Executive Summary

The kinds of biological fuel cells (BFCs), also known as biofuel cells, which we are covering in the report are the following two types:

1. Enzymatic biofuel cells, that use enzymes derived from living organisms to harness energy.
2. Microbial-based biofuel cells, that convert chemical energy to electrical energy by the catalytic reaction of microorganisms.

Both biological fuel cells are electrochemical cell devices that use organic material as an energy source and outputs a small amount of electrical power.

In this report, rather than focusing on introducing biofuel cell technology, we are concentrating on reporting who is doing what research activities, the applications they are aiming for and with what strategic partners, etc.

Whether or not pursuing this technology is worth the cost is unclear, of course, biological fuel cell researchers face many challenges and the journey to commercialization is long. However, as the research progresses, there will be more clarity. Since organic material exists everywhere, technical breakthrough may be possible with ingenious ideas. If innovation becomes reality, with cutting edge technologies, biological fuel cells may emerge at the forefront of fuel cell technological development.

Since BFCs are electrochemical cells, applications such as the biological fuel cells for nanotechnology, biosensors, and medical sensors and devices can be also expected. Under consideration as well is use of biological fuel cells for portable electronics devices, by improving BFC’s currently small power output capability.

For large-scale applications, using BFCs at a wastewater treatment plant may be possible. In such an application the bacteria would consume waste material from the water and produce supplementary power for the plant. In the future, BFC applications may extend from the microscopic world to large-scale applications. Either way, we can’t take our eyes off these potentially great new R&D efforts.