Energy Harvesting Technologies: Analysis of their potential for supplying power to sensors in buildings

Abstract

This paper provides a comprehensive overview of some key energy harvesting technologies and their applications in buildings. Energy consumption in buildings has attracted much attention in recent years as it is one of the fastest growing sectors for electrical energy consumption worldwide. Furthermore, the continuing growth of the population produces an increased demand for electrical energy to deliver their daily activities, especially in buildings. Consequently, alternative energy generation and energy saving technologies are required in order to meet the projected increase in the demand in coming years. Many researchers have shown that buildings have great potential for energy harvesting and saving initiatives. Energy harvesting technologies appear as a combination of electronic, mechanical, photoelectric, piezoelectric, and thermoelectric processes that collect energy from the environment. The aforementioned technologies have the potential to reduce the amount of electric cabling in buildings as well as extend the service-life of batteries used in different applications in buildings. Some of these technologies have already been implemented commercially, while others are still in the experimental phase. This study aims to analyze the feasibility of different energy harvesting technologies and their application for commercial, educational, and residential buildings and their environments. A comprehensive overview of the different technologies, a discussion on relevant challenges and several implementations of these devices in buildings and their surroundings will be analyzed.