COMPARATIVE ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF PIEZOELECTRIC TRANSDUCERS FOR ROADWAY ENERGY HARVESTING

As global energy demands rise and the push for sustainable infrastructure intensifies, piezoelectric energy harvesting has emerged as a promising technology for capturing energy from road traffic.However, despite numerous advancements in piezoelectric transducer design, there remains a significant gap in the literature regarding the economic feasibility of these systems, particularly from a life cycle cost (LCC) perspective.This study aims to bridge that gap by evaluating and comparing the long-term economic performance of three innovative piezoelectric transducers developed by different research groups.A consistent hypothetical traffic scenario-designed to reflect realistic vehicular flow and axle loading-is used as a basis for analysis.For each transducer, the net present worth (NPW) is calculated over a defined project lifetime, accounting for initial investment, maintenance, energy output, and potential revenue.The results provide critical insights into the cost-effectiveness and scalability of piezoelectric harvesting systems for roadway integration.By highlighting the economic trade-offs and performance metrics of these competing technologies, this study offers valuable guidance for researchers, engineers, and policymakers aiming to implement smart, energy-generating infrastructure.