Wireless communications is finding its niche in building engineering, writes Markus Brehler,...(ipcommunications.tmcnet.com, 13.11.2008)

"The phenomenal growth in energy harvesting wireless technology in applications from building automation to industrial control has led to demand for more sophisticated devices - without compromising the original vision of an ultra-low power technology that can be powered entirely from ambient energy sources. Energy harvesting nodes today are normally uni-directional - they can transmit a piece of data or a control signal but cannot receive a response. They are also normally limited to extremely simple switches and sensors The answer is to extend the principles of energy harvesting design to these more sophisticated functions. One of the most famous characters in English literature is Scrooge - and translating his financial thinking to the use of energy is the key to success in addressing this new opportunity. Each new function must be developed to deliver with the absolute minimum of energy. The new applications require transceivers, timers, threshold detectors, voltage limiters and memories. New designs, developed from a clean sheet of paper, are the only way to successfully address the Scrooge energy challenge. Each of these components must be optimised in terms of energy use and remain switched on for the minimum amount of time possible. EnOcean's new device achieves this: implementing a bi-directional transceiver, a set of measurement and control peripherals and application programmable memory in a module drawing just 80nA - achieved through a power management function that itself draws almost no power at all."

A Boston Green Party: Greenbuild Draws Near (www.costar.com, 13.11.2008)

"With less than a week to go, the green building community has begun marshalling for Greenbuild, the colossal green building convention and trade show hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) that begins Wednesday in Boston. USGBC is expecting more than 20,000 people by Wednesday morning, although that number could swell by another 10,000 if the conference attracts as many guests as it did last year that did not pre-register. Bob Eckery, marcom manager with the technology firm EnOcean, a German manufacturer of wireless systems for buildings that self-generate their power, attended Greenbuild last year and is arriving this weekend in Boston as an exhibitor. "Last year was spectacular. Green shows are popping up all over the place, but Greenbuild has emerged as the premier show," he said."

EO3000I ASIC meets building engineering challenges (www.electronicstalk.com, 12.11.2008)

"The EO3000I ASIC has been designed and built for Enocean's Dolphin system architecture, which addresses the challenging requirements of building engineering. Its functionality includes bidirectional communication, actuation, high transmission security and ultra-low power energy management in a single chip device. Enocean's Dolphin platform has open, non-proprietary, flexible hardware and software architecture with the EO3000I ASIC at its core. A feature of the EO3000I is its economical use of available energy, which enables the direct operation of the sensor interface and radio transceiver from various types of weak or strong energy converters - electrodynamic, solar or for differences in temperature, vibration and rotation."

Super-Strength Relays Expand Abilities of ILLUMRA Self-Powered Wireless Light Controls (www.pr-inside.com, 12.11.2008)

"ILLUMRA, the largest North American supplier of self-powered, battery-free, wireless lighting controls, announced today the release of four powerful new switching relays. The devices are used in conjunction with EnOcean-enabled self-powered wireless light switches to provide maintenance free, reliable, and reconfigurable lighting control and energy management solutions. With an increased range and load capacity, the new ILLUMRA relays allow installers to experience the simplicity of advanced ILLUMRA controls in a greater number of applications. Installers can now use battery-free wireless light switches to control electrical loads up to 1500W (120V) or 3000W (240V). Additionally, users can now control lights from 150 feet away with high reliability."

Super-Strength Relays Expand Abilities of ILLUMRA Self-Powered Wireless Light Controls (www.pr-inside.com, 12.11.2008)

"ILLUMRA, the largest North American supplier of self-powered, battery-free, wireless lighting controls, announced today the release of four powerful new switching relays. The devices are used in conjunction with EnOcean-enabled self-powered wireless light switches to provide maintenance free, reliable, and reconfigurable lighting control and energy management solutions. With an increased range and load capacity, the new ILLUMRA relays allow installers to experience the simplicity of advanced ILLUMRA controls in a greater number of applications. Installers can now use battery-free wireless light switches to control electrical loads up to 1500W (120V) or 3000W (240V). Additionally, users can now control lights from 150 feet away with high reliability."

