Powering Ultra-Low Consumption IoT Sensors Through Energy Harvesting

Energy harvesting (EH) is a surprisingly promising solution for sustainable Internet of Things (IoT) systems, enabling self-powered operation by converting ambient energy into usable electrical energy. This study investigates five classical DC-DC converter topologies - Boost, SEPIC (Single-Ended Primary-Inductance Converter), Cùk, Super Lift Luo and Flyback - by analyzing their behavior when supplied by ultra-low voltage (ULV), hundreds of mV, EH sources. The simulations were carried out to evaluate the voltage step-up capabilities, efficiency, sensitivity to load resistance, and electrical performance with different duty cycles. According to the comparative study with similar simulation conditions, the Super Lift Luo converter showed the higher voltage conversion ratio, and the Boost converter was found to be the most efficient (69.4%). The results highlight the importance of selecting suitable converter topologies based on input voltage, efficiency and load requirements. This preliminary study concludes that the Super Lift Luo and the Boost converters are the most promising for ultra-low voltage applications.