Energy Harvesting: Rediscovering Wasted Energy

Discover a world where every step you take, every word you speak, and every breath you breathe becomes electricity.

• Understand the principles behind various energy harvesting technologies around us.
• Learn how energy harvesting is utilized in automotive, industrial, and medical fields.
• Explore market trends and future development potential of energy harvesting technology.

Have you ever imagined a world where your morning commute charges your smartphone, and the heat from factory machines powers sensors that monitor themselves? This is exactly what Energy Harvesting technology is making possible. It goes beyond simply ‘mining’ energy to a major paradigm shift of ‘harvesting’ scattered ambient energy like crops.

Automobiles: Power Plants on Wheels

Did you know that the car you drive every morning is actually a “moving power plant” generating its own energy?

Hyundai Motor Group’s Ioniq 5 uses a solar roof system that collects sunlight even while parked to generate electricity. On sunny days, this roof alone can provide enough free electricity to extend driving range by up to 1,500 km per year.

But that’s not all. The kinetic energy wasted when braking is recovered through the regenerative braking system and returned to the battery. Even the hot waste heat generated by the electric motor and battery is captured by a heat pump for winter heating. Cars are the most practical example of ‘hybrid harvesting,’ collecting solar (photovoltaic), motion (mechanical), and thermal (thermoelectric) energy all in one place.

Smart Homes and Industrial Innovation: Piezoelectric Effect

Now, let’s move to your living room. What if there was a switch with no wires or batteries?

German company EnOcean has made this a reality.

EnOcean’s wireless switches use the mechanical force of a quick finger press. A tiny piezoelectric element inside the switch generates a small electric charge from the pressure and sends a wireless signal to turn on the lights. No wiring or battery replacement means maintenance costs are nearly zero.

This is the magic of the piezoelectric effect.

This technology shines in industrial settings as well. Korean company CoaChips developed wireless sensors that harvest vibration energy from factory machines. This allows old equipment to become part of a smart factory without complex wiring and enables remote monitoring of hazardous areas.

Energy Harvesting Inside the Human Body: Never-Ending Medical Devices

Technology is now ready to enter our bodies. Imagine a future where you no longer need risky surgery to replace a pacemaker battery.

Scientists are developing ‘biocompatible’ energy harvesters to make this dream a reality. While traditional piezoelectric materials (PZT) contain harmful lead, DGIST researchers developed a lead-free perovskite-structured new material (CTO), opening the door to safe human application.

Furthermore, KAIST researchers discovered a new method to harvest more energy from slow, gentle movements like those of the human body. The era when your body movements and body heat power your implanted medical devices is fast approaching.

Unsung Heroes of Energy Harvesting Systems

Innovative materials alone aren’t enough to generate usable energy. Harvested energy is often tiny and unpredictable.

The hidden heroes taming this ‘wild horse’ electricity are Power Management ICs (PMICs) and Energy Storage Systems (ESS).

• PMIC (Power Management IC): The system’s ‘brain.’ It boosts the low harvested voltage to usable levels, safely charges energy, and supplies stable power to devices. I like to compare PMICs to a dam operator controlling water levels. Even if the incoming water (energy) is irregular, it ensures a steady flow out.
• ESS (Energy Storage System): The ‘container’ for harvested energy. Like a reservoir, it stores energy for when the sun sets or the wind stops. Finding the optimal balance between large rechargeable batteries and long-lasting supercapacitors is crucial.

Ultimately, the winners in the energy harvesting market will be companies that fully understand the entire system—from materials to PMICs and ESS—and provide optimal solutions.

Future Competition and Market Outlook for Energy Harvesting

How fast is this huge potential market growing?

Multiple market research firms predict the global energy harvesting market will grow steadily at 9–13% CAGR, reaching about $3 billion (approx. 4 trillion KRW) by 2032.

The main growth drivers are building/home automation and industrial IoT (IIoT), as both fields face the challenge of ‘difficult battery replacement,’ which energy harvesting can most reliably solve.

• Regional Trends: North America and Europe currently lead the market, but the Asia-Pacific region has the most explosive growth potential.
• Domestic Status: South Korea has a small domestic market but is an R&D powerhouse with world-class research institutes and skilled companies. An export-oriented strategy targeting larger global markets based on technological strength is essential.

Comparison / Alternatives

Energy harvesting technologies vary, but which is most effective in which environment? It depends on whether energy is harvested from ‘instant shocks’ or ‘continuous state differences.’

Conclusion

Energy harvesting technology is the key to unlocking the true Internet of Things era. From footsteps on the street, factory noise, to Wi-Fi signals floating in the air, wasted energy will soon cease to exist.

• Key Summary:

  1. Energy ‘Harvesting’: Converts wasted energy from sunlight, heat, vibration, etc., into useful electricity.
  2. Wide Applications: Accelerates a battery-free world in cars, smart homes, industry, and healthcare.
  3. System Importance: Beyond innovative materials, PMICs managing harvested energy and ESS storing it are core competitive technologies.

Why not keep an eye on this fascinating technology’s progress? Start by looking around you to see what energy you can ‘harvest’ right now.