Energy Harvesting Techniques: A Review

Abstract

EH techniques offer a compelling solution for powering battery-less wireless sensing systems across diverse applications. By harnessing various forms of ambient energy, including solar, kinetic, thermal, and RF, undergoing fluctuations, these techniques enable sustainable and autonomous operation, eliminating the need for traditional batteries. The need for battery-free gadgets and energy-efficient circuits has increased significantly as the IoT grows. The targeted characteristics of IoT devices in green Industry 4.0 wireless systems and fifth-generation (5G) networks include zero maintenance, battery-less operation, and sustainability. The integration of 5G networks, IoT devices, and EH systems have the potential to transform and digitalize many industries, including Industry 4.0, food, agriculture, and healthcare. This is primarily because it facilitates the gathering and analysis of data in real-time, minimizes maintenance expenses, and enhances efficiency. EH is politically and environmentally significant and essential to achieving a low-carbon, net-0 future. This survey aims to present a thorough analysis of several EH methods, such as RF and multisource hybrid; through continuous innovation, EH strategies could completely transform the field of wireless sensing, enabling sustainable and autonomous IoT applications in different domains. Particular emphasis is directed towards radio frequency (RF)-based energy harvesting methods tailored for wireless sensing applications devoid of batteries and energizing self-reliant low-power electronic circuits and IoT devices.