Biological fuel cells

Algae and bacteria were among the first organisms used in biological fuel cells. First biological fuel cell used Clostridium butyricum as a biological material to generate hydrogen by glucose fermentation. In 1963,biological fuel cells were already commercially available for use as a power source in radios, signal lights and other appliances at sea. However, these fuel cells were not a commercial success and soon disappeared from the market. With the successful development of technical alternatives, e.g. solar photovoltaics for the energy supply on space flights, biological fuel cells suffered a short setback.