In the near future, energy harvesting (EH) technology will power an increasing number of consumer and industrial products that are untethered or need to become disconnected from the electrical outlet. This technology, which converts ambient energy to useable electrical energy, represents an attractive alternative to battery power for portable devices. Already, consumers and industries alike consider the environmental and economic costs of changing and maintaining batteries for portable devices to be excessive. These costs will continue to be a driving factor in the adoption of EH technology.
Embedded systems are seen in every part of daily life. A quick walk around the house, a short trip in the car, and a survey of the devices in the office all attest to the ubiquity of microprocessors at work. The energy to charge these devices is received directly from an electrical outlet or in the form of a compact energy source such as a battery. It is, however, very inconvenient to carry charging equipment and locate wall sockets – or worse, replace and dispose of spent batteries, which are environmentally toxic by nature. It is more convenient to expect the device to be self-powered and autonomous. Navigant Research estimates that EH revenue will reach approximately $268 million at the end of 2013 and grow to almost $375 million in 2020.
This Navigant Research report analyzes existing and emerging EH technologies in depth, looking at nine end-use consumer and industrial application segments and the four most successful transduction methods for converting ambient energy. Key industry players are profiled and global market forecasts, segmented by application, technology, and world region, extend through 2020. The study also includes extensive technology segmentation that shows key implementation strategies for the most common EH technologies operating in portable, pervasive, and autonomous systems.
Key Questions Addressed:
- What are the key applications that use energy harvesting to power devices?
- What are the underlying technology attributes that differentiate one energy harvesting technology type versus another in the selection process for various applications?
- Which technology-based trends are implemented in the market?
- How many energy harvesting technologies are there and how are they different?
- Is energy harvesting technology really going to replace batteries?
Who needs this report?
- Energy harvesting component manufacturers
- Consumer electronics manufacturers
- Building and industrial automation companies
- Industry associations
- Investor community
Table of Contents
1. Executive Summary
1.1 Introduction to Energy Harvesting
1.2 Energy Harvesting Technology
1.3 Drivers for Energy Harvesting Technology
1.4 The Energy Harvesting Market
2. Market Issues
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Drivers for Energy Harvesting Technology
2.2.1 Advances in Electronics
2.2.2 Cutting the Power Cord
2.2.3 Technology Convergence and Battery Technology Trends
2.2.4 Application Segments for Energy Harvesting
2.3 Consumer Application Segments
2.3.1 Cellular Phones
2.3.2 Laptop Computers
2.3.3 Watches
2.3.4 Portable Charging
2.4 Industrial Application Segments
2.4.1 Wireless Sensor Networks
2.4.1.1 Wireless Building Controls and Automation
2.4.2 Energy Harvesting for Wired or Wireless Implementations in New Construction and Retrofits
2.4.3 Energy Harvesting for Wireless System Technologies
2.4.3.1 EnOcean
2.4.3.2 ZigBee
2.4.4 Energy Harvesting for Wireless Industrial Automation
2.4.4.1 The Industrial Environment
2.4.4.2 Security, Privacy, Reliability, and Energy
Harvesting
2.4.4.3 ZigBee, WirelessHART, ISA100, and NAMUR
2.4.4.4 Standards
2.4.5 Medical Devices
2.4.6 Military Devices
2.4.7 Automotive and Aviation Devices
2.5 Power Management for Low-Power Wireless Devices
2.6 Energy Storage for Low-Power Wireless Devices
3. Technology Issues
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Power Requirements
3.2.1 Processing
3.2.2 Communications
3.3 Energy Sources Suitable for Harvesting
3.3.1 Electromagnetic Radiation
3.3.2 Thermal Energy
3.3.3 Mechanical Energy Sources
3.3.3.1 Steady-State Mechanical Sources
3.3.3.2 Intermittent Mechanical Sources
3.3.3.3 Vibration
3.4 Energy Conversion Methods
3.4.1 Electromagnetic Radiation
3.4.2 Thermal Conversion
3.4.3 Steady-State Mechanical Conversion
3.4.3.1 Vibration Conversion
3.4.3.1 Vibration Conversion
3.4.3.1.1. Piezoelectric Conversion
3.4.3.1.2. Electrostatic Conversion
3.4.3.1.3. Electromagnetic Conversion
3.4.4 Intermittent Mechanical Conversion
3.4.4.1 Piezoelectric Conversion
3.4.4.2 Electroactive Polymer Conversion
3.4.4.3 Electromagnetic Conversion
3.5 Comparison of Practical Energy Harvesting Devices
4. Key Industry Players
4.1 Arveni
4.2 Convergence Wireless
4.3 Cymbet
4.4 Ember
4.5 EnOcean
4.6 G24 Innovations
4.7 GreenPeak Technologies
4.8 Infinite Power Solutions
4.9 IMEC Holst
4.10 Levant Power
4.11 Linear Technology
4.12 Marlow Industries
4.13 Microchip Technology
4.14 Micropelt
4.15 MicroStrain
4.16 Nextreme Thermal Solutions
4.17 Perpetuum
4.18 Schneider Electric
4.19 Seiko Epson
4.20 Sol Chip
4.21 Texas Instruments
5. Market Forecasts
5.1 Market Analysis and Forecast Methodology
5.2 Consumer Applications
5.2.1 Cellular Phones
5.2.2 Laptop Computers
5.2.3 Watches
5.2.4 Portable Charging
5.3 Industrial Applications
5.3.1 Building Automation
5.3.2 Industrial Automation
5.3.3 Medical Devices
5.3.4 Military Devices
5.3.5 Automotive and Aviation Devices
5.4 Technology Segmentation
5.5 Geographic Segmentation
5.6 Conclusions and Recommendations
6. Company Directory
7. Acronym and Abbreviation List
8. Table of Contents
9. Table of Charts and Figures
10. Scope of Study, Sources and Methodology, Notes
List of Charts and Figures
- Energy Harvesting Revenue, World Markets: 2013-2020
- Energy Harvesting Revenue by Application, World Markets: 2013-2020
- Energy Harvesting Revenue Percentage by Technology, World Markets: 2020
- Energy Harvesting Revenue Percentage by Region, World Markets: 2020
- Nokia Morph Concept Phone, Samsung Solar Phone, and a Solar Bluetooth Headset
- Logitech Keyboard and Samsung Solar Laptop
- ETA Autoquartz Design and Seiko AGS Generator for the Kinetic Series
- The Seiko Thermic Wristwatch
- Citizen Eco-Drive
- Eton Windup and Solar Light/Radio
- Examples of Solid-State Batteries
- A Generic Sensor Network Node with Energy Harvesting Device
- Comparison of Energy Harvesting Solutions
- Vibration Amplitude as a Function of Frequency for a Domestic Freeze, Acceleration Magnitude and Displacement Amplitude
- Model of a Translational Inertial Generator
- Piezoceramic Cantilever Resonator
List of Tables
- Energy Harvesting Revenue, World Markets: 2013-2020
- Energy Harvesting Revenue by Application, World Markets: 2013-2020
- Energy Harvesting Revenue Percentage by Technology, World Markets: 2020
- Energy Harvesting Revenue Percentage by Region, World Markets: 2020
- Energy Harvesting Consumer and Industrial Application Adoption Timeframe
- Summary of Power Consumption of Commercial Sensor Network Nodes
- Comparison of Energy Harvesting Devices