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.

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