EnOcean launches Dolphin platform at electronica 2008 (www.electronicspecifier.com, 11.11.2008)

"EnOcean is launching its Dolphin system architecture on Booth 266, Area A4, at electronica 2008, setting entirely new standards in wireless sensor networks. Dolphin enables energy-autonomous actuators, bidirectional communication of sensors and innovative routing concepts, creating the foundation for a wide variety of new products and applications. EnOcean Dolphin allows on-demand matching and continuous optimisation of central system features such as energy budget, peripheral functionalities and wireless communication. The length of wireless telegrams, for example, is minimised dynamically to the data content for transmission, and in programming only those software function blocks actually needed by the user are saved to memory. EnOcean technology is already being used to wirelessly link hundreds of thousands of energy-autonomous sensors in buildings worldwide. The Dolphin architecture was developed to enable non-proprietary systems to match the increasing demands of very different applications, and grow in their functionality together with the demands of such applications. The launch of the Dolphin platform marks an entry into new industrial control and automation systems, an expansion of existing applications to save energy, to enhance comfort, convenience and security, for access control and consumption data metering in building services. Dolphin system architecture, through its modularity, is ideally suited for future demands such as encryption or meshNet routing."

Elektra 08 Awards - The Winners (www.electronicsweekly.com, 10.11.2008)

"This year's Electronica show also features the Elektra Awards, now in their seventh year. The Elektras give the industry the opportunity to recognise the achievements of individuals and companies across Europe. The Elektra 08 Awards have just been presented by Jeff Stelling at the Hilton Munich Park, so congratulations to all the companies short listed and here is the final set of results:

• Wireless & Telecoms Design Award
  (Sponsored by Gleichmann Sunrise)
  EnOcean - self-powered wireless sensor for building automation
• Company of the Year
  (Sponsored by IET)
  EnOcean - self-powered wireless sensor for building automation"

 

EnOcean and Sensordynamics announce Energy Harvesting Single Chip RF Transceiver (www.electronicspecifier.com, 10.11.2008)

"EnOcean and SensorDynamics today announced the availability of EnOcean's first energy harvesting wireless sensor IC. The jointly developed EO3000I ASIC has been specifically designed and built for EnOcean's new Dolphin system architecture capable of addressing the challenging requirements of building engineering. Intelligent functionality includes bidirectional communication, actuation, high transmission security and ultra-low power energy management in a single chip device. EnOcean’s innovative Dolphin platform has an open, non-proprietary, flexible hardware and software architecture with the EO3000I ASIC at its core. A unique feature of the EO3000I is its extremely economical use of available energy, which enables the direct operation of the sensor interface and radio transceiver from various types of weak or strong energy converters – electrodynamic, solar or for differences in temperature, vibration and rotation.EO3000I incorporates an integrated sensor interface consisting of a pair of high precision analogue to digital converters (ADCs) and an arbitrary function generator, routable to various pins. This provides the highest flexibility for single-ended or bridge sensor measurements.

Perpetual Power Solutions to Save $1 billion in Labor Costs (www.prnewsnow.com, 31.10.2008)

With hundreds of millions of Wireless Sensor Network nodes to be deployed over the next five years, the quest for improved power sources is intensifying, according to ON World. Advances such as mesh networking enable large scale, self-configuring wireless sensor networks. The power needs of wireless sensor s is the current biggest impediment that keeps them from becoming completely autonomous, forcing them to be either tethered to an external power source or have lifecycles that are curtailed by batteries. While still in an early phase, energy harvesting devices - that translate abundant sources of energy such as light, heat, and mechanical into electrical energy - are rapidly being integrated with wireless sensor technologies. Current WSN deployments that use harvested ambient energy include the following:

• GE Energy'ss wireless equipment monitoring systems powered by vibration harvesters that are currently deployed in a Norway gas field.
• Wireless Industrial Technologies's wireless sensor systems powered by thermal energy that monitor production processes in aluminum plants.
• EnOcean battery-less light switches in thousands of buildings across Europe.

