Bactery says the maintenance-free technology could operate underground for around 30 years, providing a continuous supply of power that complements solar energy. Founder Jakub Dziegielowski said future versions could produce enough electricity to offset much of a household’s energy use.

Credits: Unsplash; Author: Noah Buscher;

The company is aiming to increase output to four watts per cubic metre, with laboratory systems already producing six times more power than current prototypes. Bactery envisions larger underground installations beneath gardens, allowing homes to generate electricity year-round from microbes naturally present in the soil, regardless of sunlight or weather conditions.