Topics covered include:

• Commercialization Status
• Application Trends
• Power Levels
• Energy Storage Trends
• Energy Harvesting Technologies
• Packaging and Materials
• Value Proposition and Cost Analysis
• Standards Update
• nanoPower Forum: A Review of Key Developments

Energy harvesting has been “emerging” for several years, but the technology is now poised to break out commercially, driven by developments in areas that are, themselves, emerging applications. The market got its initial acceptance in wireless building automation and control, with deployments in Europe. These opportunities spread to North America, where home automation and control technologies were added to the mix. Wireless sensor mesh networks provided challenges that energy harvesting could meet, particularly where battery use was limited or problematic. Energy efficiency, the Smart Grid, radio frequency ID, and thin-film batteries all helped to advance energy harvesting solutions.

It has identified the following drivers for ultra-low-power:
• Bi-directionality, including data rates and range.
• Network security, primarily data integrity.
• Real time monitoring.
• Environmental regulations.
• Remote communication with “host” system.
• Proliferation of sensor mesh networks.

Evidence exists that the “crossover” from the “Introduction” phase to the “Growth” phase will take place in the 2009/10 timeframe. The appearance of third-generation products often signals the crossover into the Growth phase. Based on the timeline and company activity of EnOcean Alliance members and over 200 other organizations and companies, energy harvesting is poised for commercial adoption, with market share increasing. The time it will spend in the Growth phase is hard to predict at this point, but this phase is marked by rapid acceleration in sales and significant gains in market share, overall. It will present a good opportunity for makers of energy harvesting solutions.


Executive Summary

Energy harvesting has been “emerging” for several years, but the technology is now poised to break out commercially, driven by developments in areas that are, themselves, emerging applications. The market got its initial acceptance in wireless building automation and control, with deployments in Europe. These opportunities spread to North America, where home automation and control technologies were added to the mix. Wireless sensor mesh networks provided challenges that energy harvesting could meet, particularly where battery use was limited or problematic. Energy efficiency, the Smart Grid, radio frequency ID, and thin-film batteries all helped to advance energy harvesting solutions.

The question now is whether energy harvesting will remain a niche application or enable emerging applications such as wireless medical devices, environmental monitoring, and tire pressure sensing. Demand can be measured by the kind and amount of products that are introduced for emerging applications. This was true for digital power management and control, which started with IC makers and moved into ac-dc and dc-dc converters. Pricing is always a critical crossover point, as well. Digital pricing had to reach parity with analog pricing.

The energy harvesting market for more years than other analyst firms. In 2005, we recognized the potential of this technology to both capitalize on, and transform, the small but growing wireless sensor market. After working with a number of North American and European companies, this current report is the third edition of our Energy Harvesting report series. It also identified key industry issues and players, and brought them together with the international nanoPower Forum (nPF). Now heading into its fourth year, nPF will be held in May, 2010. This experience provides unique and useful insight into a market that is ready to break out of its emerging status.

Evidence exists that the “crossover” from the “Introduction” phase to the “Growth” phase will take place in the 2009/10 timeframe. This is based on product introductions from EnOcean that started in 2002. By 2005, the second generation of products was introduced and other companies were offering new products, as well. In 2006, Electronica featured many European companies that had first generation products, while EnOcean was already on the second generation. In November, 2009, the EnOcean Alliance publicized their energy harvesting standard, which presently contains 50 equipment profiles supporting the development of a variety of solutions for building automation. The size of the installations is increasing, and third-generation products have appeared in 2009.

As noted above, the appearance of third-generation products often signals the crossover into the Growth phase. Based on the timeline and company activity of the EnOcean Alliance members, energy harvesting is poised for commercial adoption, with market share increasing. The time it will spend in the Growth phase is hard to predict at this point, but this phase is marked by rapid acceleration in sales and significant gains in market share, overall. It will present a good opportunity for makers of energy harvesting solutions.

The following drivers for ultra-low-power:
• Bi-directionality, including data rates and range.
• Network security, primarily data integrity.
• Real time monitoring.
• Environmental regulations.
• Remote communication with “host” system.
• Proliferation of sensor mesh networks.

The global economic crisis has affected sales of wireless sensor devices, but companies are still seeing opportunities during the downturn. Companies like Cypress Semiconductor, austriamicrosystems and Future Electronics were interviewed on this subject, and the general consensus was that the trend toward “more intelligent machines” would continue, with more – not less – sensing functionality built into devices. For example, the number of cars being sold might decline, but the number of sensors inside each car is rising.

