July 10, 2024

Sarah Nguyen 

11th Grade

Fountain Valley High School

Developed by a team of Northwestern University researchers, dirt-powered fuel cells use energy from microbes that live in dirt. The research for these cells was published on January 12, 2024, and was led by Northwestern Alumnus Bill Yen, a PH.D student at Stanford University. Yen began the project of dirt-powered fuel cells while he was an undergraduate at Northwestern.  

The development of dirt-powered fuel cells builds upon years of research into microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which utilize bacteria to generate electricity from organic compounds. They have been explored for various applications, including wastewater treatment and environmental monitoring. However, MFCs have high material and maintenance costs alongside low power outputs. They must be hydrated and receive oxygen to work undisturbed. “Although [they] have existed as a concept for more than a century, their unreliable performance and low output power have stymied efforts to make practical use of them, especially in low-moisture conditions”, Yen states. This is why the innovation by Northwestern researchers represents a significant advancement, as the components used to make their soil-based MFC are accessible and can be purchased at local hardware stores. Its design is what has allowed it to achieve success. 

The design of the soil-based MFC utilized a perpendicular design, contrasting its traditional parallel design. Furthermore, it is made of carbon felt, which is inexpensive and abundant. It features a hole on top, ensuring oxygen and airflow, and is nestled beneath the surface, allowing it to receive hydration. 

Additionally, the scalability of dirt-powered fuel cells makes them adaptable to various environments, from agricultural fields to urban landscapes. “Solar panels don't work well in dirty environments because they get covered with dirt, do not work when the sun isn’t out, and take up a lot of space. Batteries are also challenging because they run out of power”, states Yen. Now, imagine a system able to power sensor networks in agricultural fields or remote monitoring stations using nothing but the soil beneath our feet, that’s the dirt-powered fueled cell.