UK startup Bactery have said bacteria-powered batteries could supply farms with sustainable energy in the future.
The startup, which was formed out of the University of Bath, has developed a bacteria-powered battery that can generate electricity when buried in soil.
These soil-rechargeable batteries have the potential to operate 24/7 globally, according to the startup, which hopes that the technology will help farmers increase yields and preserve resources.
Currently the company is working on refining the product, aiming for a commercial launch in 2026.
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“Farmers are increasingly valuing the importance of data to make informed decisions towards resource-efficient agricultural practices,” professor Mirella Di Lorenzo told The Independent.
“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.”
Dr Ben Betcalfe added: “This is a powerful illustration of how our Bactery technology could be used, but this is just the first application of what we believe is a great method of generating clean energy in an innovative, sustainable way.”
Last year, it was revealed that Defra will work with industry to reduce methane emissions in livestock, through using techniques like methane-suppressing feed products.
