============================================================ TITLE: Solar Energy Harvesting for IoT Explained TYPE: article VERSION: 1 VERSION_ID: ba63d23f-2a09-41fc-9d19-8a55d95f5f14 GENERATED_AT: 2026-06-01T15:08:54.807Z SUMMARY: This blog post discusses the shortcomings of batteries, energy harvesting solutions, and how to get started with PowerFilm's portfolio of solar modules.  AUTHOR: Seth Hansen DATE PUBLISHED: September 9, 2021 DATE MODIFIED: March 18, 2024 READING TIME: 5 min WORD COUNT: 969 KEYWORDS: Solar Energy Harvesting for IoT Explained, Battery Problems, Energy Harvesting Solution, Well-suited Applications, PowerFilm Products SOURCE URL: https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/solar-energy-harvesting-for-iot-explained ============================================================ KEY TAKEAWAYS: * Battery Problems * Energy Harvesting Solution * Well-suited Applications * PowerFilm Products 2 min read # Solar Energy Harvesting for IoT Explained Samuel Jones : Updated on March 18, 2024 Internet of Things Batteries are required for nearly every electronic device, it seems. They allow for simple operation and quick deployment. What happens when those batteries die? Take this blog post with you! The short video below focuses on why energy harvesting and PowerFilm PV are an excellent fit for IoT devices and applications. It discusses the shortcomings of batteries, energy harvesting solutions, well-suited devices and applications, and how to get started with PowerFilm solar modules. ## Battery Problems All electronics need a power source to operate. This power generally comes in the form of a battery or wired power, each with its own set of limitations and issues. Too often, device battery lifetime is measured in months rather than years. Battery life, limited power, and battery bulk are significant limitations holding back many IoT applications and larger-scale deployments. Dead batteries must be recharged or replaced, placing a significant maintenance burden on end-users. Large bulky batteries are not viable for compact wearables and other devices that are space-constrained. For many applications, energy harvesting can solve these issues. ## Energy Harvesting Solution Light energy, whether indoors or outdoors, can be used to supplement power to a device extending battery life indefinitely, reducing the required size, or eliminating the battery altogether. With an increased power budget, devices can do more without fear of reducing battery life. Devices also gain power resilience from unexpected events or behavior, such as unforeseen firmware updates. PowerFilm’s thin, lightweight, flexible PV enables innovative compact designs not possible with traditional battery solutions. ## Well-suited Applications Any battery-operated device is potentially a great fit for solar energy harvesting. Many of the devices used in IoT are extremely low power. Even in dim environments, like warehouses and industrial plants, enough light energy is available to run basic electronics. Devices that use BLE, LoRa, NB-IOT, LTE-M, ZIGBEE, ZWAVE, active RFID, GPS, and other low power protocols can benefit from energy harvesting with a PV cell. These devices include smart locks, Electronic Shelf Labels (ESLs), asset trackers, environment sensors, health monitors, wearables, beacons, and building sensors. As you can see, many different types of devices can benefit from energy harvesting. The best way to get started is to take advantage of PowerFilm’s portfolio of standard designs and development tools. ## PowerFilm Products PowerFilm offers dozens of standard designs in a range of different sizes, voltages, and configurations. Using a standard design expedites your project and makes the transition from prototyping to production seamless. Input your solar module requirements into our custom design tool to help determine if a standard product will work for you. If you need something custom, we do that too! Our energy harvesting development kits are a great way to quickly prototype an energy harvesting system. With the PMIC circuitry, a small battery, and our PV cells, they come with everything you need to get up and running. If you have questions about energy harvesting or a device that may benefit from an integrated PV cell, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We look forward to working together to find the ideal power solution for your application. Gerhard Prof. DDr. Lingg 9/9/2021, 7:21:53 PM I like it midge bash 10/22/2021, 11:49:41 PM I would like to learn more about pv cells Seth Hansen 10/23/2021, 1:00:22 PM Midge, our blog is a great resource to learn more about solar! Do you have any specific questions that I can help with? Ron Pulvermacher 10/23/2021, 1:06:13 PM I need indoor IoT solar charging for grocery stores. Seth Hansen 10/23/2021, 1:11:21 PM Ron, thanks so much for your comment. I am happy to point you in the right direction. I will reach out directly to you via email. solar neubrandenburg 4/19/2024, 11:05:57 AM Dieser Artikel ist wirklich erstaunlich und hilfreich. Ich liebe ihn so sehr; Es ist sowohl erstaunlich als auch erschreckend. Ich bin wirklich überrascht. Ich hoffe, dass Sie auch in Zukunft weiterhin so tolle Inhalte schreiben. Mit Photovoltaikanlagen reduzieren wir sämtliche Stromkosten. Wenn Sie Photovoltaikanlagen mögen. Schauen Sie sich also meine Website an. solar neubrandenburg Seth Hansen 4/19/2024, 2:21:32 PM Vielen Dank für Ihren Kommentar. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, uns zu kontaktieren, wenn Sie etwas benötigen. #### Gerhard Prof. DDr. Lingg 9/9/2021, 7:21:53 PM #### midge bash 10/22/2021, 11:49:41 PM I would like to learn more about pv cells #### Seth Hansen 10/23/2021, 1:00:22 PM Midge, our blog is a great resource to learn more about solar! Do you have any specific questions that I can help with? #### Ron Pulvermacher 10/23/2021, 1:06:13 PM I need indoor IoT solar charging for grocery stores. 10/23/2021, 1:11:21 PM Ron, thanks so much for your comment. I am happy to point you in the right direction. I will reach out directly to you via email. #### solar neubrandenburg 4/19/2024, 11:05:57 AM Dieser Artikel ist wirklich erstaunlich und hilfreich. Ich liebe ihn so sehr; Es ist sowohl erstaunlich als auch erschreckend. Ich bin wirklich überrascht. Ich hoffe, dass Sie auch in Zukunft weiterhin so tolle Inhalte schreiben. Mit Photovoltaikanlagen reduzieren wir sämtliche Stromkosten. Wenn Sie Photovoltaikanlagen mögen. Schauen Sie sich also meine Website an. solar neubrandenburg 4/19/2024, 2:21:32 PM Vielen Dank für Ihren Kommentar. Bitte zögern Sie nicht, uns zu kontaktieren, wenn Sie etwas benötigen. How To Design Perpetual IoT Edge Devices Using Solar PMIC and Supercap Technology Seth Hansen : June 17, 2022 Internet of Things Solar Education Read More Solar Situation: An Interview With Frank Jeffrey Seth Hansen : March 16, 2016 Solar Education Read More Amorphous vs. Crystalline: How To Determine The Best Solar Technology For Your Application Seth Hansen : August 1, 2023 Solar Education Read More Seth Hansen : June 17, 2022 Internet of Things Solar Education #### Solar Situation: An Interview With Frank Jeffrey Seth Hansen : March 16, 2016 Solar Education #### Amorphous vs. Crystalline: How To Determine The Best Solar Technology For Your Application Seth Hansen : August 1, 2023 ------------------------------------------------------------ ABOUT THIS CONTENT ------------------------------------------------------------ Source: https://blog.powerfilmsolar.com/solar-energy-harvesting-for-iot-explained Author: Seth Hansen Published: September 9, 2021 This content is provided for informational purposes. Please visit the original source for the most up-to-date information.