Abstract
The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) sensor nodes in remote environments presents significant challenges related to power supply and maintenance. Traditional battery-powered solutions are often impractical due to limited lifespan, high replacement costs, and the inaccessibility of deployment sites. This paper investigates the efficacy of hybrid energy harvesting (HEH) systems as a sustainable power solution for self-powered IoT sensor nodes in such demanding contexts. We review various ambient energy sources, including solar, thermal, and kinetic, highlighting their individual limitations and the synergistic benefits of their combination. A novel HEH architecture integrating photovoltaic (PV) and thermoelectric generator (TEG) technologies, coupled with an optimized power management unit and energy storage, is proposed. Experimental evaluation under simulated remote environmental conditions demonstrates the system's ability to provide continuous and reliable power, significantly extending operational longevity compared to single-source harvesting. The findings indicate that HEH systems offer a robust and economically viable pathway towards truly autonomous IoT deployments, addressing critical sustainability and maintenance concerns. This research contributes to the advancement of self-powered IoT by providing a comprehensive analysis of HEH performance and outlining future research directions for enhanced efficiency and adaptability.
Keywords
Hybrid Energy Harvesting, IoT Sensor Nodes, Self-Powered Systems, Remote Environments, Sustainable IoT, Photovoltaic, Thermoelectric Generator, Power Management