Carlo Charles is a 25-year-old inventor from Singapore developing rechargeable cellulose batteries made from agricultural waste as an alternative to lithium-ion storage.

Flint is developing a rechargeable battery made from agricultural waste and cellulose, without lithium, cobalt, nickel or other toxic materials. The company reports that the battery is fire-safe, composts within six weeks and produces up to 92 percent lower carbon emissions than a lithium-ion equivalent. The project asks whether energy storage designed for a lower-carbon economy can also reduce the extraction, toxicity and disposal problems associated with conventional batteries.

Carlo Charles founded Flint at 19 after growing up in the Philippines, where he saw typhoons damage communities and blackouts leave families without power. As founder and CEO, he leads technology development, sets the company’s direction, and speaks directly with customers about their experiences.