BRIGHT: Harnessing Alcoholic Fermentation of Carbohydrate-Rich Biodegradable Food Waste for Sustainable Electricity Generation

The increasing volume of food waste plays a critical part in sustainable electricity generation, through higher electricity demands. Biodegradable food waste converted into bioethanol-powered electricity provides dual benefits, addressing both energy scarcity and food waste management in the Philippines. This study assesses the effectiveness of an MFC system powered by fermented food waste; BRIGHT optimizes voltage output through yeast concentration. Results indicate that higher yeast concentrations (48g) produced more stable and higher voltage outputs (0.160V - 0.170V), while the 36g setup exhibited fluctuations but peaked at 0.172V on Day 21. Statistical analysis using One-Way ANOVA (F = 3.68, p = 0.034) confirmed that yeast concentration significantly affects bioethanol production. Fermentation time also influenced voltage output, with a drop in the 36g setup from Day 7 (0.164V) to Day 14 (0.131V, p = 0.010) before recovering on Day 21. The addition of salt initially increased voltage but later led to a decline, particularly in the 48g yeast setup on Day 21 (p = 0.046), suggesting microbial activity disruption due to prolonged salt exposure. Electricity generation from food waste provided by a viable method, BRIGHT. Yeast precise fermentation timing and optimization being key to maximizing efficiency. Future research should focus on increasing the amount of cycles, improving scalability, diverse feedstocks, and sensor integration to enhance efficiency and feasibility.