Currently, access to electricity in the cities of the Global South is so limited that electrification remains low in rural areas. Unless properly tackled, one-third of the world’s cities will suffer from energy scarcity. The emergence of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology accelerates the deployment of decentralized and sustainable energy solutions that can address the looming energy shortage. This review consolidates scattered knowledge into one article about the performance of MFC in optimizing electricity generation from phosphorus (P)-laden wastewater, while removing the target nutrient from wastewater simultaneously. It is obvious from a literature survey of 108 published articles (1999–2022) that the applications of MFC for building a self-powered municipal water treatment system represents an important breakthrough, as this enables water treatment operators to generate electricity without affecting the atmospheric balance of CO2. Using a pyrite-based wetland MFC, about 91% of P was removed after operating 180 days, while generating power output of 48 A/m 2 . Unlike other techniques, MFCs utilize bacteria that act as micro-reactors and allow substrates to be oxidized completely. The Earth’s tiniest inhabitants can efficiently transform the chemical energy of organic matter in unused wastewater either into hydrogen gas or electricity. This facilitates wastewater treatment plants powering themselves in daily operation or selling electricity on the market. This MFC technology radically changes how to treat wastewater universally. By exploring this direction along the water–energy–food nexus, MFC technology could transform wastewater treatment plants into a key sustainability tool in the energy sector. This suggests that MFCs provide a practical solution that addresses the need of global society for clean water and electricity simultaneously.
step one. Introduction
As the a hub away from in the world urban assistance, locations possess has just came across ventures and you can risks into the causing carbon dioxide neutrality. The fresh new Un (UN) estimated that because of the 2050 throughout the six million people would live-in locations because of quick urbanization . Since the urban people expands by 2% annually, squeezing two-thirds of your own earth’s populace to the an individual-third away from house size away from metropolises brings worldwide pressures instance energy shortage . Currently, use of electricity regarding the metropolises of In the world South was very minimal one to electrification stays disproportionately reduced in rural section. Unless of course instantly resolved, one-third of your own earth’s places will suffer regarding the times shortage . It’s estimated the around the globe interest in power increases of the twenty five% by 2030, just like the need for times commonly outgrow the have so you’re able to urban centers by the next ten years.
As the engines of economic development, cities have become the seismographs of global energy demand due to their mandatory service to provide public with reliable energy supply. Since cities contribute to 85% of global energy demand , they have become a central locus of climate change mitigation and the incubators of new solutions for energy shortage (Figure 1). While cities seek solutions to live up to the 2030 UN Agenda, urban development needs to prioritize their need for renewable energy. To cope with the looming energy shortage, electricity, which can be generated from multiple sources, is a key enabler of the energy transition in contributing to the decarbonization of global economy with benefits including CO2 reduction, energy security, and enhanced efficiency.
Global electricity demand has increased by 5000 Terawatt-hours (Twh) in the past decade, accounting for one-fifth of total energy consumption . As electrification is central to climate conservation, uncovering other alternatives of renewable energy is critical for cities to contribute to UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) #7 ‘Affordable and clean energy’, which serves as a marker for the world to achieve decarbonization goals. UN SDG #7 represents the need of universal access to affordable and clean energy for all through global cooperation. The urgency and roadmap to the carbon neutrality of global economy through renewable energy is a top universal agenda. In 2019, energy sector was responsible for 40% of global CO2 emissions (about 13 gigatons) . With coal, gas, and oil combined, the MeetSlavicGirls recensioner energy still accounts for two-thirds of the final energy consumption mix. Therefore, decarbonizing the energy sector is critical to meeting climate goals, while shifting away from fossil fuel consumption to electricity-driven solutions. However, the speed of decarbonization varies, depending on the country’s access to electricity and its electrification rate.