ERHASE cluster

ERHASE stands for EneRgy HArvesting for a Sustainable future and the aim of the cluster is to address the technical scope areas within the context of energy harvesting and storage technologies. Through the cluster, participating projects may expand their impact beyond the project level, while contributing to the dissemination of state-of-the-art research and developments. Together, the 3 projects will boost awareness regarding the research outcomes and promote energy harvesting with relevant stakeholders, such as academia and industry.

Symphony

The SYMPHONY project delivers an energy supply platform for the powering of wireless sensors/sensor nodes for monitoring remote or difficult-to-access locations. The energy supply in this system is completely made of printed, recyclable, and non-toxic materials including the ferroelectric polymer P(VDF-TrFE), printable Si-based rectifiers, redox polymer batteries and cellulose-based supercapacitors. The SYMPHONY project develops cost effective and scalable methods to print these materials on flexible films and to combine them with energy efficient electronics and sensor technologies.

The SYMPHONY solution will significantly reduce CO2 emissions by increasing the lifetime of wind turbines, making room heating/cooling more efficient, through presence and motion tracking smart floors and decreasing the energy consumption in e-bikes, through remote tube pressure control. The printed technology can be integrated cost effectively in stretchable and flexible devices, representing a huge potential for usage in a wide range of further IoT-supported applications.

FAST-SMART

"PLUG AND FORGET is the inspirational motif that generated FAST-SMART, an international European project funded by EC that gathered together for 48 months top-rated universities, research centres and companies expert in materials, solar panels and transport systems.

The objective of the project is to improve the efficiency of how we can collect alternative forms of energies generated by our surroundings (e.g. light, heat, mechanical vibrations) and convert them in energy that we can reuse to feed our devices, such as sensors and solar panels. This process is called ENERGY HARVESTING.

Energy harvesting happens using devices called ENERGY HARVESTERS. Their science and development is relatively new and, at the moment, it is possible to obtain only small amounts of energy that, by the way, can already allow small devices such as mobile phones handset to have their own power supply without being plugged.

Energy harvesting is beneficial to our environment because reuse natural forms of energies that otherwise would be dissipated or wasted.

At present energy harvesters are produced using toxic material (such as Lead) and other strategic materials classified as Critical Raw Materials (such as Titanium) available in limited quantities in Europe and making our continent vulnerable and dependent from external sources.

FAST-SMART project aims to develop energy harvesters based on new materials without elements that can harm our planet or elements no present in Europe mining portfolio. In particular, two categories of energy harvesters will be innovated: piezoelectric and thermoelectric and tested in three application fields: sensors for railway track vibration detection, solar panels and hybrid engines.  FAST SMART project will bring innovation not only in materials but also in the assembly steps, with more efficient low energy consumption synthesis process and faster assembly techniques."

START

Europe's fight for a sustainable green transition:

Climate change looms large, threatening our planet and demanding swift action. The ambitious European Green Deal tackles this head-on, prioritizing climate action and a green transition. However, success hinges on access to raw materials within the EU and fostering circularity in strategic industries.

Enter START: A Game-Changing Solution (Launched June 2022, 4-year duration):

This groundbreaking project aligns perfectly with the Green Deal's goals. It proposes a revolutionary approach: recovering waste sulphides belonging to the tetrahedrite series ((Cu,Fe)12Sb4S13) from abandoned mine sites and ongoing mining operations across the EU. These recovered materials will be transformed into cutting-edge p-type thermoelements, powering next-generation thermoelectric generators that harvest waste heat.

START's Impact:

• Reduced reliance on imported critical raw materials, strengthening Europe's economic and environmental resilience.

• Championing circularity, minimizing waste and maximizing resource utilization.

• Developing clean energy solutions through thermoelectric systems that decrease fossil fuel dependence, boost energy efficiency, and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

A United Effort:

Led by LNEG (Portugal), START unites 15 organizations from 10 EU member states and 1 associated country. This diverse team comprises 6 research institutions with expertise in geology, materials science, and renewable energy, 7 SMEs covering the entire supply chain (production, exploitation, and eco-footprint assessment), and 2 non-profit associations with extensive partner networks.

START aims to be a game-changer promoting a greener and more sustainable future for Europe.

InComEss

The InComEss project proposes a new green and cost-effective strategy for high efficient energy harvesting by combining new smart advanced polymer-based composite materials and structures into a single/multi-source concept to harvest electrical energy from mechanical energy and/or waste heat ambient sources, which consists of three novel Energy Harvesting Systems (EHSs) configurations: Piezoelectric, Thermoelectric and hybrid Thermo/PiezoElectric EHSs. InComEss will implement innovative lead-free Materials, Systems and Structures to develop Energy Harvesting Systems able to power FOS, GPS and MEMS sensors in SHM and vehicle monitoring in automotive, aerospace and building, presenting the highest market potential.

The project seeks at developing efficient smart materials with energy harvesting and storage capabilities combining advanced polymer based-composite materials into a novel single/multi-source concept to harvest electrical energy from mechanical energy and/or waste heat ambient sources. The project will demonstrate its applicability in key sectors and applications, SHM and vehicle monitoring in automotive, aerospace and building, presenting the highest market potential.