In a breakthrough mechanism which Oregon State University (OSU) researchers have discovered for turning poop into energy, bacteria was used for processing waste and generating an electric current, which then powered a fuel cell.

Though there have been some earlier attempts to for creating fuel cells from waste, the mechanism used by the OSU researchers utilized several new concepts – like reduced anode-cathode spacing, evolved microbes, and new separator materials – to create 10- to 50-fold more energy per volume as compared to other leading approaches.

According to an OSU statement, the new system helped the researchers create more than two kilowatts per cubic meter of liquid reactor volume --- an output which "far exceeds” all the earlier efforts involving “microbial fuel cells."

With the OSU researchers hitting upon a ‘major’ sewage treatment breakthrough for generating energy from wastewater, it is being hoped that the new mechanism will enable treatment plants to power themselves, as well as allow them to sell excess energy at a profit.

Noting that experts’ estimates have shown that wastewater treatment consumes approximately 3 percent of the US’ total electricity consumption, OSU professor Hong Liu – the brains behind the new technology for converting wastewater into clean energy – said: "If this technology works on a commercial scale the way we believe it will, the treatment of wastewater could be a huge energy producer, not a huge energy cost.”