Introduction

Energy harvesting is a revolutionary field that enables the capture and conversion of ambient energy into usable electrical power, reducing reliance on conventional energy sources. This course provides an in-depth exploration of piezoelectric, thermoelectric, photovoltaic, RF, and kinetic energy harvesting technologies. Participants will gain hands-on experience with advanced materials, system design, and real-world applications, including IoT, wearables, smart grids, and autonomous sensors. The course emphasizes modern challenges and future innovations, ensuring engineers and researchers are prepared for the next wave of sustainable energy solutions.

Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will:

1. Understand the fundamental principles of energy harvesting and energy conversion mechanisms.
2. Explore different energy sources such as solar, thermal, vibrational, RF, and biochemical energy.
3. Analyze cutting-edge materials and nanotechnology applications in energy harvesting.
4. Learn about power management, storage, and efficiency optimization in energy harvesting systems.
5. Develop skills in designing and implementing energy harvesting for IoT, biomedical, and industrial applications.
6. Examine the future potential of energy harvesting in smart cities, self-powered electronics, and wireless sensor networks.
7. Gain hands-on experience with energy harvesting systems and power management circuits.

Who Should Attend?

This course is ideal for:

• Electrical, Mechanical, and Renewable Energy Engineers working on sustainable power solutions.
• IoT Developers & Embedded System Designers integrating energy harvesting into devices.
• Biomedical Engineers & Researchers exploring self-powered medical implants and wearables.
• Materials Scientists & Nanotechnology Experts working on novel energy materials.
• Automotive & Aerospace Engineers interested in self-sustaining sensors and power systems.
• Academics & Researchers seeking to advance knowledge in energy harvesting technologies.

Course Outline

Day 1: Fundamentals of Energy Harvesting

• Module 1.1: Introduction to Energy Harvesting

  • Principles of energy conversion and self-powered electronics
  • Comparison of different energy sources (solar, thermal, kinetic, RF, etc.)
  • Power density and efficiency considerations in energy harvesting

• Module 1.2: Overview of Energy Harvesting Materials & Devices

  • Piezoelectric, thermoelectric, photovoltaic, and triboelectric materials
  • Smart materials and nanotechnology in energy harvesting
  • Commercial energy harvesting modules and ICs

• Module 1.3: Hands-On Session

  • Simulation of energy harvesting using MATLAB, COMSOL, or ANSYS
  • Testing energy conversion efficiency with sample materials

Day 2: Piezoelectric, Thermoelectric & Triboelectric Energy Harvesting

• Module 2.1: Piezoelectric Energy Harvesting

  • Mechanisms of piezoelectric energy conversion
  • Smart materials for mechanical energy capture (PZT, PVDF, ZnO, etc.)
  • Application in structural health monitoring, IoT, and biomechanics

• Module 2.2: Thermoelectric & Triboelectric Energy Harvesting

  • Thermoelectric generators (TEGs) and Seebeck effect
  • High-performance thermoelectric materials and nanostructuring
  • Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) for motion-based energy harvesting

• Module 2.3: Hands-On Session

  • Building and testing a piezoelectric energy harvester
  • Thermoelectric module demonstration with temperature differentials

Day 3: Solar, RF, and Hybrid Energy Harvesting

• Module 3.1: Photovoltaic Energy Harvesting

  • Thin-film, perovskite, and flexible solar cells
  • Solar energy harvesting for portable and IoT applications
  • Maximum power point tracking (MPPT) for efficiency enhancement

• Module 3.2: RF & Hybrid Energy Harvesting

  • Wireless power transfer and RF energy scavenging
  • Rectenna technology and ultra-low-power energy harvesting circuits
  • Hybrid energy harvesting approaches (multi-source integration)

• Module 3.3: Hands-On Session

  • Designing and testing an RF energy harvester
  • Integrating a solar energy harvester with IoT sensors

Day 4: Power Management, Storage, and Applications

• Module 4.1: Energy Storage and Power Management

  • Supercapacitors vs. batteries for energy harvesting
  • Power conditioning, DC-DC converters, and energy regulation
  • Energy-aware system design for IoT and smart sensors

• Module 4.2: Applications in IoT, Biomedical, and Smart Cities

  • Self-powered sensors and embedded systems
  • Wearable devices and energy-autonomous biomedical implants
  • Case Study: Energy harvesting in smart cities & transportation

• Module 4.3: Hands-On Session

  • Building a self-powered IoT node using energy harvesting
  • Testing a real-time energy harvesting system in different environments

Day 5: Future Trends, Challenges & Industry Innovations

• Module 5.1: Emerging Trends in Energy Harvesting

  • Quantum dots, nanogenerators, and flexible energy harvesting materials
  • AI-driven energy management systems
  • Wireless energy harvesting in 6G networks

• Module 5.2: Industry Applications & Commercialization

  • Startup case studies & commercial breakthroughs
  • Regulatory challenges and integration into existing power networks
  • Future roadmap for self-powered devices in Industry 4.0 & IoT

• Final Project & Certification:

  • Participants develop a small-scale energy harvesting prototype
  • Presentation and expert feedback session
  • Certification of Completion

Prerequisites

• Basic knowledge of electrical engineering, physics, or materials science
• Familiarity with power electronics and circuit design (recommended but not required)
• Experience with IoT or embedded systems is beneficial for practical applications

Course Takeaways

✅ Gain expertise in cutting-edge energy harvesting technologies
✅ Learn practical implementation for IoT, biomedical, and smart city applications
✅ Hands-on experience with piezoelectric, thermoelectric, and RF harvesting
✅ Understand power management, energy storage, and real-world applications
✅ Be future-ready for sustainable energy solutions and self-powered electronics