Abstract: In some aspects, the disclosure provides methods and materials for generating electrical energy from wastewater treatment materials. For example, the methods involve selecting a pair of materials from a wastewater treatment facility and forming a microbial fuel cell using the pair of materials as anode and cathode materials. There are provided various configurations suitable for adaptation to existing wastewater treatment facilities, as well as design parameters for new wastewater treatment facilities, devices, or schemes that take advantage of the methods of the disclosure.