Microbial Fuel Cells
An Organic Way of Energy
INNOVATORS
EMEFCY
Emefcy develops energy efficient wastewater treatment technologies for municipal and industrial plants. Emefcy energy efficient systems are cost competitive relative to conventional alternatives with respect to both capital and operating expenses. The Spiral Aerobic Biofilm Reactor (SABRE) is a self respiring, prefabricated modular unit for biological wastewater treatment. It reduces energy consumption as well as sludge production, relative to conventional aerobic processes. The Electrogenic Bioreactor (EBR) uses electricity generating bacteria to treat wastewater, and produces green electricity as a byproduct. (1)
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
UWM researchers have identified a catalyst that provides the same level of efficiency in MFCs as the currently used more expensive platinum catalyst, but at a fraction of the cost. On the anode electrode of an MFC, colonies of bacteria feed on organic matter, releasing electrons that create a current as they break down the waste. (2)
LEBONE SOLUTIONS
Lebônê Solutions, a startup based in Cambridge, MA, aims to use microbial fuel cells to provide power to Africans who are off the grid. In some parts of Africa, a small amount of energy is enough for a few hours of lamp light in the evening, or for powering the ubiquitous cell phones–something that some residents will walk five hours to a generator to do, says Aviva Presser, a cofounder of Lebônê. The company is made up largely of Harvard University alumni and current Harvard students originally from African countries. (3) In 2007 four African undergraduate students met in the How to Create Things & Have Them Matter Course @ Harvard University taught by David Edwards. Their idea challenge? Light the 2012 London Olympics. Their response? Light Africa using an invention that has become known as Dirt Power. (4)
CAMBRIAN INNOVATION
With our water solutions, Cambrian’s core goal is to create distributed, renewable micro-utilities that extract valuable resources like clean energy and clean water for the food & beverage industry. These micro-utilities leverage our award-winning EcoVolt product suite. They can be operated as a service through our pioneering Water Energy Purchase Agreement (WEPA). Cambrian Innovation products include Ecovolt Retractor, Ecovolt Mini, and Ecovolt MBR. (5)
