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Changes in energy harvesting technology are leveling the established order and revolutionizing the structure of the world. The way we work, the way we travel, and the way we communicate… entire ages of humanity are categorized by the new ways in which we collect and direct forces in motion. During the industrial age, energy was centralized. Humanity transformed from isolated societies mostly gathering energy on their own in the form of firewood and animal husbandry to highly concentrated communities collecting energy at central locations. Industrial plants turned this energy into electricity and distributed it to the surrounding communities. This made sense in a world that was rapidly centralizing. People were moving from the field into the city.

The Dawn of a New Age

In our current age, societies are beginning to decentralize again, turning back the clock in a way. Holders of political, economic, and electrical power are facing challenges from all sides. New inventions allow individuals to reclaim bits and pieces of their sovereignty from those former masters. Individuals will soon be able to harness energy from freely available sources like the sun, the radio waves that blanket our world and even their own effort. Because of this, the power monopolies are forced to reckon with the real possibility that they may be made obsolete by emerging technologies. More than anything else, distributed energy harvesting will change our lives. It means being able to purify our own water. Managing our own private communication. Securing our homes. All in a way that is free from external influence or rent-seeking.

So what’s new in the world of energy harvesting? What innovations can we look forward to in the future? The IDTechEx Show is a great place to start looking. For more information, check out the recent report from their 2016 event for emerging technologies.

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