 

The way forward for Eenergy harvesting (Electronics Weekly 29 October-4 November 2008)

"Energy harvesting nodes today are normally uni-directional – they can transmit a piece of data or a control signal but cannot receive a response. They are also normally limited to extremely simple switches and sensors. If these nodes could be made bi-directional, then batteryless room sensors and remote controls could be created that can even show simple messages on a display.
Can all this be created in a module powered by energy harvested from the surrounding environment?
The answer is to extend the principles of energy harvesting design to these more sophisticated functions. EnOcean’s new device achieves this: implementing a bi-directional transceiver, a set of measurement and control peripherals and application programmable memory in a module drawing just 80nA – achieved through a power management function that itself draws almost no power at all.
This will take energy harvesting technology forward another step – making it a more capable platform able to support a whole host of new potential applications, without losing sight of the original virtues of our exceptionally lean economical design."

A Market Overview of the Competitive Environments of Energy Harvesting, Micro Batteries and Power Management ICs with Detailed Company Profiles (www.pr-inside.com, 06.10.2008)

"This report gives a top-level overview of some of the companies that make energy harvesting devices, micro batteries and power management ICs for low-power sensors and devices. Each of these markets is different, with different characteristics defining them and driving them. The energy harvesting companies are, for the most part, small start-up companies. Many are in Europe, like EnOcean[...] Many of the energy harvesting companies have found it useful to partner with IC companies.IDS Microchip has an near field communications solution they did for Texas Instruments, for example. EnOcean is working with the Fraunhofer Institute.[...]"

Self-Powered Light Switch Has No Wires (www.ecogeek.org, 01.10.2008)

"There's a new way of wiring your lights...and it doesn't involve wires. Pretty freakin' cool actually. Right now, your light switch has a physical connection to your light. When you flip the switch, a circuit is completed and the light turns on. But connecting every light to every light switch basically requires twice as much wiring for a house's lighting system. That's just dumb.[...]But now, EnOcean (a company that specializes in pulling power from ambient sources) has figured out a way to have the light switch be powered by you. Every time you flip the switch, a tiny generator creates a tiny charge. That tiny charge powers a tiny remote control that sends out a tiny signal that can be received by the light. All from the "power" of your flipping. Pretty cool."

Energy harvesting makes a powerful case (kn.theiet.org, 24.09.2008)

"I have seen technologies set back years in their development by early hype and energy harvesting was another looking set to follow that path. It therefore gives me great pleasure to point out that energy harvesting is delivering solutions, not just technology but real solutions, in the commercial world right now. I recently completed a study of energy harvesting technologies with a particular focus on how they might enable remote and wireless sensing. Power is the major limiting factor in rolling out full scale wireless sensor networks and in many scenarios batteries are either unsuitable or completely impractical. Energy harvesting devices are therefore potentially an attractive alternative.
Energy harvesting scavenges low grade sources of energy from the environment to provide useful quantities of electrical power to electronic devices. The most common energy sources are light, thermal and vibration and various techniques are available to harvest this.
This is an area in which Europe actually leads the USA. In particular, European companies like [...] EnOcean are noted for their commercial focus."

