Power Harvesting

Power harvesting refers to the process of capturing small amounts of energy from ambient sources such as light, heat, vibration, motion, and electromagnetic waves and converting it into usable electrical power. These systems are typically used for low-power applications including sensors, wearable devices, wireless networks, and Internet of Things technologies. Common power harvesting methods include photovoltaic, piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and electromagnetic techniques. Power harvesting reduces dependence on batteries, extends device lifetime, and enables self-powered systems. Advances in materials, microelectronics, and energy management circuits have significantly improved efficiency and scalability. Power harvesting supports sustainable energy utilization by converting otherwise wasted environmental energy into useful electrical power. It plays an important role in distributed energy systems, smart infrastructure, and next-generation autonomous devices.