The Unlimited Potential of Vibration Power Generation—Building a Supply Chain to Accelerate Real-World Implementation X-TALK Vol.10 【Part 2】

Kanazawa University and Sumitomo Metal Mining are engaged in ongoing co-creation to develop the V-GENERATOR vibration power generation device, which relies on iron-gallium magnetostrictive alloy single crystals. In Part 2 of this issue of X-TALK, we look ahead to see how they hope to build a supply chain for V-GENERATOR and the next stage of this co-creation. (See Part 1 for an introduction to V-GENERATOR and iron-gallium magnetostrictive alloy single crystals.) Read Part 1

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V-COLLABO: A Matchmaking Community for Those Working on Vibration Power Generation

(Continued from Part 1)

――What’s driving the growing demand for larger dimensions of the material?

Kita: As awareness of vibration power generation and its potential has increased, more companies are seeking research results with higher power output. Thanks to our communication and outreach activities, interest in V-GENERATOR has risen sharply in recent years.

In the four-year project from 2019 to 2023, we received inquiries from about 400 to 500 companies. Of course, not all of these inquiries will lead to real-world deployment or commercialization, but we feel that social interest is growing.

Takahashi: The V-GENERATOR website is also very informative. I learn a lot from it.

Kita: To bring vibration power generation to the stage of real-world implementation, we first need many people to know what it is. With that in mind, we put a lot of effort into organizing and sharing information through the project.

We created a website—essentially, an educational resource—to establish a repository of a large volume of videos and photos, as well as other content on potential applications so that visitors can get an overview of vibration power generation. Many company representatives and innovators who have visited the website have contacted us with their own specific ideas. These inquiries continue to come in.

Izumi: Another important element is V-COLLABO, a matchmaking community website in which Sumitomo Metal Mining participates, for those pursuing the real-world implementation of vibration power generation.

Kita: V-COLLABO is a matchmaking community website that aims to build a supply chain for vibration power generation. As I mentioned, lots of people are interested in this new field. We get inquiries from many companies.

However, it is difficult for a single company to offer all the technologies and expertise needed to make practical implementation a reality. We need companies like Sumitomo Metal Mining, which manufacture materials, companies that manufacture components, companies that assemble devices, companies that design circuits to send the electricity generated to sensors and wireless systems, companies that package products so they remain durable outdoors, trading companies that sell the products, and so on.

A supply chain can be established only when all these entities work together. V-COLLABO was created to address this challenge and to accelerate the real-world implementation of vibration power generation. Today, more than 60 companies and organizations are registered as members.

Unexpected Ideas Can Lead to New Needs

――From Sumitomo Metal Mining’s perspective as a materials supplier, how do you think vibration power generation technology will spread?

Takahashi: I believe magnetostrictive materials have many possibilities, depending on the ideas. What we notice when we exhibit and introduce V-GENERATOR at trade shows is the diversity of ideas people come up with when they hear the phrase “vibration power generation.”

Some of you might think of cars. Others might imagine heart-rate sensing, because continuous vibration at a constant frequency would be ideal for such devices. As I’ve encountered so many ideas I would never have come up with myself, I realize that vibration power generation is a field with unlimited potential.

Speaking personally—I studied earth science—I tend to think of earthquakes and landslides. I also wonder whether we could generate power from the vibrations of probes in places like outer space, a place without conventional power source.

Izumi: I have the feeling this technology will be used in ways I can’t even imagine. For example, there used to be a device called a pager, which was created as something office workers could use to contact their companies, but in reality it became hugely popular among high-school girls. That’s how unpredictable the spread of a technology can be.

Rather than trying to force the technology into predefined uses, I think it will spread when it happens to fit perfectly as a solution someone comes up with to solve a specific problem.

Kita: Looking back through history, you can see many cases where research that began simply because researchers thought it was “interesting” suddenly took off in an unexpected direction once people found practical applications.

Takamura: Even if the initial market is small, once you find a field where people really want to use the technology, one in which it is absolutely essential, that can trigger rapid growth. That’s something I always feel. I’d be delighted if our current research led to many people finding this technology essential.

Izumi: These devices generate electricity when people shake or flick them. They produce power even when they are dropped. I feel there are major hints for future applications hidden in that fact as well.

Sharing Expertise to Create Even Better Devices

――Finally, what do you expect from each other going forward? What would you like your partners to do in the future?

Kita: To build highly efficient power generation devices, we ourselves must properly understand the internal structures and properties of the materials we use. Going forward, we’d like not only to receive materials from Sumitomo Metal Mining but also to discuss the materials themselves in detail, as well as the expertise related to such materials. In doing so, I hope we can jointly create outstanding devices that can make real contributions to society.

Takamura: The excellent iron-gallium magnetostrictive alloy single crystals Sumitomo Metal Mining has developed have led to significant advances in our research. We definitely plan to continue using iron-gallium, and if you develop any other interesting materials in the future, we’d be very happy if you could also share them with us.

Takahashi: We work hard to develop and supply quality materials. But when it comes to device design and performance, we’re always learning from Kanazawa University. We look forward to your evaluations and feedback on our materials. I hope we can continue to work together for the long term by building on what each of us does best and complementing one another.

Izumi: As a researcher, I want to keep creating even better materials. But no matter how much we refine materials, we can’t realize their full potential without co-creation with partners who assume the role of taking it further. So I’m grateful Kanazawa University has created mechanisms like V-COLLABO to build a supply chain for vibration power generation. I’m sure new discoveries will emerge from this.

We encourage you to share your expertise so that we can connect with as many companies seeking to make use of vibration power generation as possible. We hope to continue moving forward as partners.

Learn more about the technologies featured in this dialogue:
V-GENERATOR: Next-generation power technology that turns vibration into energy
Sumitomo Metal Mining’s single-crystal Fe–Ga magnetostrictive alloy