The World Bank

Dirt powered battery for rural Africa

Scientists have known for some time that an electrical charge could be harvested from the metabolic processes of bacteria living in soil but the effort required to achieve this was time consuming for a very low power output. But a team of Harvard scientists has used the idea to design an inexpensive battery, a microbial fuel cell, which can produce enough current to power LED lights and charge cellphone batteries in rural Africa.

The hot applications for energy harvesting

IDTechEx finds that consumer applications are and will remain the greatest market for energy harvesting on small devices by value.

Agreement to provide high-performance solar lighting

Lemnis Lighting and G24 Innovations received a $200,000 grant from the World Bank earlier this year for their solar powered LED light for the 'Lighting Africa' program.

Solar pioneer G24i triumphs at environmental awards

G24 Innovations (G24i) has won the Premier Product Award at the prestigious Business Commitment to the Environment (BCE) Environmental Leadership Awards.

MSPI to invest US$20 million in G24i

Companies with proven technology are still able to attract significant investment even with concerns over the impact of the credit crunch on the renewables sector.

Undergraduates develop dirt-powered microbial fuel cells

A Harvard team who developed an innovative, microbial fuel cell-based lighting system suitable for Sub-Saharan Africa won a $200,000 grant.