Bacteria-Powered Fuel Cells Release 'Limitless' Hyrdogen

While the technology is still in its infancy, given time, researchers hope microbial fuel cells can become commercially viable.

A team of American scientists have developed a fuel cell powered by bacteria that producse a limitless supply of hydrogen, demonstrating the potential of the organisms as a potential fuel source. The so-called microbial fuel cells, or MFCs, use a naturally occurring bacteria that release and electrical current – electrons – and protons when they consume organic matter. Those protons and electrons then fuse together to make hyrdogen gas. When the bacteria are placed in a mixture of salt and fresh water, the hydrogen atoms release voltage as they move between the two kinds of water. That voltage, in turn, can be used to power just about anything. Unfortunately, the cost of producing this seemingly limitless supply of hydrogen gas are exorbitantly high, but the team hopes, just as with solar power, that over time the MFCs commercial viability will grow as the costs of making them go down.