ELECTRICITY FROM THE EARTH

no the sun has nothing to do with this reaction.

It requires "fuel" like anything else.

Being a simple battery it will go flat as the metals oxidise.

You'll need to replace or reclaim the metals which is not at all cost effective for any kind of industrial/commercial scale.

Am almost sure something could be done to adapt the concept with the right minds behind it ?
maybe some people would rather this wasn't used though you know.. lot of moneys at stake and that is a big concern to business types

Not the "it's being suppressed" line. This is high-school chemistry and in no way a special secret.

You're misplacing where the electrical energy is coming from.

The soil is not a fuel. This isn't "tapping into" some "earth power source". The soil could be salt water or anything containing ions in solution.

The potential difference (voltage) is the result of a reaction between 2 dissimilar metals. The soil is the electrolyte.

Same as any chemical battery.

Am aware of the scenario ... as you say this is high school chem.
must be a way though? to develop this.. and maybe other ideas .. or is that it now ?.. do we give up trying ?
everything has been done huh

Metals take a lot of energy to purify on industrial scales. Lots more energy then they produce once put inside a battery.

3rd Law of Thermodynamics is safe.

How many AA batteries do you think you'd need to run your house?

How expensive do you think it would be to replace these batteries everyday?

Why would it be any less expensive buying metals to "rust" in the ground each day?

Batteries are *not* a cheap or clean energy source.

1st law for marbles: keep trying !

Doh! What can I say, 3rd Law of Motion is a personal fav, alway end up skipping 1-2 :-)