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Energy harvesting for IoT: Custom systems that power smarter devices
Reading time 12 mins
Key Points
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The explosion in IoT devices—forecasted to more than double from 19.8 billion in 2025 to more than 40.6 billion by 2034—presents a massive challenge: how to power them efficiently and sustainably.
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Energy harvesting allows IoT devices to collect and store power from environmental sources.
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Proven techniques include solar, thermal, motion-based, and radio frequency (RF) energy harvesting, each with unique advantages and limitations.
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Custom systems are key to reducing battery reliance and improving device lifespan, especially in remote or mobile applications.
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Wearables are a fast-growing frontier for energy harvesting, using body heat and movement to power smart health and fitness tech.
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Even experimental sources like plant-based energy are being explored for low-power environmental sensors in agriculture.
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AI-powered power management (via lightweight embedded ML) helps optimise when and how energy is collected, stored, and used.
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Challenges include low power yield, integration complexity, and fluctuating environmental inputs, but all are solvable with expert design.
We build custom IoT hardware designed for real-world energy autonomy from concept to deployment. Partner with us to create smarter, sustainable, and scalable solutions.
Ben Mazur
Managing Director
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The term IoT (Internet of Things) refers to a vast network of interconnected everyday devices that exchange data over the internet, and is widely regarded as one of the most transformative technological advancements of the 21st century. While many of these devices are powered via conventional electricity sources—such as smart fridges or coffee machines plugged into the wall—or batteries in portable systems like drones or wildlife camera traps, the future lies in solutions that enable energy harvesting for IoT to maximise efficiency, autonomy, and sustainability.
Imagine going on a long-distance hike, charging your smartwatch using your body heat, or deploying a deep-sea exploration drone that surfaces and recharges using solar energy when its power runs low. These aren’t distant dreams—they’re fast becoming reality thanks to custom energy harvesting systems designed for the evolving needs of IoT.
For startups, innovators, and IoT developers looking to reduce reliance on traditional batteries and build more innovative, longer-lasting products, energy harvesting systems are the portal to next-gen functionality and sustainable design. At Ignitec®, IoT is what we do best—so if you need help developing custom hardware that integrates energy harvesting solutions, you’re in the right place. From smart home tech to autonomous underwater vehicles, our multidisciplinary team knows what it takes to take your idea from concept to product, on time and budget. Book a free discovery call with an expert on the team.
How is energy harvesting different from renewable energy?
Energy harvesting captures and converts small amounts of energy from the environment into usable electrical power. This allows electronic devices to operate without reliance on external power sources or frequent battery replacements. There are four general types of energy harvesting based on the source:
1. Ambient Energy
This includes light (solar and indoor), thermal, wind, hydro, and radio frequency (RF) signals from the environment. It’s one of the most commonly used sources for powering small electronics and IoT devices.
2. Chemical Energy
Often harvested through electrochemical reactions or fuel cells (e.g. biochemical) and can provide higher energy densities, but may require consumable materials.
3. Mechanical Energy
It is ideal for wearable tech or machines in motion, captured from motion, pressure, and vibration from humans or animals, or via strain-using technologies like piezoelectric or electromagnetic harvesters.
4. Bioenergy
Generated from biological sources like body heat, fluids, or even living plants. Some emerging systems—such as plant-microbial fuel cells—can convert biochemical activity in soil and roots into small amounts of electricity, which may power ultra-low-power IoT sensors in fields like agriculture or environmental monitoring.
Each type of energy harvesting system has its strengths and limitations. Those used for IoT typically focus on ambient and mechanical sources due to their scalability, reliability, and ease of integration.
While often used interchangeably with renewable energy because they’re related, energy harvesting refers to capturing small amounts of energy to power low-energy devices. On the other hand, renewable energy involves generating large-scale, sustainable power (like solar or wind) for broader applications like smart home automation or power-efficient smart grids.
Is there a demand for energy-efficient IoT devices?
The explosion in IoT devices—forecasted to more than double from 19.8 billion in 2025 to more than 40.6 billion by 2034—presents a massive challenge: how to power them efficiently and sustainably. Batteries are bulky, have a finite lifespan, and often require regular maintenance or replacement. They also generate a staggering amount of electronic waste (the annual generation of e-waste is rising by 2.6 million tonnes annually). Plug-in solutions aren’t always feasible for mobile or remote systems.
Energy efficiency in IoT devices reduces power consumption (up to 30% in commercial buildings and 20-50% in industrial applications), extending battery life and lowering operational costs. It also minimises environmental impact by decreasing reliance on non-renewable energy sources and is crucial for sustainability, especially in remote or resource-constrained environments.
Energy harvesting for IoT is an ideal solution for small and less power-hungry applications. It allows devices to collect and store energy from their surrounding environment. This not only reduces reliance on traditional power sources but also opens up possibilities for autonomous, long-lasting, and ultra-low-maintenance systems.
Energy harvesting for IoT techniques: Real-world applications
Several energy harvesting technologies have matured enough for real-world IoT deployments, particularly in low-power and remote-use applications.
