SOIL microbial fuel cells TO (2) POWER precise irrigation systems.

Introduction

Smart agriculture is determined to play a major role in fostering water and energy conservation solutions. Innovative technologies should be aimed at overcoming current technical, economic, and sustainable barriers.

Project Overview

The SOIL2POWER project focuses on developing a breakthrough power sourcing technology based on Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). This technology leverages the natural microbial metabolism processes using organic matter present in the soil to generate electrical energy.

Objectives

The consortium will build a controlled electrogenic biofilm formation through immobilization techniques to increase overall biobattery performance. This will create a continuous, clean, safe, and maintenance-free energy supply solution.

Challenges

By facing relevant challenges throughout the project, such as:

1. Bacterial behavior
2. Startup time conditions
3. Electrode architecture

An innovative biological battery with rapid start-up and stable high-power supply will be developed to control irrigation valves without maintenance and replacement.

Development Phases

Feasibility and validation of separate components have already been conducted through lab studies. These studies will serve as the starting point for continuous improvement during the first stages of the project.

Prototype Testing

A prototype will be tested in a simulated environment by the end of year 2. If the solution is validated with all functions up and running, during year 3 (2024-2025), a complete deployment of marketing and investment strategies will be performed. This will be alongside operational environment validation to assess real performance based on feedback from end-users.

Contribution to the Industry

SOIL2POWER will contribute to and ease the transition to developing novel technological solutions by boosting innovation in the clean energy solutions industry. It aims to strengthen human capital, promote biotechnological research innovations, and eventually enable the adoption of sustainable energy solutions in the agricultural industry. This will pave the way for sustainable precise irrigation systems for smart agriculture.