Energy Harvesting Technology - 2025 entry

Most of today’s remote industrial devices are powered by batteries. The batteries, as the power source, having a very limited capacity, must be regularly replaced once they are depleted to allow the remote device to continue operating. One powerful technique that can overcome the issue is energy harvesting, which captures localised ambient energy sources, such as machine vibration, human motion, thermal and electromagnetic as the power source for the operation of the devices. The devices harvesting ambient energy can be operated in a perpetual manner without requiring main power or batteries for energy supply; the world will need many more professional people with a thorough knowledge of energy harvesting, their underlying physical and technology principles, and their applications. This module takes you into the energy-harvesting technology for a sustainable future. You will have an opportunity to learn a broad range of energy harvesting technologies, such as thermal, mechanical, solar, and wind energy harvesting methods.  Emphasis will be on the understanding of energy harvesting technology as a key solution to the sustainability problems of our present battery-powered systems. We also hope that it conveys the enthusiasm we have for this fascinating and increasingly important subject.

The module is intended to provide a basis for this knowledge. It is aimed at students and staff in universities and at professionals, policymakers and members of the public interested in desiring of having knowledge of energy harvesting technology for a sustainable future. 

The learning outcomes for this module have been mapped to the output standards required for an accredited programme, as listed in the current version of the Engineering Council’s ‘Accreditation of Higher Education Programmes’ document (AHEP-V4).
This module maps to learning outcomes: M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, M7, and M17.

The AHEP document can be viewed in full on the Engineering Council’s website, at http://www.engc.org.uk/ahep  

On successful completion of this module, you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

The module will provide a basis of knowledge in energy harvesting technology for the design, analysis, characterisation, and applications. The syllabus plan is:

1: Introducing energy harvesting technology

• Introducing what energy harvesting technology is
• Energy harvesting source and characteristics.
• Physical principles of energy harvesting from varieties energy sources
• Energy harvesting technology limitations and challenges.
• Characterisation method of energy harvesting transducers

2: Piezoelectric energy harvesting

• Piezoelectricity
• Piezoelectric materials and structures
• Piezoelectric energy harvester analysis and modelling
• Applications

3: Electromagnetic energy harvesting -vibration based

• Electromagnetism
• Electromagnetic energy harvester and structures
• Electromagnetic energy harvester analysis and modelling
• Applications

4: Electromagnetic energy harvesting- Dymo generator

• Energy generation principle
• Electromagnetic energy harvester and structures
• Dymo-generator analysis and modelling
• Applications

5. Triboelectric generators

• Triboelectric effect
• Triboelectric energy harvester and structures
• Triboelectric energy harvester analysis and modelling
• Applications

6: Thermal energy harvesting

• Energy generation principle
• Thermal energy harvester and structures
• Thermal energy harvesting analysis and modelling.
• Applications

7: Solar energy harvesting

• Photovoltaic (PV) effect
• Thin film PV
• Electrical characteristics of silicon PV cells and modules
• Applications

8: Flow, wave and other energy harvesting

• Energy generation principles
• Flow, wave and other energy harvesters and structures
• Flow, wave and other energy harvesting method analyses and modelling
• Applications

9: Summary of energy harvesting technology

• Comparison of different energy harvesting methods
• Integration with power management and wireless sensors
• Economics and environmental impact

Deferral – if you have been deferred for any assessment you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your frst attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 50%) you will be expected to submit the relevant assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 50%.

• Lecture slides (compulsory)

• Academic papers recommended by the Module Convenor (compulsory)

• Recorded webinars recommended by the Module Convenor (compulsory)

All learning materials and resources will be provided before or during the course

Further recommended books (optional)

• Handbook of energy harvesting power supplies and applications. 2013, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC: https://edisciplinas.usp.br/pluginfile.php/5089987/mod_resource/content/2/HandbookOfEnergy.pdf

Reading list for this module: