Six Harvard students, four of whom are African, along with Harvard biology professor Peter Girguis, are about to step up to the “big league” in alternative energy development using the Micobial fuel cells (MFC’s) concept. The Harvard crew, creators of Lebone Solutions, have discovered a way to deliver low-cost energy using MFC’s that tap into the energy that soil microbes generate when they break down organic matter. Literally speaking, this process turns dirt into energy, with no special microbes or conditions needed other than enough moisture for insects to do their work.
The Harvard project received the Development Marketplace Award of almost $200,000 by the International Finance Corporation (IFC); the award announcement came during the Lighting Africa 2008 conference in Accra, Ghana earlier this month.
When asked what the draw backs would be, the Harvard crew stated that the cells would initially produce very low power. A cubic meter of organic matter will only generate enough energy to power one high-efficiency LED light. As for one of many positives, the underground cells will produce energy 24 hours a day for years and can easily be grouped together to generate 10 to 15 times more energy.
Production costs, estimated to be much cheaper than solar, will consist of anodes and cathodes that can be made of local materials. They will be able to work in any temperature as long as there is some kind of moisture and organic matter in the ground, and, are expected to work best when breaking down human or animal waste.
Testing and trial runs will take place over the next 18 months with hopes of production in three years. The cost is estimated at $10 per unit.