The Power of Mud
Energy Mud & 3D Rendering
From the Artist:“The two mud planes represent cathodes and anodes, and the sphere is to suggest the flow of electrons through a conductive path. I think there is a real beauty to the way humanity can harness an energy from what may otherwise seem like a mundane nuisance. It is a testament to man’s ingenuity, and Claudia Dennler.”
— Mario Hugo
The Science
Like all rivers, the Humboldt River sits on a vast amount of mud, and this particular mud is very rich in methane gas. Student scientist Claudia Dennler hypothesized that the methane gas in mud could be used as an energy source if it could be captured. She was able to harvest the methane gas and turn it in to electricity by using a 12 volt microbial fuel cell. The fuel cell can harvest energy for 26 straight days gathering enough energy each day to power an LED light and a calculator. The next version of the fuel cell is currently in production and hopes of a more efficient system are high.
The Artist
Mario Hugo is a 3D and mixed media artist based in Brooklyn, NY who specializes in graphite drawings. A self proclaimed life-long artist Mario has been drawing since he can remember but received traditional training at Boston College and Pratt Institute. He has been selected for Phaidon’s Area 2 book, received awards from Art Director’s Club and is a Young Gun winner.
