The Role of Energy Harvesting in Advancing Sensor Systems

By Ankit SinghReviewed by Susha Cheriyedath, M.Sc.Sep 17 2024

As businesses increasingly rely on sensor networks to drive efficiency and innovation, the demand for sustainable, autonomous power solutions has never been higher. Energy harvesting is emerging as a game-changer, offering a way to power sensors by capturing ambient energy—such as light, heat, and vibrations—from the environment. This breakthrough minimizes dependence on traditional batteries, drastically lowering operational costs and extending the lifespan of sensor systems, particularly in remote or hard-to-reach locations.

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For industries like healthcare, environmental monitoring, and manufacturing, the ability to deploy energy-harvesting sensors eliminates the logistical headaches and expenses associated with frequent battery replacement. As sensor networks grow in complexity, energy harvesting not only simplifies maintenance but also supports scalable, long-term operation—delivering significant business value and driving innovation across sectors.

Key Principles of Energy Harvesting in Sensor Systems

Energy harvesting relies on converting ambient energy sources—such as solar, thermal, kinetic, and electromagnetic energy—into electrical power for sensor operation. Specialized transducers, like photovoltaic cells for solar energy and piezoelectric materials for mechanical energy, enable reliable energy capture across diverse environments. These transducers are critical for ensuring consistent performance in energy-harvesting systems.¹

However, the power generated from these sources is typically minimal, making it critical for sensor systems to be highly energy-efficient. Advances in ultra-low-power sensor technology, optimized circuitry, and energy-aware algorithms play a pivotal role in minimizing energy waste and maximizing system longevity.

Energy storage components such as supercapacitors or rechargeable batteries are integrated into these systems to maintain consistent sensor operation. This ensures that any surplus energy is stored for later use, providing stability during periods of low energy availability. Effective power management circuits are also essential, as they regulate energy distribution, ensuring uninterrupted sensor performance even when environmental energy levels fluctuate.

The variability of energy sources presents another challenge. Solar energy, for instance, varies with weather conditions and time of day, while mechanical energy from vibrations can be unpredictable. Adaptive power management strategies—such as maximum power point tracking (MPPT)—optimize energy capture by dynamically adjusting transducer performance based on real-time conditions. This ensures that sensors operate at peak efficiency, regardless of external factors.¹

Applications Across Industries: From IoT to Healthcare

Wireless Sensor Networks and IoT Integration

One of the most transformative roles of energy harvesting in advancing sensor systems is its integration into wireless sensor networks (WSNs) and the Internet of Things (IoT). These systems require small, autonomous sensors that can be deployed in large numbers across diverse environments. Energy harvesting enables these sensors to function without frequent maintenance or battery replacements, which is crucial in IoT applications where scalability and long-term reliability are key concerns.²

In smart cities, for example, energy-harvesting sensors monitor everything from traffic patterns to air quality. Similarly, in industrial IoT (IIoT) applications, sensors powered by harvested energy monitor machine health, predict maintenance needs and optimize operations without requiring wired power. The ability to harvest energy from sources like vibrations, heat, or light within industrial settings enables sensors to operate autonomously for years, thereby reducing downtime and operational costs. This seamless integration of energy harvesting into WSNs and IoT is pushing the boundaries of what is possible in terms of sensor scalability and deployment.²

Healthcare Monitoring and Wearable Devices

In healthcare, energy harvesting enables continuous monitoring through wearable devices by converting physical motions, thermal energy, or environmental light into power. This capability allows for the creation of wearable sensors that continuously track vital signs without the need for frequent battery replacements or recharging. Such a feature is especially beneficial in long-term health monitoring, where a consistent power supply is crucial to maintaining data reliability.³

For instance, piezoelectric materials can harvest mechanical energy from body movements to power health-monitoring sensors embedded in wearables like fitness trackers or smartwatches. Thermoelectric generators can likewise capture heat from the skin to provide a continuous energy supply for these wearable sensors.

This continuous energy supply not only enhances the functionality of wearable sensors but also improves user convenience, making it easier to monitor health metrics such as heart rate, body temperature, and physical activity over extended periods. These advances in energy harvesting technology are driving improvements in healthcare accessibility, personalization, and data-driven approaches.³

Market Report: Wearable Sensors

Environmental Monitoring and Sustainability

Energy harvesting also significantly impacts environmental monitoring by enabling the deployment of sensor networks in remote and harsh environments. Conventional power sources, like batteries, are often impractical in such settings due to their limited lifespan and the logistical challenges of replacement. In contrast, energy-harvesting sensors can capture renewable energy from solar, wind, or aquatic sources, allowing for autonomous, long-term operation without frequent maintenance.⁴

In applications like wildlife tracking, forest fire detection, and oceanographic monitoring, these sensors gather vital data while minimizing the environmental impact typically associated with conventional power solutions. By reducing the need for disposable batteries, energy-harvesting sensors also support sustainability efforts by lowering e-waste. Their ability to function reliably in remote or dangerous environments makes them essential for long-term conservation and environmental monitoring initiatives.⁴

Agriculture and Smart Farming

Smart farming, driven by precision agriculture, is another area where energy harvesting is transforming sensor systems. In agriculture, sensors monitor critical factors such as soil moisture, crop health, and weather conditions, helping to optimize irrigation, fertilization, and harvesting processes. However, deploying these sensors over large fields presents power challenges, as conventional batteries require frequent replacement or recharging.

