Kinetic Energy Harvesters (KEH)

kinetic energy harvester graph

Kinetic or electrodynamic harvesters convert movement or vibration energy into electrical energy based on Faraday’s law of induction by moving a coil through a permanent magnetic field. A very well-known application making use of this principle is the pickup element of a record player.

More and more companies offer IoT devices based on this energy harvester principle, e.g.,

Revibe which offers IoT sensors for railway and mining which are self-powered over its entire operational lifetime, so no batteries have to be replaced. (https://revibeenergy.com)

Enocean which offers a switch to control, e.g., your indoor light. Just pressing the switch gives enough energy to send a couple of bytes to a receiver to switch a device on or off. (https://www.enocean.com/en/)

Enervibe which offers energy harvesters for smart tyres scavenging up to 30mW depending on the vehicle speed. Based on this energy harvester they offer a self-powered tyre monitoring system measuring, tyre load, tyre air temp, road condition, tyre pressure, rubber wear, and speed.  Enervibe also offers a KEH-based sensor for smart shoes, eliminating the need for battery replacement. (https://enervibe.co)

Above are just a couple of examples showing the diversity of the different types of Kinetic Energy harvesters existing already today. When compared to photovoltaic, electrodynamic harvesters do not have the highest power density (the power density of machine vibration is around 800 microwatt/m3). However, it is still a very useful source of energy for powering IoT devices.

Image credit: mdpi.com

You may also like

the scheme showing key roles of deep tech team

Deep Tech Dream Team

How many people are essential for your team to start conquering the new heights? In fact, many successful deep tech startups begin with a founder and 2-5 team members. When your startup is in its early days, its success will be determined by how many competent and ambitious people you have. 

Read more
the scheme showing macroeconomic trends which impact on M&A

Impact of Macroeconomic Trends on M&A

The arena of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is intricately tied to macroeconomic trends, making it essential for executives and investors to understand these broader forces at play. Factors such as interest rates, economic growth, inflation, and regulatory changes can significantly influence the timing, volume, and nature of M&A activity.

Read more
image with icons and a title startup acquisition

How to Prepare Your Startup for Acquisition

Getting your startup ready for an acquisition can be a game-changer, but it is no small task. To maximize value and ensure you come out on top, it is crucial to prepare properly before entering the M&A process. Here is how you can get your company acquisition-ready and position yourself for a favorable deal. 

Read more