These systems offer an alternative to battery power for portable or remote devices. Using energy sources such as light, heat, vibrations or motion, energy harvesting technologies are already being used to power consumer products such as laptops and mobile phones.

Another important application for energy harvesting is powering networks of sensors that monitor variables in real time. These devices can provide information on machine health, temperature, security, structural health and other parameters. According to the report, energy harvesting offers several advantages over conventional power supplies – such as lower cabling and installation costs – and users are implementing the technology in increasingly innovative ways.

“The idea of mobile devices that charge themselves continuously, without intervention, access to electrical outlets, or unwieldy cords, has been prevalent among both developers and users for some time,” says Navigant’s research director, Eric Woods. “This is the future of mobile devices – and the technology to make it happen has arrived.”