1. Solar (Photovoltaic) Energy Harvesting
- Best for: Outdoor sensors, smart agriculture, industrial monitoring.
- How it works: Converts sunlight (or ambient indoor light) into electricity using photovoltaic cells.
- Limitations: Less practical in low-light conditions or shaded locations.
2. Thermal Energy Harvesting
- Best for: Industrial machinery, pipelines, wearables near body heat.
- How it works: Utilises thermoelectric generators (TEGs) to convert temperature differences into power.
- Limitations: Requires steady and significant thermal gradients to produce meaningful power.
3. Vibration and Motion (Piezoelectric) Energy Harvesting
- Best for: Wearables, vehicle-mounted sensors, factory machinery.
- How it works: Converts kinetic motion or vibration into electrical energy.
- Limitations: Output varies with the intensity and regularity of movement.
4. RF (Radio Frequency) Energy Harvesting
- Best for: Urban IoT, smart homes, asset tracking.
- How it works: Captures ambient RF signals (e.g., from Wi-Fi or mobile networks) and converts them into low-power electricity.
- Limitations: Harvested energy levels are minimal and suitable only for ultra-low-power applications.
Energy harvesting in wearables: Self-powering the body tech revolution
Wearables are among the most promising applications for energy harvesting. Devices like fitness trackers, smartwatches, and medical monitors must be lightweight, compact, dependable, and typically have limited battery space.
Human Heat Energy Harvesting
- How it works: Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) placed against the skin use the difference between body temperature and ambient air to generate power.
- Application: Used in some advanced fitness and health wearables for continuous passive charging.
Harnessing Body Movement
- How it works: Piezoelectric or electromagnetic components convert movement (like walking or wrist motion) into usable electrical energy.
- Application: Foot-powered insoles, kinetic bands, and motion-activated sensors.
Hybrid Systems for Wearables
Future-ready wearables increasingly integrate hybrid systems that combine heat, movement, and light to maximise uptime and eliminate charging. These are paired with ultra-efficient electronics and micro-storage to ensure reliability.
At Ignitec®, we can custom-create your next wearable tech design. These could be powered using miniaturised thermal and motion harvesting systems, energy-aware embedded design and a flexible integration into textiles and sensors. Book a free and confidential consultation with an expert on our team to learn more about how we can help!
Can’t find a fit? Custom energy harvesting solutions are the way forward!
Off-the-shelf solutions rarely meet the nuanced needs of IoT products with a USP. Whether designing for marine environments, wearables, or agricultural monitoring sensors, a custom energy harvesting system gives you greater control over energy sources, storage capacity, form factor, and overall reliability.
Ignitec’s® 12+ years of experience makes us the ideal partner for end-to-end IoT product development, custom energy harvesting prototyping, embedded system design for ultra-low-power applications, field testing and feasibility validation. We tailor every system to your product’s specific operating conditions, usage cycles, and performance goals, guaranteeing quality at every step. Please get in touch for more info.
Challenges and considerations of IoT using energy harvesting
Designing self-powered systems isn’t without complexity. Here are a few challenges IoT developers need to navigate:
| Challenge | Why It Matters |
| Low Power Yield | Harvested energy is minimal, requiring hyper-efficient energy management and storage systems. |
| Variable Environmental Input | Energy sources like light or motion are inconsistent, requiring hybrid systems and intelligent routing. |
| Space & Form Factor Constraints | Compact devices limit the physical size of harvesters and storage. |
| Integration Complexity | Balancing harvesting, conversion, and power management in one device is technically demanding. |
These challenges are best addressed during the design phase—not after prototyping—so it’s important to have experts on board as soon as possible.
Energy harvesting trends and future applications to keep an eye on
The energy harvesting space and market are evolving and growing fast. Emerging trends developers should keep an eye on include:
1. Multi-source hybrid systems
- Combining solar, thermal, and kinetic sources in one unit.
- More adaptable to dynamic or unpredictable environments.
2. AI-powered power management
- Lightweight, embedded AI with edge computing can help predict environmental energy availability and optimise how harvested power is stored and used, without requiring cloud processing or high-power hardware.
3. Autonomous sensor networks
- Especially in agriculture, disaster zones, or ocean monitoring, self-powered IoT nodes allow for long-term, low-maintenance data collection.
4. Printable and flexible energy harvesters
- Printed electronics and flexible materials to enable power generation in smart textiles and wearables.
Are you ready to power smarter?
As the IoT ecosystem expands into new environments and more critical use cases, self-powering and ‘forever battery’ applications become competitive advantages. With energy harvesting for IoT, developers and innovators can design devices that are longer-lasting, more reliable, and better for the environment.
Ignitec® is your partner in building innovative, sustainable, scalable IoT products. Whether you’re integrating body-powered systems into wearables or designing autonomous sensors for remote deployment, we’ll help you turn creative ideas into high-performance prototypes and finished products. Contact us for more info.
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FAQ’s
What is energy harvesting for IoT?
Energy harvesting for IoT refers to capturing small amounts of energy from the environment to power Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This includes sources like light, heat, motion, and radio frequencies. It helps reduce dependency on batteries and enables longer-lasting, low-maintenance devices.
