Will "Dirt Energy" Power the Future of Africa? A 'Galaxy' Exclusive

Ironically, dirt might be the new clean. What started as a simple student design to light up a display at the London , “dirt energy” will soon be powering 10 households in Tanzania. If the pilot program succeeds, dirt energy tech will be distributed across the country. A team from Harvard led by Hugo Van Vuuren was among the winners of the recent World Bank’s Lighting Africa 2008 Development Competition. They are developing a series of dirt-based fuel cells that are capable of lighting high efficiency LED lamps. Their goal is simple: Light up Africa. But eventually this “dirty” technology could help clean up the whole world.

“The technology will be practical for the developed world in the not too distant future,” Van Vuuren tells The Daily Galaxy. “It is already being considered as a energy solution for remote sensors, deep sea devices, and of course renewable outdoor lighting. We are looking specifically at Africa because given the technology's current stage, we believe it is best suited for emerging world energy demands and economies.”

Dirt based microbial fuel cells can power electricity conducting polymers, or PLEDs. Microbial fuel cells (developed originally by Peter Girguis) tap the energy that microbes generate as they break down organic matter. All you have to do is dig a hole in the ground, then fill it with animal and plant waste. An anode and a cathode are then linked to a circuit board and presto; you’ve got power. Once all of the components are put into a solid container the owner has his or her own soil-based power generator.

Van Vuuren, alongside fellow Africans Sephen Lwendo, David Sengeh, together with Alexander Fabry, Zoë Sachs-Arellano and Aviva Presser have founded an organization called Lebônê. They are determined to bring affordable and accessible energy to poor African nations. Most of Africa does not currently have an affordable, non-toxic light source. Many must rely on kerosene lamps or candles, which are not safe to use in small, unventilated houses. Lebônê plans to fix all that.

While this technology could feasibly become widespread in Africa in the not too distant future, it is not expected to become mainstream in developed nations for awhile longer. Currently, the amount of power generated from an MFC relates directly to its size. You need about one cubic meter of organic matter to power one LED light. The multi-roomed dwellings of developed nations would require far too much energy to make this technology practical at the moment.

However, the technology is very feasible in areas where a little light can go a long way—like in a small African hut. The technology is almost zero-maintenance, and even someone with little technical knowledge can assemble the components. Who would have thought that a little human ingenuity and some dirt could help power the future? Discoveries like this continue to fuel hope for a better future for Africans. Eventually, however, the technology will be refined to where it can serve as a viable alternative energy source all over the globe.

Posted by Rebecca Sato.

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Sources:

http://www.lebone.org/
http://lightingafrica.org/
http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/TOPICS/EXTENERGY2/0,,menuPK:4114636~pagePK:149018~piPK:149093~theSitePK:4114200,00.html

Comments

[Dennis]

Sigh. Biofuels all over again. You take a resource that is necessary for A, then suddenly create a huge demand for it at B, and act surprised when A suffers from shortages.

[RJ]

Not really Dennis, because biofuels (at least the ones we use now) don't make sense. They require nearly as much energy and resources to produce as they provide. This technology, on the other hand, only requires dirt and trash. That's a HUGE difference. It doesn't take a lot of time and money to come up with dirt and trash.

[Dennis]

Granted all that, it still doesn't cure the basic problem. You've got a field full of good rich loam, excellent for growing food, and coincidentally excellent as an energy source now. While it's easy and quick to load your hopper to 'burn' the soil, it takes a long time to regenerate new good growing soil.
There's already a growing shortage of good crop-producing land, and this will jus make it worse. Think forests in Britain, rain-forests in central America, etc.