It might seem unusual, but the idea of running a fuel cell from urea (the primary solid in urine) is not new.  It’s been around for a while, but has never been made commercially feasible.  Two scientists in the UK think they might have something to say about that.

Dr. Shanwen Tao and Dr. Ron Lang are a research team at Heriot-Watt University who have developed a proof of concept prototype of their Carbamide Power System and have now been awarded a grant to continue research into their Direct Urea Powered Fuel Cells using that system.

The immediate goal, if the concept can be done on a large scale economically, is to use it to help clean waste water at treatment plants where sewage is sent.  This would help in water purification with the byproduct of creating an energy source for the plant or other facilities.

Urea is also readily available in many other sources and is commonly used as a fertilizer in farming (industrial urea).  It also has the advantage of being non-toxic, non-combustible, and being an easily-transported solid.  This gives it real advantages over other common fuel cell fuels such as hydrogen or methane.

Eventually, this concept could become the next fuel alternative of choice for alternative vehicles.

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