Scientists have developed a novel biodegradable battery made from seafood waste, which they claim is a viable option for storing power generated by large-scale wind and solar sources.

A team from the University of Maryland in the US discovered that chitosan, a derivative of the product chitin, could be used to make the electrolyte for a zinc battery. This material can be found in everything from fungi to squids, but the exoskeleton of crustaceans is the most abundant source and is easily obtained from crab shell.

Since chitosan is used as the electrolyte, microbes can break down roughly two-thirds of the battery in a matter of months. The zinc battery is also a less expensive and more sustainable alternative to lithium-ion batteries, which are currently used in everything from smartphones to electric vehicles.

According to the researchers, the new zinc and chitosan battery has an energy efficiency of 99.7% after 1,000 charge cycles, making it a viable commercial option.

Though its very early to make any statement on it, but dear readers; can we be optimistic on “seafood waste” around the globe?

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