At this year’s The Things Conference in Amsterdam, Dracula Technologies, a leader in printed organics photovoltaic solutions, will demonstrate how its innovative LAYER® technology is transforming IoT deployments at scale. As a participant at this premier IoT event, Dracula Technologies aims to highlight the role of energy harvesting in reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) for IoT deployments, with a focus on the benefits of using LAYER® in combination with the LoRaWAN® protocol.
Tackling Energy Challenges in IoT Deployments
As IoT expands, with thousands of sensors used in applications such as Smart Buildings, Smart Homes, and Asset Tracking, organizations face mounting challenges around powering these devices. Traditionally, IoT sensors rely on batteries, which can result in higher long-term operational costs due to frequent replacements, maintenance, and environmental issues.
Dracula Technologies, based in Valence, France, offers a sustainable solution with its LAYER® technology. LAYER® is an organic photovoltaic (OPV) printed thin film that harvests ambient light to provide an autonomous and reliable power source for low-power IoT devices. This energy-harvesting solution significantly reduces the need for traditional batteries, thus minimizing operational costs and environmental impact, which are key considerations when evaluating the TCO of large IoT deployments.
LoRaWAN® and Energy Harvesting: A Winning Combination
The LoRaWAN® protocol is known for its low-power, wide-area networking capabilities, making it well-suited for large-scale IoT installations. When paired with Dracula Technologies' LAYER® energy-harvesting modules, IoT sensors can operate without batteries, ensuring reduced maintenance and operational costs. This combination enables IoT sensors to function reliably for extended periods without the need for battery replacements, making IoT deployments more scalable and cost-effective over time.
Lowering TCO with OPV-Powered Sensors
During The Things Conference, Dracula Technologies will emphasize how using OPV-powered sensors can significantly reduce TCO for large-scale IoT deployments. While traditional battery-powered sensors may seem less expensive at the outset, recurring costs like battery replacement, maintenance, and labor can accumulate. OPV-powered sensors, on the other hand, offer long-term savings by eliminating these ongoing costs and providing a sustainable power source. Depending on which use case, TCO could be reduced to up to 80%!
Key TCO-reducing factors include:
● No Battery Replacement Costs: With OPV-powered sensors, there are no replacement costs or logistical challenges associated with battery management, a key advantage in large-scale deployments.
● Minimal Maintenance: With fewer components requiring attention, such as batteries, organizations can lower the manpower and resources needed for maintenance.
● Scalability: OPV-powered sensors offer a more cost-effective solution for large-scale IoT networks, as they require minimal upkeep and support, making them ideal for multi-site deployments.
LAYER®Vault: A 2-in-1 Solution for IoT
Dracula Technologies’ latest innovation, LAYER®Vault, enhances its energy-harvesting capabilities by combining energy storage with harvesting on a single, flexible film. This 2-in-1 solution ensures uninterrupted sensor functionality such that on the backside of the energy harvester a printed storage layer has been added, which eliminates the need for having a storage element like super-cap. This combined functionality makes LAYER®Vault ideal for IoT applications in Smart Buildings, Smart Homes, and Asset Tracking.
Supporting a Greener IoT Future
At The Things Conference, Dracula Technologies will share insights into how its energy-harvesting solutions, like LAYER®, can help enterprises lower the TCO of IoT deployments while contributing to a more sustainable future and a cost-effective ecosystem. As IoT technology evolves, energy-harvesting solutions are becoming critical for enabling long-term, maintenance-free IoT enterprise solutions that are not only efficient but also environmentally sustainable.
By eliminating the need for batteries and minimizing operational costs, Dracula Technologies’ LAYER® solution is setting a new standard for IoT sustainability.
We invite all attendees to learn how LAYER® empowers connected devices to operate reliably without the constraints of traditional power sources. Dracula Technologies will also participate in several key events:
- Panel on Wednesday, September 25 at 10:30: "Energy Harvesting and LoRaWAN, the IoT holy grail?"
- Panel/Podcast on Wednesday, September 25 at 14:00: "Let's break down the complete TCO of an IoT project"
- Keynote on Thursday, September 26 at 11:30: "How energy harvesting makes IoT viable for large-scale enterprise adoption"
- Workshop on Thursday, September 26 at 14:00: "How Truvami's Smart Label for asset tracking is powered by Dracula Technologies' light harvesting."
And of course, come visit us at the Dracula Technologies booth to discover more about our innovative solutions!