Demand for energy harvesters is expected to grow with the development of low-power electronics, motivated by the increasing need for various applications to run efficiently, independently and remotely, according to GBI Research.

GBI is projecting demand to increase at a compound annual growth rate of 17.1 percent through 2016 while ICTechEX forecasts a more than 700 percent increase by 2020.

Although a number of low power microcontrollers, digital signal processors, RF transceivers and sensors have already been developed, further technological development is required to facilitate an efficient means of energy storage, GBI notes.

While a combination of batteries and capacitors can provide a safe and efficient harvesting system, the industry still lacks an innovative way to store harvested energy over prolonged lengths of time.

The next stage is hybrid energy harvesters which utilize multiple sources, such as light, heat and vibrations, to increase its energy generating potential. Ambient energy harvesters have the potential to provide an emission-free green energy supply and could very possibly replace batteries in the future, according to an analysis by technology experts at GBI Research. That is, if technology can keep up.

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