A spinout company from the University of Bath has developed bacterial-powered batteries, called ‘Bacteries,’ designed to help farmers make more data-driven and informed decisions in the field.
Bactery is a soil-rechargeable battery that captures energy from the biochemical reactions of microorganisms in the soil. Bactery’s technology is based on soil microbial fuel cells (SMFCs), which create power from the metabolic activity of tiny organisms living in the soil, typically bacteria known as ‘electrigens.’ These bacteria can generate electricity by releasing electrons as they consume and break down organic material in the soil. SMFCs capture these electrons and direct them through an external circuit, generating power for various agricultural applications, such as powering irrigation systems, monitoring soil conditions, and operating remote sensors.
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SMFCs can be stacked together and linked to a battery to store this generated energy.
The system was first developed by researchers from the University of Bath in 2019 and validated during field testing of a water filtration system in Northeast Brazil. Dr. Jakub Dziegielowski, CEO of Bactery, is now working on improving this technology by devising new methods for electricity generation adapted to the natural biological processes occurring in the ground.
The ultimate goal is to “leverage the unique Bactery technology to accelerate the shift toward digitalisation within the agriculture sector,” he says.
The first-of-its-kind batteries boast a 25-year lifespan and cost as little as £25 per unit (about $32). The ‘bacteries’ require no maintenance because they automatically recharge when embedded in the soil, even offering an ‘install and forget’ function.
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Over the next 12 months, the focus will be on fine-tuning prototypes and initiating small-scale production before pivoting commercially and launching a product in 2026, the company said in a press release.
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For farmers used to costly on-site power solutions like obstructive wiring, disposable chemical batteries, and weather-dependent solar panels, Bactery offers a refreshing alternative with consistent, reliable power at an affordable price:
“Farmers are increasingly valuing the importance of data to make informed decisions towards resource-efficient agricultural practises,” says Mirella Di Lorenzo, a professor of chemical engineering at Bath who also worked on developing the technology. “We are removing the barrier to generating that data by creating a sustainable way to power sensors, and making them always-on, cheap, low-maintenance and low-impact.”
By equipping farmers with the tools they need to address the poor energy infrastructure on farms, renewable power generation companies like Bactery are paving the way for the next data-driven revolution in agriculture.
Nathalie Voit is a freelance content creator and a graduate of the University of Florida. She is an alumni of The Heritage Foundation’s Young Leaders Program.
The views and opinions expressed are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of C3.
