Device for producing energy and use thereof

1 . A double-layer biological battery for producing energy, comprising:

a lower compartment having a first part configured as an anode, a second part configured as a cathode, and a wet substrate between said first part and said second part, wherein said wet substrate contains at least one electrogenic microorganism and at least one electron donor;

an upper compartment having an opening configured to be in contact with an environment capable of supplying at least one electron donor, the upper compartment being configured to transfer a liquid to the lower compartment;

a conductive means configured to deliver at least one electron acceptor to said cathode through a gap between the lower compartment and the upper compartment; and

at least one filter with a pore size above 0.2 μm,

wherein the at least one filter is configured to allow passage of microorganisms from the upper compartment to the lower compartment.

2 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , wherein said upper compartment is configured to transfer to the lower compartment a liquid selected from water, leachate from the substrate, or a combination thereof.

3 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , wherein said wet substrate contains organic matter as the at least one electron donor.

4 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electron donor from the environment comprises organic matter.

5 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one electron acceptor comprises air containing oxygen or only oxygen.

6 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , wherein the anode comprises graphite felt or carbon and the cathode is comprises graphite felt, platinum, or platinum combined with carbon.

7 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one organism in said upper compartment.

8 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one non-electrogenic microorganism.

9 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 8 , wherein said at least one electrogenic microorganism and/or said at least one non-electrogenic microorganism is from a single genus or, if more than one, is a combination of microorganisms from different genera.

10 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , wherein the lower compartment comprises a separator between said anode and said cathode.

11 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one of:

conduction means for driving excess liquid out of the double-layer biological battery;

at least one piston; and

at least one valve.

12 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , further comprising an energy storage system.

13 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , wherein the double-layer biological battery is arranged so that at least one plant is depositable over the upper compartment for protection from atmospheric and/or humidity changes.

14 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 , wherein the double-layer biological battery is configured to be enclosed in an underground box with an outdoor opened upper side.

15 . A method for producing and/or storing energy, the method comprising:

providing a double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 ; and

operating said double-layer biological battery to produce and/or store energy.

16 . A method for producing one more gases, the method comprising:

providing a double-layer biological battery according to claim 1 ;

operating said double-layer biological battery to produce one or more gases at the same time as producing and/or storing energy; and/or

applying an external electric current to said double-layer biological battery to produce the one or more bases.

17 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the one or more gases include methane.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein the one or more gases include hydrogen.

19 . The double-layer biological battery according to claim 10 , wherein the separator includes an ion exchange membrane.

20 . A double-layer biological battery for producing energy, comprising:

a lower compartment having a first part configured as an anode, a second part configured as a cathode, and a wet substrate between said first part and said second part, wherein said wet substrate contains at least one electrogenic microorganism and at least one electron donor;

an upper compartment having an opening configured to be in contact with an environment capable of supplying at least one electron donor, the upper compartment being configured to transfer a liquid to the lower compartment;

a conductive means configured to deliver at least one electron acceptor to said cathode through a gap between the lower compartment and the upper compartment; and

at least one filter configured to allow passage of microorganisms from the upper compartment to the lower compartment.