In the heart of Saudi Arabia’s arid landscapes, a novel energy solution is sprouting from an unlikely source: the humble prickly pear. Researchers, led by Belgacem Bouallegue from the Department of Computer Engineering at King Khalid University, have developed a biobattery using Opuntia ficus-indica, commonly known as the prickly pear cactus. This innovative approach, detailed in a recent study published in *Energy Reports*, offers a sustainable and scalable solution for powering Internet of Things (IoT) platforms in agriculture, potentially revolutionizing the way farmers monitor and manage their crops.
The research introduces a unique electrode configuration that significantly boosts power output and reproducibility. By arranging copper-zinc electrode pairs in a hierarchical series-parallel topology, the team achieved impressive results. In controlled laboratory conditions, a unit of six cladodes (the flat, paddles of the cactus) in series, each with six electrode pairs in parallel, generated 5 volts and 26.5 milliamps, yielding 128.8 milliwatts of power. When scaled up to 18 cladodes and deployed in real-world conditions, the system produced a stable power output of 0.33 watts, successfully powering a LoRaWan-enabled sensor node.
“Our goal was to create a sustainable energy source that could withstand the rigors of agricultural environments,” said Bouallegue. “The prickly pear biobattery not only meets this challenge but also offers a scalable and cost-effective solution for powering IoT devices in the field.”
However, the team encountered some hurdles. Performance degradation of approximately 25% was observed over 72 hours, primarily due to electrode corrosion and tissue desiccation. Despite this, the research provides a promising foundation for further development and optimization.
In parallel, the researchers conducted a rigorous energy profiling of three IoT programming models: traditional, finite state machine (FSM), and real-time operating system (RTOS). The FSM model demonstrated superior energy efficiency, reducing consumption by up to 34% compared to the traditional model. Meanwhile, the RTOS provided optimal performance for real-time tasks with minimal overhead.
“This dual approach—combining a high-performance bioelectric source with an energy-efficient software framework—offers a practical and sustainable pathway for powering autonomous agricultural IoT systems,” Bouallegue explained. “It effectively balances resource utilization with operational longevity, making it an attractive option for farmers looking to adopt smart agriculture technologies.”
The commercial impacts of this research could be substantial. As the agriculture sector increasingly turns to IoT for precision farming, the need for sustainable and reliable energy sources becomes paramount. The prickly pear biobattery, with its unique combination of scalability and efficiency, could play a crucial role in this transition. By reducing the reliance on traditional power sources, farmers can lower their operational costs and environmental footprint, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and profitable agricultural practices.
Looking ahead, this research opens up new avenues for exploration in the field of bioelectricity and IoT integration. Future developments could focus on enhancing the longevity and performance of biobatteries, as well as refining software models to further optimize energy efficiency. As the technology matures, it has the potential to reshape the agricultural landscape, empowering farmers with the tools they need to cultivate crops more efficiently and sustainably.
With the lead author, Belgacem Bouallegue, hailing from the Department of Computer Engineering at King Khalid University, this research not only highlights the innovative spirit of the scientific community but also underscores the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in addressing real-world challenges. As the agriculture sector continues to evolve, the integration of sustainable energy solutions like the prickly pear biobattery will be crucial in shaping a more resilient and efficient future for farming.