Simple and affordable circuit for energy harvesting applications

Abstract

The paper presents a circuit structure that can be used as an energy harvester. It is intended for photovoltaic panels (PV) or other sources of energy that can provide enough voltage level but that can source only low currents. The circuit is able to accumulate the energy until certain level and then to pass it to the load. The presented circuit exhibits similar functionality as a commercially available energy harvester EH300. The paper compares their technical properties, form factors and costs. The circuit was tested with IoT (Internet of Things) node that can periodically transmit measured data to the base station using just the powering from the PV panel. Worse electrical properties of the circuit are repaid by its low cost that allows mass applicability in the IoT.