Electronics manufacturers, purchasers, and supply chain workers want to eliminate their overreliance and excessive dumping of batteries. They must make intelligent electronics purchasing decisions to support the goal of phasing out traditional batteries. The rapid growth of the IoT makes it an urgent matter for sustainability.
Electronics stakeholders must explore batteryless energy harvesting and the IoT to keep toxic metals and chemicals from landfills. IoT devices are always on, so reducing their power expenditure is critical. These unique strategies catalyze action from electronics workers for a greener tech sector.
1. Solar energy
Solar harvesting is one of the most well-known ways to power remote IoT devices. Small solar panels have powered highway signs for years. The same mentality translates to the medley of machines creating smart cities, self-driving cars and Industry 4.0.
Because it is a standard technology, solar is one of the most accessible purchasing decisions for electronics companies. A surge in solar interest is driving prices down to more manageable realms and innovations are working to eliminate material concerns that comprise older blueprints. Solar for energy harvesting is compatible with countless surfaces and materials, especially as thinner films become commercially available.
2. Piezoelectric effect
Piezoelectric technology is a common yet understated resource for IoT, primarily for wearables. This tech leverages the piezoelectric effect in the device’s form factor with IoT sensors. This creates kinetic energy from mechanical stressors. IoT sustainability requires zero-emission power generation and storage, and fuel-free power is ideal.
People using IoT devices can generate energy from walking, scrolling on their phones, prepping dinner or working out. A car may drive through a sensor to activate a streetlight or marquee sign, allowing it to remain off when not in use. Any vibration generates power — it extends the life span of rechargeable batteries by preventing overheating and overcharging.
How can electronics manufacturers ensure their production and purchasing choices provide this functionality? They must focus on delivering a high value proposition. Energy harvesting materials are considerably lighter in weight and less volatile. The materials for batteryless structures are less likely to warp or become scarce, making procurement purchasing from diverse suppliers streamlined and agile.
3. Ambient energy
Energy harvesting and the IoT can use multiple solutions for phasing out unsustainable batteries. Ambient energy blends well with a layered energy generation strategy for resilience and eco-consciousness. Constantly occurring thermal and electromagnetic energy resources surround IoT devices, ready for harvesting. Manufacturers and engineers must consider incorporating parts in the product capable of taking advantage of the power.
It will have a significant impact on devices requiring low energy consumption. Batteries encourage overuse, and harnessing radio waves or heat to power an IoT device that would otherwise waste energy is critical to IoT sustainability. A smartphone charging via radio waves could extend its battery life by up to thirty percent. Every device and application is unique in its power requirements, requiring flexible energy sources.
Ambient energy is vital for solving layered issues in a batteryless IoT. It can consider disparate influences — like the device’s size or expected power cycle — alongside additional energy harvesting methods. This method is also the most malleable form of energy harvesting. For example, a production line can use heat from machinery, whereas a grocery store can use ambient light to power devices.
4. Supercapacitors over batteries
Energy harvesting has the potential to generate more power than IoT devices need. Electronics manufacturers must choose how to design IoT appliances so they do not waste any energy. The default purchasing strategy is battery storage. It is the choice most energy and tech companies select for eco-friendly, renewable energy generation.
A batteryless, sustainable IoT device seems contradictory using a battery. A unique way energy harvesting made the IoT more sustainable is by making the supercapacitor industry relevant.
IoT technology does not need the higher energy density of chemical batteries, but instead requires the electrostatic bursts of power supercaps provide. It works well with low-energy wireless technologies like Bluetooth Low Energy, common in IoT.
Supercaps improve the life of the device by needing less time to disperse and recharge energy. Manufacturers can avoid purchasing battery storage solutions and instead focus on incorporating supercapacitors in designs, decreasing battery waste and boosting efficiency.
5. Triboelectricity
Triboelectric energy harvesting requires materials to create friction to generate power. These methods are unique because they have numerous possibilities for material combinations, making scaling inexpensive and stress free.
Supply chains, logistics and procurement no longer need to worry about competing over competitive bids or having partnerships that crumble due to supply shortages. Incorporating triboelectric components embraces versatility in design and application for practical, sustainable IoT energy harvesting.
Energy harvesting and IoT sustainability
Energy harvesting and the IoT create a greener world for technology. Everything from water bottles to cranes could have disposable batteries that require constant maintenance and replacements if electronics manufacturers do not change their designs.
What they purchase for parts sets a sector-wide precedent for increased IoT sustainability. Forging products that support energy harvesting empowers the smart tech revolution, motivating digital transformation to challenge production techniques to be more sustainable.
