New self-refueling underwater batteries use marine microbes to generate electricity

Michigan Tech researchers are testing microbial fuel cells that use marine microbes and seawater organic matter to power underwater sensors.

The team has finished field tests in Chesapeake Bay and Galveston Bay and is preparing a larger deployment.

The work is part of DARPA’s BLUE program, aimed at self-refueling power for long-endurance ocean monitoring.

If successful, the technology could reduce costly battery retrievals and support defense, ecology, and ocean research.