Solar reactor turns human urine into fertilizer, boosts energy 60%

A Stanford-led research team has developed a solar-powered system that converts human urine into ammonium sulfate fertilizer, offering a sustainable solution for sanitation, agriculture, and energy generation in resource-limited regions. The system uses electrochemical chambers powered by solar energy to separate ammonia from urine, which is then captured as fertilizer. By integrating waste heat from solar panels through copper tubing, the process not only accelerates ammonia recovery by over 20% but also boosts solar panel energy efficiency by nearly 60%, while preventing overheating. This innovation enables fertilizer production directly where it is needed without relying on power grids or carbon-intensive industrial facilities, addressing the high costs and environmental impacts of traditional nitrogen fertilizer production. Beyond fertilizer creation, the technology improves wastewater safety by removing nitrogen, reducing environmental contamination and enabling safer reuse for irrigation—critical in low- and middle-income countries where over 80% of wastewater goes untreated. The system’s scalability and clean energy use make it a promising approach to simultaneously tackle water, food, and energy challenges