On Monday, October 9, 2023, Universitas Pendidikan Indonesia hosted a public lecture from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM, aiming to stimulate intellectual discussions about Energy Harvesting. This event was organized by three study programs: Electrical Engineering, Electrical Engineering Education, and Industrial Automation and Robotics Engineering Education. It revolved around the theme “Energy Harvesting from Electromagnetic Waves and Fields” and took place in the Auditorium on the 4th floor of the Faculty of Technology and Vocational Education (FPTK) Building.
The featured speaker was Muhammad Bilal, M.Sc., a distinguished expert from the University of Portsmouth, UK, and the event was moderated by Dede Saputra, S.Pd., M.T., representing the Electrical Engineering department at Universitas Jenderal Ahmad Yani (UNJANI).
The lecture commenced with an engaging introduction to energy harvesting, also known as Energy Scavenging, which involves harnessing energy from various environmental sources and converting it into usable electrical power. Despite producing relatively low power outputs, energy harvesting excels in efficiently utilizing low electronic energy.
A notable aspect discussed in the lecture was how Energy Harvesting can empower electronic devices in locations lacking traditional power sources. For these systems to function effectively, reliable energy storage and efficient delivery methods are essential. A key takeaway was that Energy Harvesting could provide a continuous energy supply, significantly extending the lifespan of electronic devices.
The lecture delved into the reasons behind the increasing interest in Energy Harvesting, emphasizing advancements in transducer technology and the use of low-power circuits as crucial factors. It stressed the importance of pushing electronic devices to their limits, underscoring the direct connection between a device’s reliability and the reliability of its power source. As long as minimal requirements are met, every device can function efficiently.
Furthermore, the lecture highlighted significant trends driving innovation in the field, particularly the integration of ultra-low-power processors and electronics into various smart devices and sensors, fostering a network of interconnected devices across sectors like healthcare, industry, buildings, equipment, and transportation. With this network expanding, there’s a growing demand for new electrical solutions to ensure energy efficiency and reliability. The event concluded with a detailed examination of essential design factors for Energy Harvesting, which included:
1. Assessing the available energy in the surrounding environment.
2. Enhancing energy harvesting efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
3. Calculating power requirements for all operational modes.
4. Fine-tuning energy storage, considering that a larger battery may not always be the best solution.
The public lecture also provided insights into different energy sources that can be harvested, such as light (captured through photovoltaic cells), vibrations or pressure (captured via piezoelectric elements), temperature variations, radio frequencies, and electromagnetic frequencies.
In summary, the public lecture held on October 9, 2023, emphasized the urgent need for affordable energy harvesting solutions. These solutions are crucial to power the billions of smart devices expected to be in use in the coming years. The success of this initiative depends on the convergence of the Energy Harvesting Ecosystem, where innovation and sustainability collaborate to create a more energy-efficient future for electronic devices on a global scale.