plant-based energy system that harnesses electricity from trees through the triboelectric effect, which involves static energy produced by leaves brushing against trunks. This initiative, crafted with a diverse team, aims to capture these minor electrical charges for off-grid power, potentially benefiting the one in eight people worldwide who lack electricity, primarily in rural regions. Lotero envisions trees as micro power stations integrated into daily environments, reflecting principles of biomimicry and regenerative design. She also raises ethical considerations regarding the balance between collaboration and manipulation in working with living organisms, envisioning a future where energy is collaboratively sourced from nature.