TEPOWER Advances Battery-Free Power for Wearable Sensors
The TEPOWER project is developing a new generation of flexible thermoelectric generators designed to power microelectronics and sensors using human body heat, eliminating the need for batteries and external charging.
Led by researchers at the University of Latvia, TEPOWER focuses on creating patch-like, flexible power modules capable of supplying energy to ultra-low-power devices such as photoplethysmography (PPG) sensors used in health and wellness monitoring. These sensors are commonly found in smartwatches, fitness trackers, and medical patches, where battery lifetime and maintenance remain major limitations.
The project’s goal is to fabricate a Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 5 demonstrator that converts the temperature difference between the human body and surrounding air into usable electrical energy. By doing so, TEPOWER aims to enable continuous, self-powered operation of wearable and sensing devices—without battery replacement or recharging.
A key motivation behind the project is the growing environmental and economic cost of batteries. Small electronic devices often require frequent battery replacement, with annual costs reaching 90–350 USD per device. At the same time, waste batteries from small electronics have some of the lowest recycling rates, with only about 46% of portable batteries collected for recycling in the EU. TEPOWER addresses this challenge by offering a sustainable, battery-free alternative.
The interdisciplinary project team brings together expertise in advanced materials, electronics, and business development, combining scientific research with real-world application potential. Alongside technology development, the project also focuses on know-how protection, prototype validation, and preparation for further technology scale-up.
The main expected outcomes of TEPOWER include:
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advancing the technology from TRL 4 to TRL 5,
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developing a functional patch-like thermoelectric generator prototype,
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demonstrating battery-free powering of a PPG or environmental sensor,
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laying the groundwork for future commercialization and partnerships.
By harvesting energy directly from the human body, TEPOWER contributes to the vision of self-powered electronics that are more sustainable, user-friendly, and always on.
TEPOWER — Be the Charger.