Self-powered IoT communication through energy harvesting

Energy harvesting eliminates the need to use power cables or recharge batteries in mobile devices. Instead, vibrations from equipment, machinery and buildings – or, alternatively, the temperature gradient between pipes, radiators and valves and their immediate surroundings – can be used to generate electricity. Solar cells can also be used for power generation both indoors and outdoors. This electricity can be used to directly power small electronic systems.

Are there estimates for the savings potential of this technology?

Supplying a sensor node with power from energy harvesting sources makes it independent of other energy providers. Potential savings include energy storage costs, e.g. batteries, and maintenance work, for example changing batteries, as well as the cost of wired supply and its installation. However, the type and extent of these savings differs individually depending on the application and cannot be generalized across all conceivable use cases.

Will a mass-market-ready product emerge in the foreseeable future?

It’s difficult to imagine self-powered products that are suitable for the mass market since energy-harvesting-powered operations need to be adjusted specifically for the respective use case and the energy sources available there. For example, power supply from vibrations always has to be adjusted to the amplitudes of oscillation and the frequencies occurring on-site.

What kinds of collaboration are possible with Fraunhofer IIS on self-powered IoT communication, and what partners has Fraunhofer IIS teamed up with so far?

Fraunhofer IIS offers studies and R&D services for the optimization of wireless sensor technology and loT communication and develops self-powered IoT modules and sensor technology based on energy harvesting. This also includes sensor technology, localization and data preprocessing.