futurefocus.org.uktag:futurefocus.org.uk,2008-04-29://12008-08-30T01:43:32ZMovable Type Personal 4.1Energy Harvestingtag:futurefocus.org.uk,2008://1.82008-08-30T01:13:14Z2008-08-30T01:43:32ZEnergy harvesting soon to bear fruit?Energy harvesting may soon be coming to a bridge, a staircase, a light switch, a revolving door, a keyboard, an iPod, a flip phone, a medical implant, the elbow of a jacket or a pair...futurefocushttp://www.futurefocus.org.uk
Energy harvesting soon to bear fruit?
Energy harvesting may soon be coming to a bridge, a staircase, a light switch, a revolving door, a keyboard, an iPod, a flip phone, a medical implant, the elbow of a jacket or a pair of new trainers near you. Oh, and the dance floor at the Surya disco, as of July 10th.
Energy harvesting will never meet all our energy needs, but it uses a number of techniques to capture the minute amounts of energy generated by vibration, pressure, movement, heat difference or electro-magnetic waves - which can then be used in situ using wireless technologies and eliminating the need for batteries and cables. It has potential applications in areas as diverse as medical technology, building design, street lighting, logistics, security, mobile equipment, the battlefield, process and systems monitoring - to name but a few.
Research into the potential of energy harvesting has been increasing over the past 12 years in places such as MIT Media Lab, NPL, University of Southampton, and University of Hull.
Why is this important?
Carbon emissions targets and rising energy prices are making companies politicians and consumers alike more aware of the need to reduce energy consumption. Innovative product design including energy harvesting may provide competitive edge. Customers may begin to expect such approaches as the next wave of CSR and sustainability.
As pervasive computing / ambient intelligence and location based services become more of a reality, the need to power millions of in situ sensors and other forms of intelligence will grow.
Likewise the growth of mobile equipment all of which needs charging: in built energy harvesting could reduce the load.
Planning regulations, public procurement and building regulations could all play a role in encouraging the installation and implementation of energy harvesting technologies in everything from station forecourts, to roads, to revolving doors.
For more information, but by no means an exhaustive or complete set of research: