International Journal of Science and Technology (IJST)

Current Developments and Prospects in Energy Harvesting and Storage

Technologies for energy harvesting and storage are leading the way in developing sustainable energy solutions. The process of turning ambient energy—such as vibrations, heat, light, and radio frequency signals—into usable electrical energy is known as energy harvesting. Energy storage technologies, such as batteries and supercapacitors, work in tandem to guarantee the steady and dependable retention of this captured energy. Reducing reliance on fossil fuels, cutting carbon emissions, and improving energy efficiency in a variety of applications—from wearable electronics and Internet of Things devices to large-scale power systems—all depend on the integration of these technologies. Piezoelectric, electromagnetic, electrostatic, thermoelectric, solar, radiofrequency, bioenergy, and hydro energy sources are just a few of the energy harvesting techniques that are examined in this overview, which also highlights contemporary developments and their uses. In the realm of energy storage, significant progress in lithium-ion, solid-state, and flow batteries, as well as supercapacitors, is discussed. For continuous and sustainable power solutions, the research highlights how crucial it is to integrate energy harvesting and storage technologies. Applications of these technologies in smart grids, environmental monitoring, wearable electronics, and remote sensing are investigated. Along with these issues, the evaluation also discusses economic viability, efficiency, scalability, reliability, and safety and environmental issues. New materials and technologies promise better performance in the future, and hybrid systems that combine several energy harvesting and storage techniques provide reliable answers. The contribution of regulatory and policy changes to innovation is also taken into account. In conclusion, the technologies for energy harvesting and storage are developing quickly and will be essential to the shift to sustainable energy systems. The assessment emphasizes that in order to progress the subject and overcome current obstacles, interdisciplinary collaboration is essential.