June 2008

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Fuel Cell Power from Dirt: A collaboration team of African undergraduates at Harvard University and university scientists, LebônL Solutions, has won a $200,000 grant for their winning entry, a microbial fuel cell (M.C.) lighting system - one of 16 winners from entries by 400 organizations - in the World Bank IFC’s Lighting Africa competition to develop low-cost lighting systems for sub-Saharan Africa. The money will enable the team to roll out their technology in first field trials next month in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, to be followed by tests and distribution of what they claim will be 9,000 of their devices in Namibia over the next 27 months, starting this fall. The system, designed by Harvard Professor Peter Girguis for the developing world, relies on the action and energy produced by naturally occurring microbial metabolism for low-power applications such as LED lights, cell phones or radios. It can generate electricity from organic-rich materials such as soil, manure, or food scraps. Unlike wind or solar power, MFCs generate electricity day or night, rain or shine. The energy produced by this system is said to be reliable and obviously inexpensive - “dirt cheap,” as LebônL said in a press release. Other winning contest entries included LED-based home lighting and a rent-a-light scheme both in Kenya; solar light in Uganda; LED technology for Rwanda; solar lights for school children in Ghana; and others.

Contact/Source: Hugo Van Vuuren, 857/928-6482, hugo@seas.harvard.edu; www.lebone.org.