EnOcean Alliance receives strong backing from major international industry leaders (hiddenwires.co.uk, 11.09.2008)

"The EnOcean Alliance announces worldwide success in its opening months of operation with over 50 companies pledging their commitment to the development of EnOcean self-powered wireless technology as the standard for sustainable buildings. "Since our European launch at the light+building show in April, the level of support we have received from companies that serve the international building services market has been exceptional," commented Graham Martin, Chairman of the EnOcean Alliance. "The member total is currently above 50 and is stead-ily increasing owing to the dedication, expertise and resources of the founding promoters." In wireless building automation, EnOcean self-powered wireless technology has the largest install base in the world"

Elektra 08 - Awards shortlists announced (www.electronicsweekly.com, 02.09.2008)

"This year the Awards move back to Germany to take place at the start of Electronica 2008. Now in their sixth year, the Awards give the industry the opportunity to recognise the achievements of individuals and companies across Europe. The Awards bring together the whole industry in a celebration of the companies and people that are achieving the highest standards and driving our industry forward. They are designed to promote best practice in key areas including, customer care, sales growth, innovation and employee motivation.
The Elektra Awards will be presented at a gala dinner on Monday November 10 at the Hilton Munich Park in Munich.[...]
EnOcean - self-powered wireless sensor for building automation has been shortlisted in the Wireless & Telecoms Design Award category in the Elektra 08 Awards."

New Wireless Sensors from EnOcean for Building Automation Systems (www.azobuild.com, 03.09.2008)

"EnOcean, the inventor of self-powered wireless sensors and modules, has released 315 MHz versions of their ultra-low power radio modules. The development enables integrators to install wireless sensors networks into buildings using a frequency band that is far less crowded than the others available - such as 2.4 GHz. “The development concept was simple,” says EnOcean’s President of North American operations Jim O’Callaghan, “low power devices, such as thermostats and occupancy sensors, should not share air waves with higher power devices such as WiFi routers, ZigBee coordinators and microwave ovens. For building automation, the 315 MHz frequency inherently provides range and performance advantages over the higher 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz frequencies.”
Laws of physics dictate that the 315 MHz frequency band is able to carry data through materials, such as building walls, more efficiently than the higher 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz frequencies.[...]
The 315 MHz radio modules, when coupled with EnOcean’s patented energy harvesters, free integrators from the constraints of wires and batteries. The radio modules and energy harvesters convert traditional controls into “peel-and-stick” sensors and switches. The resulting controls simplify installations and provide automation systems the data needed for controlling lights, blinds and heating/cooling units."

Does ZigBee have the X-Factor? (Incisor wireless magazine, Issue 126, September 2008)

"[...]On the European shores in Germany, EnOcean, which formed its Alliance this year (April 2008), uses a clever energy harvesting technique detecting environmental changes to energise its sensors. What no batteries? Yes, ZigBee, Z-Wave and Bluetooth low energy rely on efficient battery technology to sustain longevity with battery life from one to five years at least – EnOcean highlights “no-one wants to maintain thousands of batteries in a commercial environment”. Zensys commented that EnOcean seems to be dominating the commercial sector and Lew Brown, EVP Marketing at Zensys supports this argument by noting that, “EnOcean has been viewed as purely a commercial control solution and not viable in residential (at least now and in the near term)”. However, Incisor caught up with Graham Martin, EnOcean’s Alliance Chairman and CEO, who was, at the time, diligently energy harvesting himself on Lake Ammersee, Upper Bavaria, Germany. We saw him windsurfing, capturing a gentle breeze, which seemingly propelled him confidently across the lake, although he seemed to disagree with Brown’s perspective, “most of the information from ZigBee and Z-Wave is hype”, he said whilst catching his breath. As Martin was formerly Vice President of the ZigBee Alliance, his words must hold some water. An exhausted Martin continued, “The EnOcean wireless standard for sustainable buildings is the clear leader in wireless home and building automation with thousands of commercial buildings and tens of thousands of residential buildings (soon to be hundreds of thousands) already deployed and proven since first deployments in 2003.”[...]"

