Grant: Idea to Innovation
Memorial University of Newfoundland
$15,000.00
Piezoelectric MEMS Vibration Energy Harvesters: Renewable Energy Source in the Portable Era (I2I Phase - Market Assessment)
FY 2021-22
Summary
Energy harvesting from the environment is a promising solution to sustainable power supplies for low-power consumer electronic applications. Among available resources in the surroundings such as solar, thermal, etc., energy harvesting from vibrations by using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) energy harvesters has been gaining increasingly more attention due to high power density, ease of energy trapping, and ubiquity in the ambient environment. We have been working on MEMS-based piezoelectric energy harvesting from ambient vibrations since 2015. Thus far, we have designed and built many highly-efficient piezoelectric MEMS energy harvesters for collecting and converting mechanical energy to electricity for powering up low-voltage low-power electronic devices (e.g., battery-free Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensors). To support this objective, we have developed innovative systematic methodologies for optimizing piezoelectric MEMS energy harvesters. To help commercialize our developed technology, in this project we propose to leverage the services from Adventus Research + Consulting Inc. for the purposes of conducting market research and technology validation. We will seek for the following information: an independent assessment of the technology versus what is currently available in the market, to identify and characterize potential target markets, to identify specific market players for potential partnership / licensing, and to build on existing market assessment conducted to date. With such independent market assessment from a third-party organization, we can more objectively understand the pros and cons of our developed technology towards market status and commercialization opportunities. Based on the market assessment in this project, our continued commercialization strategy includes further market practice and technology enhancement. This project will be beneficial to Newfoundland and Labrador, and in turn to Canada by introducing our developed MEMS vibration energy harvesting technology to the market for both technology advancement and associated commercial advantages.
Program
Idea to Innovation
Recipient
Location
Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Recipient Type
Academia
Type
Grant
Source
NSERC's Awards Data
As published
Application id
570988-2022
Name nom
Zhang, Lihong
Department département
Engineering and Applied Science, Faculty of
Organization id
89
Institution établissement
Memorial University of Newfoundland
Province en
Newfoundland and Labrador
Province fr
Terre-Neuve-et-Labrador
Country en
CANADA
Country fr
CANADA
Fiscal year exercice financier
2021
Competition year année de concours
2022
Award amount
15000
Program id
I2IPJ
Program name en
Idea to Innovation
Program name fr
De l'idée à l'innovation
Group en
Research partnerships programs
Group fr
Programmes de partenariat
Committee code
96
Committee name en
RPP Internal Decision Cttee
Committee name fr
Cté de décision interne - PPR
Area of application code
300
Area of application group en
Energy resources
Area of application group fr
Ressources d'énergie
Area of application en
Energy resources (including production, exploration, processing, distribution and use)
Area of application fr
Ressources d'énergie (production, exploration, traitement, distribution et utilisation de l'énergie)
Research subject code
2516
Research subject group en
Electrical and electronic engineering
Research subject group fr
Génie électrique et électronique
Research subject en
Energy conversion and distribution
Research subject fr
Conversion et distribution de l'énergie
Installment
inst:1
Partie
1
Nb partie
1
Application title
Piezoelectric MEMS Vibration Energy Harvesters: Renewable Energy Source in the Portable Era (I2I Phase - Market Assessment)
Keyword
NSERC
Application summary
Energy harvesting from the environment is a promising solution to sustainable power supplies for low-power consumer electronic applications. Among available resources in the surroundings such as solar, thermal, etc., energy harvesting from vibrations by using micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) energy harvesters has been gaining increasingly more attention due to high power density, ease of energy trapping, and ubiquity in the ambient environment. We have been working on MEMS-based piezoelectric energy harvesting from ambient vibrations since 2015. Thus far, we have designed and built many highly-efficient piezoelectric MEMS energy harvesters for collecting and converting mechanical energy to electricity for powering up low-voltage low-power electronic devices (e.g., battery-free Internet-of-Things (IoT) sensors). To support this objective, we have developed innovative systematic methodologies for optimizing piezoelectric MEMS energy harvesters. To help commercialize our developed technology, in this project we propose to leverage the services from Adventus Research + Consulting Inc. for the purposes of conducting market research and technology validation. We will seek for the following information: an independent assessment of the technology versus what is currently available in the market, to identify and characterize potential target markets, to identify specific market players for potential partnership / licensing, and to build on existing market assessment conducted to date. With such independent market assessment from a third-party organization, we can more objectively understand the pros and cons of our developed technology towards market status and commercialization opportunities. Based on the market assessment in this project, our continued commercialization strategy includes further market practice and technology enhancement. This project will be beneficial to Newfoundland and Labrador, and in turn to Canada by introducing our developed MEMS vibration energy harvesting technology to the market for both technology advancement and associated commercial advantages.
