Fraunhofer Energy Alliance
Fraunhofer Energy Alliance

Energy Storage

Energy Harvesting

Energy Harvesting

Micro Energy Harvesting is a relatively young discipline in the field of mobile power supply of small devices and in off-grid applications. Especially thermoelectric and piezoelectric energy conversion methods are applied here. In thermoelectric energy conversion, a temperature gradient is converted into electrical energy.

Piezoelectric energy conversion is based on the generation of voltage by pressure and vibrations. When monitoring the function in moving or remote plants, systems designed by the Fraunhofer Energy Alliance can provide power for the radio transmission of sensor signals.

Competences »Energy Harvesting« | Fraunhofer Energy Alliance

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Thermoelectric Energy Converters

Energy harvesting is the use of energy from the environment to supply small electronic consumers. In this context, our member institutes develop efficient thermoelectric energy converters for different temperature ranges, technologies for the integration of thermoelectrics in higher power modules, AC-DC converters for thermo- or electrodynamic generators as well as electrically functional structural ceramics that act as heat conductors.

Projects

 

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INTEGRAL EU Project

The aim of the INTEGRAL project is to upscale the GEN2 TE material technology using existing pilot lines and growing SMEs, in order to address mass markets TE needs (automotive, heavy duty trucks, autonomous sensors and industry waste heat recovery).

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Piezoelectric Energy Converters

In the field of energy harvesting, both thermoelectric and piezoelectric energy converters are used to supply small electrical consumers with energy from the environment. In the process, mechanical energy is converted into electrical energy, for example by means of AC-DC converters for piezo generators. Fraunhofer research has implemented corresponding technologies in numerous projects, for example in a digital writing and learning pen with energy-autonomous sensors or motion-sensitive clothing used in the health sector.

Projects

 

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Digipen

Self-sufficient sensors are to be implemented in a digital pen for recording handwritten records. The data is then transmitted to a computer via a wireless connection.

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