Energy Efficient Products Enabled by EnOcean Technology On Show at M&E (27.08.2008, www.hbdonline.eu)

"Intelligent energy efficient products for wireless monitoring and control in building automation applications will be demonstrated on the EnOcean Alliance stand (C23) at M&E 2008[...]
Last year, EnOcean’s wireless switch won the "Best innovation in green product and services" award at the Working Buildings Week Innovation Award. In 2008, an intelligent energy management device from Ivory Egg, the Synetica Energy DataStream, has been entered for the award. The DataStream is an internet connected device which uses EnOcean sensors and switches for the collection, storage and transmission of meter and environmental data for energy management. The device sends data to a central server and notifies excessive consumption via email or SMS."

Wireless home control (www.epdonthenet.net, 26.08.2008)

"WeberHaus, a German-based eco construction company, is implementing new installation concepts in sustainable homes using EnOcean wireless sensor technology.[...]
By doing away with batteries and wires, the result is an energy efficient and economic system. Despite the arguments cited against wireless technology (such as the radiation produced), EnOcean claims that the short transmission times of its radios offer an advantage. It states that the Ecolog Institute found that the high-frequency fields produced by self-powered EnOcean switches was one hundred times weaker than those of conventional switches. This means that the radiation pulse (electrosmog) dissolves in the air and low-frequency (50/60Hz) electromagnetic emissions are also reduced."

EnOcean Alliance: Energy efficient products enabled by EnOcean technology on show at M&E 2008 (www.macroworldinvestor.com, 26.08.2008)

"Intelligent energy efficient products for wireless monitoring and control in building automation applications will be demonstrated on the EnOcean Alliance stand (C23) at M&E 2008, the building services event at London's Olympia, 8-9 October.Ivory Egg, EnOcean GmbH and Distech Controls will be supporting partners on the stand. Key products include an environmental monitoring device for lighting and HVAC applications, Omnio occupancy detectors for automatic on/off of lights and shutters, and battery-free light switches from MK Electric.
Last year, EnOcean's wireless switch won the "Best innovation in green product and services" award at the Working Buildings Week Innovation Awards."

Wireless Invades Homes (www.specialtypub.com, 25.08.2008)

"If you haven’t implemented smart technologies in the homes you are building, you might want to reconsider. Many consider it a new wave in technology for the home, exploding into the automated home technology scene.
M2M (machine-to-machine) technology is slowly making its way into homes—whether builders can see it yet or not. Spanning most industries, M2M technology connects a sensor, computer, or device to another sensor, computer, or device, allowing the machines to communicate.
Earlier this year, Masco, www.masco.com, Taylor, Mich., a manufacturer of home products, and the EnOcean Alliance, www.enocean.com, Oberhaching, Germany, a group of companies with a mission to standardize wireless controls, announced a partnership.
According to the companies, the partnership combines EnOcean’s energy harvesting wireless control technology with green building products from Masco. The result of the partnership is the Verve Living Systems brand, which includes a new lighting control system.
This system uses energy harvesting and RFID (radio frequency identification) technology to gain energy from movement, light, or temperature. The partnership will also likely develop additional applications in HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) monitoring, environmental monitoring, and home security.
According to the companies, it can help offset builder costs, and provide homeowners with lifestyle and energy-saving benefits."

EnOcean Receives Venture Capital Investment Of €4.5 Million (www.powerpulse.net, 22.08.2008)

"EnOcean GmbH announced that it has received €4.5 million for acquisition of new markets worldwide and continued development of its self-powered wireless technology for energy-efficient systems in the building sector. This brings the company’s total amount of venture and growth capital since it was founded to over €20 million.
The investors with the largest shares are Wellington Partners GmbH, and 3i Group plc. Venture capital has also been provided by Emerald Technology Ventures AG, Siemens Venture Capital GmbH, Siemens Technology Accelerator GmbH, BayTech Venture Capital Beratungs GmbH, and ATMOS S.p.A.."

