Why is energy harvesting important in the IoT?

Energy harvesting is an alternative energy source for IoT applications. With energy harvesting, the energy available in the immediate surrounding of the device can be transformed into electricity to power the smart device. This reduces the maintenance that needs to be done to the device, extending the operational life of the battery.

So, If you plan to develop a low-power project with solar panels then definitely consider using an energy harvester to maximize the energy efficiency of your project.

The main features that a good energy harvester must have are:

1. Fully integrated MOSFETs for Boost/Buck-boost configurations.
2. Maximum power point tracking(a technique used with variable power sources to maximize energy extraction).
3. The ability to connect/recharge a battery or supercar
4. An integrated LDO for microcontroller and sensors
5. Battery protection & load cutoff

I designed this board(OBJEX EHDK) to study energy harvesting more closely, I compared two energy harvesters(SPV1050 & ADP5091) to understand their operation and differences. In the video below I explain how I developed the project.