How does energy harvesting work in wearable IoT devices?
Wearable IoT devices use body heat and movement to generate small amounts of energy through thermoelectric and piezoelectric systems. These systems convert heat differences or mechanical motion into electrical power. The harvested energy is stored in a battery or supercapacitor for later use.
Why is energy harvesting important for the future of IoT?
As IoT devices grow, traditional power methods like batteries become less sustainable. Energy harvesting allows devices to operate autonomously in remote or mobile environments. It also supports the shift toward more eco-friendly and maintenance-free technology solutions.
What are the main types of energy harvesting used in IoT devices?
The main types include solar (ambient light), thermal (body or machine heat), mechanical (vibrations or movement), and RF (radio frequency signals). Each method suits different use cases depending on environmental conditions. Some devices also use hybrid systems that combine multiple energy sources.
Which IoT applications benefit most from energy harvesting?
Energy harvesting is particularly useful in remote sensors, environmental monitoring, wearables, asset tracking, and agricultural IoT systems. These devices often operate where battery replacement is impractical. Harvesting enables them to function longer and more reliably without external power.
How reliable is energy harvesting for powering IoT sensors?
The reliability depends on the consistency of the environmental energy source and the sensor’s power requirements. Energy harvesting can be highly reliable for ultra-low-power devices, especially when paired with efficient energy storage. Inconsistent sources may require hybrid harvesting or fallback power systems.
What are the challenges of using energy harvesting in IoT devices?
Challenges include the low power yield of ambient sources, variable environmental conditions, and the need for compact, integrated hardware. Energy management and storage systems must be highly efficient. Careful design is essential to ensure consistent performance.
When should energy harvesting be considered in an IoT product design?
Energy harvesting should be considered early in the design process, especially for products operating in remote or hard-to-reach locations. It is ideal for devices requiring long-term deployment with minimal maintenance. Designing with harvesting in mind from the start ensures better integration and energy efficiency.
Who is developing new technologies for energy harvesting in IoT?
Innovators in academia, startups, and product development consultancies are advancing this field. They are exploring printed electronics, flexible materials, and AI-optimised systems. Collaboration across sectors is driving progress in energy-autonomous IoT solutions.
What are hybrid energy harvesting systems in IoT?
Hybrid systems combine two or more energy sources—such as solar, thermal, and motion—to improve reliability and efficiency. This helps balance out the variability of individual sources. Hybrid designs are beneficial for outdoor or mobile IoT devices.
Why are batteries still used in energy harvesting systems?
Energy harvested from the environment is often intermittent and low in volume. Batteries or supercapacitors store this energy when the source isn’t available. They provide a stable power supply and support higher energy demands when needed.
Which industries are adopting energy harvesting for IoT the fastest?
Industries like agriculture, healthcare, logistics, and environmental monitoring are leading adoption. These sectors benefit from the ability to deploy devices in areas without constant access to power. Energy harvesting supports more autonomous, scalable IoT deployments.
How does AI improve energy harvesting in IoT systems?
AI can help predict environmental energy availability and optimise power usage patterns. Lightweight algorithms running on low-power microcontrollers can make decisions about when to collect, store, or conserve energy, resulting in smarter and more efficient device behaviour.
What is the difference between energy harvesting and renewable energy?
Energy harvesting captures small-scale energy from ambient sources to power low-energy electronics. Renewable energy typically refers to large-scale generation, like solar farms or wind turbines, for powering homes or the grid. They are related but used in different contexts and scales.
Which energy harvesting method is best for indoor IoT devices?
Indoor devices often benefit most from RF energy or low-light photovoltaic cells. These methods can convert ambient Wi-Fi or indoor lighting into small amounts of power. Efficiency depends on proximity to signal or light sources.
Why is solar energy commonly used in IoT energy harvesting?
Solar energy is abundant, reliable in many outdoor settings, and relatively easy to convert into electricity using small photovoltaic panels. It’s particularly effective for agricultural and industrial sensors. However, it becomes less viable in shaded or indoor environments.
What role does energy storage play in IoT energy harvesting systems?
Energy storage is crucial for managing the intermittent nature of most harvested energy sources. It ensures devices have access to power even when the environment is not generating energy. Storage solutions must be efficient, compact, and matched to the device’s energy profile.
How small can energy harvesting systems be made for IoT?
Modern advances in materials and microelectronics have enabled energy harvesters to be embedded in wearables, textiles, and even under the skin. The size depends on power needs and the chosen harvesting method. Miniaturisation allows integration into compact and lightweight products.
Which materials are used in thermal and motion energy harvesters?
Thermal energy harvesters use thermoelectric materials like bismuth telluride, while motion-based systems rely on piezoelectric ceramics or flexible polymers. These materials convert heat or strain into voltage, and research continues to make them smaller, cheaper, and more efficient.
How does energy harvesting contribute to sustainable IoT?
Energy harvesting lowers electronic waste and energy consumption by reducing the need for disposable batteries and wired power sources. It enables longer-lasting devices with minimal environmental impact, making it a key component in building a more sustainable IoT ecosystem.
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