Funds flow to smart grids, carbon capture (media.cleantech.com, 21.08.2008)

"Investors were pulled into performance monitoring and carbon capture this week, with cash going toward Redwood City, Calif.-based Trilliant, Oberhaching, Germany's EnOcean, and Holladay, Utah-based Blue Source.[...]Germany's EnOcean, which makes self-powered wireless sensors for energy-efficient building systems, pulled in €4.5 million in venture capital funding. Wellington Partners and 3i Group led the round, joined by Emerald Technology Ventures, Siemens Venture Capital, BayTech Venture Capital and Atos SpA. EnOcean, which uses energy harvesting technology, has now raised more than €20 million."

GERMANY - Wellington and 3i lead EUR 4.5m EnOcean investment (www.privateequityeurope.com, 19.08.2008)

"A consortium of investors co-led by Wellington Partners GmbH and 3i Group Plc has invested EUR 4.5m into EnOcean GmbH, a producer of wireless sensors.
Other investors in the round included Emerald Technology Ventures AG, Siemens Venture Capital GmbH, Siemens Technology Accelerator GmbH, BayTech Venture Capital Beratungs GmbH and ATMOS SpA. This funding brings the company’s total amount of venture and growth capital since it was founded to over EUR 20m.
EnOcean produces wireless sensors for applications in building and industry. The company is currently achieving annual turnover and sales growth of 100% and has sold some half a million units. It estimates that the market potential for self-powered wireless modules could be as high as several hundred million modules a year. EnOcean was established in 2001, employs more than 40 people and is headquartered in Oberhaching near Munich."

Wireless light switch firm secures new funding (www.electronicsweekly.com, 19.08.2008)

"Wireless light switch technology firm EnOcean has secured €4.5m of venture capital. "This new financing will be focused on expanding the European and North American markets, and establishing new markets, especially in Asia. In addition, we’re investing in further development of our technology and products," said EnOcean CFO Uwe Thumm.
Based in Germany, the company is a spin-off from Siemens, developing and making wireless transmitter modules powered by the physical movement of their switch, and associated receivers.
Adopted by several major electrical fitting makers, including the UK’s MK, this latest cash pushes EnOcean’s total funding over €20m.
The company claims so far to have sold 500,000 units and annual turnover and sales growth is currently running at 100%.
nvestors with the largest shares so far are Wellington Partners of Munich and 3i Group in London. Others include Emerald Technology Ventures, Zurich; Siemens; BayTech Venture Capital Beratungs, Munich; and ATMOS, Milan.
In addition to MK, customers include Masco, Leviton and Honeywell of the US and Germany’s Eltako."

EnOcean Raises New Round (www.pehub.com, 19.08.2008)

"EnOcean GmbH, a German provider of self-powered wireless technology for energy-efficient systems in the building sector, has raised EUR 4.5 million in new VC funding. Wellington Partners and 3i Group were joined by Emerald Technology Ventures, Siemens Venture Capital, BayTech Venture Capital and Atos SpA. The company has now raised more than EUR 20 million.
EnOcean GmbH has received 4.5 million Euros for acquisition of new markets worldwide and continued development of its self-powered wireless technology for energy-efficient systems in the building sector. This brings the company's total amount of venture and growth capital since it was founded to over 20 million Euros.[...]
The investors with the largest shares are Wellington Partners GmbH, Munich and 3i Group plc, London. Venture capital has also been provided by Emerald Technology Ventures AG, Zurich; Siemens Venture Capital GmbH, Munich; Siemens Technology Accelerator GmbH, Munich; BayTech Venture Capital Beratungs GmbH, Munich; and ATMOS S.p.A., Milan."

