In the past few months and over the years, there have been many events that we not have imagined possible: the ever-expanding COVID-19 pandemic, the deteriorating production chains, high levels of inflation as well as the conflict in Ukraine. The old political ideologies and economic theories are being reviewed due to these events and are now under examination. As the years progress our dependence on fossil fuels particularly is showing to be a Achilles Achilles’ heel for our economy and our society. Now, the issue of high consumption of energy is in the spotlight, and not just due to climate changes. Furthermore the immediate consequences of a disruption to the supply of oil and gas are very alarming.

Self-powered sensors acting as the eyes or ears of the field of Industry 4.0

But, these events can also bring forth new energy. Look at manufacturing. The digitization process continues to increase in speed so that it can become more efficient in energy use, sustainable and adaptable (and consequently more resilient to crisis). In Industry 4.0 sensors serve as eyes and ears to various applications. They can detect motor vibrations as well as monitor the climate of the room and decrease the chance of downtime in production through pre-planned maintenance. Experts forecast annual growth rates that exceed 20 percent for the use of wireless sensors. In the most recent issue the client magazine Perpetuum companies like Comepi, Pressac, Rutronik and Siemens provide insights on how they use auto-powered EnOcean sensors to achieve their Industry 4.0 initiatives. Wireless sensors generate the required power through using energy to harvest. They get energy from the environment and utilize light, temperature and motion as sources of power which means that no batteries, cables or replacements are required.

The new workplace models are based on the use of smart spaces

Self-powered EnOcean technology is rapidly becoming a reality in other fields too. in HR, particularly at the level of managing director, as well as in facilities management firms and facility management companies, decision makers are creating innovative workplace strategies that work and flexible office setups that allow employees to safely return to work. Sensor-based IoT solutions offer the data needed to analyze and optimize the efficiency of buildings, and also enable smart spaces. Based on this technology firms can develop flexible desk sharing plans to allow for a mixture of work at work and at home. Companies such as T-Systems, Schweickert or Aruba demonstrate in detail cases how smart spaces operate in real life.

Technology isn’t going to solve all the problems we face but it has already contributed in many areas towards shaping the future of sustainability. Energy harvesting is only one of the pieces but it is a proven method to conserve energy for buildings or industry 4.0.