Some sectors are being affected more than others, according to these companies, particularly with the decline in new housing starts and other commercial construction. In a downturn, companies focus on efficiency and cost saving. Where they are able to do so, they will invest in systems that lead to more automation and greater efficiency, which in turn will lead to continued growth in the sensor market. Motion control, automotive and security systems were cited, in particular.

A 2009 ON World survey of 76 facility managers and IT directors found that 21% are currently using wireless sensors, and 32% are planning to implement wireless sensor network (WSN) solutions within the next two years. WSN markets currently gaining traction include hospitality, healthcare, data centers, lighting control, energy management systems, and “large open spaces” in manufacturing, warehousing and parking garages. The labor costs and set-up problems associated with wiring and changing batteries give WSNs powered by energy harvesting a distinct advantage.

Energy harvesting is being deployed, particularly in building automation sensor applications. Overall, however, it is still in the development stages. Industry players indicate multiple energy harvesting technologies will most likely be required, since each technology has its own set of advantages and trade-offs, depending on the application. Energy storage appropriate to energy harvesting is also critical, and such solutions – like thin-film batteries and supercapacitors – are now being introduced. As a result, wide-scale adoption is likely to require partnerships that include sensor manufacturers, ultra-low-power electronics manufacturers and energy harvesting makers.

Power requirements of some portable devices can “overlap” with energy harvesti

Introduction 4
Commercialization Status 7
Application Trends 9
Home Automation 9
Building Automation 12
Industrial Process 14
Environmental Monitoring 17
Automated Meter Reading 19
Medical 22
Military/Aerospace and Related 24
Automotive 27
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) 29
Other Trends 31
Power Levels 32
Energy Storage Trends 37
Thin-film Batteries 39
Primary Batteries 40
Rechargeable Batteries 41
Supercapacitors/Ultracapacitors 41
Energy Storage Comparison 43
Self-Discharge 46
Energy Harvesting Technologies 47
Photovoltaic 49
Thermoelectric 49
Mechanical Vibration 50
Radio Frequency 52
Other Trends 53
Packaging and Materials 54
Value Proposition & Cost Analysis 57
Standards Update 61
Appendix A – nanoPower Forum Shows Road to Commercialization: A Review of Key Developments 65
Appendix B – EnOcean Alliance Members and Representative Installations 69

List of Exhibits

Table 1 – Selected Applications and Power Requirements 33
Table 2 – Energy Harvesting Functions and Power Levels 33
Table 3 – Energy Harvesting Technologies and Power Levels 35
Table 4 – Energy Storage Devices, Self-Discharge Rates 46
Table 5 – Selected Power Sources and Applications 48
Table 6 – Energy Harvesting Systems, Power and Cost 59
Table 7 – Energy Harvesting Installation Cost Savings 60
Table 8 – Inventory Management Cost Options, Wired vs Wireless Automation Investment 60

Figure 1 – Product Life Cycle Curve for Energy Harvesting Technologies 8
Figure 2 – Nokia Home Control Center Device 11
Figure 3 – Piezoelectric Power Generating Floors 14
Figure 4 – Fisher® Wireless Position Monitors 16
Figure 5 – Voltree Sensor Node 18
Figure 6 – SecureMesh™ Powerline Repeater 22
Figure 7 – Body Area Networks, Data Rate vs Power Levels 24
Figure 8 – Bell M412 Test Flight 26
Figure 9 – Pico Cube Architecture 28
Figure 10 – Power Consumption and Data Rates 34
Figure 11 – Portable versus Energy Harvesting 36
Figure 12 – Thin-film Lithium Battery for Implantable Medical Device 39
Figure 13 – Freescale “Hive Node” 43
Figure 14 – Energy Storage Devices, Cycle Life 44
Figure 15 – Energy Storage Devices, Specific Energy Density (Wh/kg) 44
Figure 16 – Energy Storage Devices, Specific Power Density (W/kg) 45
Figure 17 – TE-Power NODE Thermoelectric Sensor System 50
Figure 18 – JTRA-e5mini Power Supply 51
Figure 19 – System-in-Package Microsensor 57
Figure 20 – Typical Forecast for Average Sale Prices for WSN Nodes for Commercial Buildings 59
Figure 21 – Issues with Primary Batteries in Wireless Sensor Networks 61