Bio-hybrid 6G networks with synthetic biology-enabled base stations for energy-autonomous telecommunications

The rapid evolution of wireless communications toward 6G networks has intensified concerns about sustainability, as ultra-dense deployments of small-cell base stations demand unprecedented levels of energy. Meeting this demand with conventional grid power risks escalating operational costs and increasing the sector's carbon footprint. To address this challenge, the present study develops a comprehensive mathematical modeling framework for bio-hybrid base stations powered by synthetic biology, with emphasis on microbial fuel cells and enzyme-mediated bioenergy harvesting. The framework quantifies energy demand, conversion efficiency, and associated carbon emissions under realistic operating conditions, while explicitly incorporating stochastic factors such as pH and temperature fluctuations, substrate saturation, and toxin-induced inhibition effects. Simulation results indicate that bio-hybrid systems can achieve reliable energy autonomy, significantly reducing reliance on centralized power grids while simultaneously lowering emissions. Importantly, modeling demonstrates how environmental variability can be mitigated through system-level design and hybrid storage integration, underscoring the resilience of such architectures. The main contribution of this work lies in bridging telecommunications engineering with synthetic biology through a unified, quantitative framework that evaluates feasibility, resilience, and sustainability. These insights establish a foundation for future experimental validation, field trials, and large-scale deployment of carbon-neutral 6G infrastructures.