UAE. Heating, cooling and lighting are the main energy expenditures in buildings today. A building automation system (BAS), which is powered by batteries, can assist in reducing and optimising these energy expenses, while maintaining a comfortable environment for occupants. 

The key in making a BAS function in terms of relaying data related to temperature, occupancy, wind flow, light intensity, and so on, are wireless sensor networks (WSNs). 

A drawback for WSNs is the dependence on batteries, which have severe limitations with respect to life span and maintenance, among other shortfalls. Energy harvesters (EHs) significantly improve battery life, thereby reducing maintenance and disposal costs.

Analysis from Frost & Sullivan’s (http://www.technicalinsights.frost.com) Advances in Energy Harvesting Technologies for Building Automation research finds that progression in EH technology has enabled BASs to be more independent and flexible to identify and address energy wastage from buildings. 

This is provided through EHs’ ability to scavenge ambient energy, including solar power as well as thermal, kinetic and electrical energy, allowing EHs to resupply power regularly. From this enhanced energy reservoir, WSNs are enabled to have additional features and options for end-users.  Additionally, the energy efficiency of EHs allow WSNs to be placed anywhere in a building, with minimal overhead.  This eco-friendly technology aligns well with popular green initiatives currently being implemented.

Universities are at the forefront of exploring techniques and designs to reduce the EH footprint and increase the power density factor.  Original equipment manufacturer (OEM) initiatives have also caused a huge impact in bringing together market actors to deploy products with interoperability and ease of implementation for the end-user. 

Alliances have played a vital role in collaborating and bringing together the different manufacturers under one umbrella; however, more collaboration is needed at the university level.

“Reducing the energy consumption of EHs has not affected the performance of the device,” said Technical Insights Analyst, Frost & Sullivan. “Rather, the unique microstructuring design and dense packing has increased the power density several fold. This enables the EH to be physically integrated with different custom designed WSN applications.”

However, ambient EHs are currently limited in that each application requires a specific technology. There is no one-size-fits-all solution, as EHs still have not reached a broadband platform they are very much tuned to the requirement of the actual application. Additionally, the lack of a total solution delays mass adoption, so component manufacturers and OEMs need to further integrate EH devices to offer a complete solution.

“Hybrid EH devices can power ultra-low-power electronics,” added Frost & Sullivan Technical Insights Analyst.  “Building from this amalgam design would enable EH devices to scale a major hurdle to move closer to a nonspecific solution.”

Advances in Energy Harvesting Technologies for Building Automation is part of the Technical Insights subscription, which also includes Top Technologies in Microelectronics; Clean and Greentech in China: Funding Analysis; Renewable Energy for Residential and Commercial Applications; and Technology Developments in Offshore Wind Industry: Technology Market Penetration and Roadmapping. 

All research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market opportunities and industry trends evaluated following extensive interviews with market participants.  Interviews are available to the press.

Frost & Sullivan, a Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to accelerate growth and achieve best in- class positions in growth, innovation, and leadership.
 
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