Fungal Batteries Offer Sustainable Power Solution with Zero Waste

New fungal batteries developed in Switzerland offer a sustainable solution for powering remote sensors without leaving waste

Swiss scientists have created a battery that generates power from fungi and breaks down naturally after use. This new technology could change how we power devices in remote areas where collecting old batteries is difficult and expensive.

The fungal batteries work differently from regular batteries. They use two types of fungi – common yeast and white rot fungus – to create electricity. The Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology (Empa) developed this technology using 3D printing to combine living fungal cells with special ink.

The process is simple but effective. Yeast cells release electrons as they digest sugar on one side of the battery. On the other side, white rot fungus produces an enzyme that captures these electrons, creating an electrical current. The batteries only need sugar and water to work.

Making these batteries required solving several technical challenges. Scientists developed a special ink that keeps fungal cells alive during 3D printing and can break down naturally. This ink contains cellulose, which gives the battery structure and provides extra food for the fungi.

These fungal batteries offer clear environmental benefits compared to traditional batteries. Regular batteries contain toxic materials that can harm soil and water. Battery production facilities typically rely on fossil fuels, while transportation of raw materials and finished batteries adds to their carbon footprint. In contrast, fungal batteries decompose safely, leaving no harmful waste. This eliminates the need to collect and recycle batteries from remote locations.

The current version of fungal batteries works best for small devices that don’t need much power. They can run temperature sensors for several days, making them useful for farming and scientific research in remote areas. Users can store the batteries dry and activate them by adding water when needed.

This technology could particularly benefit environmental monitoring programs. Currently, scientists must trek into remote areas to replace dead batteries in sensor equipment. With fungal batteries, sensors could run for days and then decompose naturally without harming the environment.

The research fits into a broader trend of using fungi for sustainable solutions. Scientists are already exploring fungi to create clothing, building materials, and meat alternatives. The Empa team continues working to make fungal batteries more powerful and longer-lasting.

The technology also shows promise for reducing electronic waste. While traditional batteries contribute to growing landfills and pollution, these biological power sources return harmlessly to nature after use, leaving no toxic residue behind. This approach could help reduce the environmental impact of electronic devices in remote locations, where battery disposal and recycling are often impractical. By eliminating hazardous waste and reliance on finite resources, fungal batteries could play a crucial role in promoting sustainable energy solutions and reducing global dependence on conventional battery technology.

Looking ahead, researchers are searching for fungi species that might generate more electricity while maintaining the low carbon footprint that makes this technology promising. This could expand the use of fungal batteries beyond simple sensors to power more demanding devices, potentially replacing traditional batteries in more applications.

As climate change drives the need for more environmental monitoring in hard-to-reach places, fungal batteries offer a promising solution to a complex problem. They represent a shift in how we think about power generation – from permanent devices that create lasting waste to natural systems that complete their lifecycle without environmental harm.

While these living batteries may not power our smartphones anytime soon, they point to a future where technology works in harmony with nature rather than against it. At a time when reducing waste and finding sustainable alternatives is crucial, these self-destroying batteries powered by fungi could be the first step toward a new generation of environmentally conscious power sources.