Science View

The Leading Edge: Electricity from Microbes! The Frontlines of Research on Electricity-Generating Bacteria (2018x5)

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Attention has recently been focused on a new energy resource: electricity-generating bacteria. These microbes take in organic matter as food, then release electrons as they break it down, and they are expected to have a big impact on renewable energy in Japan. One of the research sites using these bacteria is a rice paddy, where the amount of electricity generated per square meter is about enough electricity to power a clock or a portable music player. Research is also underway on incorporating these bacteria in microbial fuel cells, with great expectations for their use in wastewater treatment plants. Since the bacteria can produce electricity by consuming the organic matter in wastewater, the electricity generated can then help power pumps and other equipment, thereby reducing overall power consumption. This system can reduce the amount of electricity consumption by 80%.