Energy harvesting provides a solution by powering agricultural sensors with ambient energy from sources like sunlight or wind. For example, solar-powered sensors can monitor soil moisture levels and transmit real-time data to a central system that automates irrigation based on the crops' needs. This not only improves farming efficiency but also reduces water usage and energy consumption. As a result, energy-harvesting sensors are driving advances in precision agriculture, making farming more sustainable and resource-efficient.⁵

Key Commercial Players in the Sector

Several companies are responsible for commercializing energy harvesting technologies for sensor systems. EnOcean, a pioneer in wireless energy-harvesting solutions, has developed self-powered IoT sensors used in smart buildings and industrial applications. Cymbet Corporation specializes in solid-state batteries and energy-harvesting power management solutions, offering integrated platforms that combine energy storage and harvesting technologies for long-lasting sensor networks.

Additionally, MicroGen Systems focuses on piezoelectric energy harvesters, providing solutions for vibration-powered sensors in industrial and environmental monitoring. These companies, along with others like Texas Instruments and Powercast, are driving the commercialization of energy harvesting by offering scalable solutions that cater to the growing demand for autonomous, low-maintenance sensor systems across industries. Their innovations are making it easier for organizations to adopt energy-harvesting technology and integrate it into IoT ecosystems.

Latest Research and Developments

Recent research has led to groundbreaking developments in energy harvesting for sensor systems, pushing the boundaries of efficiency and applicability. A recent Energy study introduced a three-dimensional full-space triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator (FSHG) designed to harvest low-frequency mechanical energy from the environment.

Utilizing a magnetic ball and polystyrene spherical shells, the device converts 3D mechanical energy into electrical energy through friction and electromagnetic induction. The hybrid system showed significant performance, with the triboelectric generator (TENG) producing up to 18 μW and the electromagnetic generator (EMG) generating 640 μW under specific conditions. This energy can charge capacitors and power sensors, demonstrating the potential for self-sustained robotic systems in remote environments.⁶

Another breakthrough study published in Microsystems & Nanoengineering introduced a wearable thermoelectric generator (TEG) integrated with an energy management system capable of harnessing body heat to power sensors and Bluetooth devices. Unlike traditional TEGs, this system operates efficiently even with minimal temperature differences, as low as 4 K between human skin and the environment.

The innovation ensures reliable data transmission in just 1.6 seconds and can recharge under ultralow voltage conditions of 30 mV. This development offers a sustainable, battery-free solution for continuous monitoring in wearable devices, advancing human-machine interactions.⁷

Advancements in Sensor Technology: What to Expect by 2030

Future Prospects and Conclusion

The future of energy harvesting in sensor systems is promising, with ongoing research in materials science and energy management technologies offering exciting prospects. Emerging materials, such as nanostructured semiconductors and hybrid composites, are improving energy conversion efficiency, enabling sensors to operate in environments previously unsuitable for energy harvesting.

Advances in energy storage, including solid-state batteries and supercapacitors, are increasing the reliability of energy-harvesting systems by providing higher storage capacities and faster charge-discharge cycles. Additionally, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are being integrated into energy management systems to optimize power distribution and adapt sensor operations to changing environmental conditions.

In industries like healthcare, energy-harvesting wearables could lead to innovations such as self-powered medical implants, while in IIoT, energy-harvesting sensors will enable predictive maintenance and remote monitoring, reducing downtime and operational costs. As the demand for scalable, connected systems grows, particularly in smart cities and industrial applications, energy harvesting will continue to be a cornerstone technology, driving innovation in autonomous sensor networks.

References and Further Reading

1. Grossi, M. (2021). Energy Harvesting Strategies for Wireless Sensor Networks and Mobile Devices: A Review. Electronics, 10(6), 661. DOI:10.3390/electronics10060661. https://www.mdpi.com/2079-9292/10/6/661
2. Eunice, A. et al. (2021). Energy Harvesting Mechanisms in a Smart City—A Review. Smart Cities, 4(2), 476-498. DOI:10.3390/smartcities4020025. https://www.mdpi.com/2624-6511/4/2/25
3. Liu, M. et al. (2022). Biomechanical energy harvesting for wearable and mobile devices: State-of-the-art and future directions. Applied Energy, 321, 119379. DOI:10.1016/j.apenergy.2022.119379. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0306261922007218
4. Singh, J. et al. (2020). Energy harvesting in wireless sensor networks: A taxonomic survey. International Journal of Energy Research, 45(1), 118-140. DOI:10.1002/er.5816. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/er.5816
5. Sadowski, S. et al. (2020). Wireless technologies for smart agricultural monitoring using internet of things devices with energy harvesting capabilities. Computers and Electronics in Agriculture, 172, 105338. DOI:10.1016/j.compag.2020.105338. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0168169919318381
6. He, J. et al. (2020). 3D full-space triboelectric-electromagnetic hybrid nanogenerator for high-efficient mechanical energy harvesting in vibration system. Energy, 194, 116871. DOI:10.1016/j.energy.2019.116871. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360544219325666
7. Yang, S. et al. (2023). Flexible thermoelectric generator and energy management electronics powered by body heat. Microsystems & Nanoengineering, 9(1), 1-9. DOI:10.1038/s41378-023-00583-3. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41378-023-00583-3

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