EnOcean gets funding for expansion (www.eetimes.com, 19.08.2008)

"MUNICH, Germany — Wireless home automation system developer EnOcean GmbH (Oberhaching, Germany) has received another €4.5 million (about $6.8 million) in venture capital funding. The company plans to use the amount to drive the further development of its technology and expand its global presence.
With the latest capital injection, the funding now amounts to more than €20 million. Among the investors are Wellington Partners, the 3i Group, Siemens Venture Capital and ATMOS S.p.A of Italy.
With the fresh money the company plans to drive the formal standardization of its wireless and batteryless home control technology. The Enocean Alliance, a group of technology providers for this market has already gathered to support the technology as a de-facto standard.
Currently the company is in the process to develop the third generation of its technology. A new platform based on an ASIC will be introduced at upcoming electronica trade fair in November. According to a company spokesperson, Enocoean's 3G technology will support an enhanced feature set including bidirectional communication at smaller form factor and lower price.
In addition, the company plans to expand its presence in North America and the Near East. In the USA, Enocean recently has found two new partners which cover private homes and commercial buildings, the spokesperson explained."

Wireless, self-powered pushbutton modules (dataweek.co.za, 06.08.2008)

"When planning new industrial buildings and plants, intelligent automation solutions are becoming more and more popular, often employing several decentralised control units. However, the wiring of the necessary control elements quickly becomes expensive and inflexible.[...]One way out of this dilemma is the use of the innovative wireless transmission technology from EnOcean. This technology provides the required activation energy from actuation and ambient energy. This disposable energy is generated as kinetic energy eg, during switching operations or vibrations, or even as thermal energy eg, by light radiation or temperature differentials.
This technology, therefore, allows operation of control units without cable connection and even without batteries, thus making the units wireless, self-powered and low-maintenance.
New wireless transmitter modules from Schlegel use this technology for battery free transmission of a pushbutton signal. In this case the required energy is produced by the switching operation itself, thus making it independent from ambient conditions.
Transmission of the radio signal takes place on the licence-free SRD band (short range devices) at 868 MHz with a transmission power of 10 mW."

EnOcean wireless technology at 100% Detail 2008 (www.buildingtalk.com, 06.08.2008)

"The EnOcean Alliance and Ivory Egg will display an innovative range of self-powered wireless products on Stand T33 at 100% Detail 2008, the UK's definitive home-grown building products event A major highlight for stand visitors will be the amazing LightHive installation designed by architect Alex Haw.
A high tech ergonomic, ecological office chair and Echo light switches from MK Electric, a Honeywell business, will also be on display, together with switch offerings from Omnio and room temperature sensors from Thermokon.
The show will offer the ideal opportunity for the EnOcean Alliance to communicate its strategy and success to date in developing EnOcean self-powered wireless sensor technology as the standard for sustainable buildings.
Powered by tiny amounts of energy drawn from light, movement or changes in temperature in their surrounding environment, EnOcean sensors are able to transmit reliable wireless signals over 30 metres inside a building and 300 metres in free air.
They can be used wherever there is a need for wireless, hassle-free control of lighting, blinds, shutters, heating and air conditioning.
These capabilities inspired Alex Haw to conceive the LightHive installation, first shown at the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London last year.
It consists of a constellation of hundreds of suspended LEDs which switch on and off and change in intensity using EnOcean technology.
At 100% Detail, Ivory Egg sensors, ranging from door contacts to seat sensors, infra-red detectors to IP cameras, when triggered will send a signal to individual receivers/dimmers, activating one or more of the bespoke LED's and filling the stand with light."

Wireless sensors enable sustainable homes (www.electronicstalk.com, 04.08.2008)

"WeberHaus, a German-based eco construction company with reference sites throughout the UK and Ireland, is implementing new installation concepts in sustainable homes using EnOcean wireless sensor technology WeberHaus is offering four home automation models that can be combined to match specific self-build specifications and requirements.
These include single room and central control of lighting, under floor heating, blinds and window monitoring, door entry security and central monitoring. Klaus-Dieter Schwendemann, Marketing Manager of WeberHaus, explains: 'The result is very high-quality, intelligent home control with significant value-add in ecological terms'. WeberHaus homes have an extremely low heating requirement and consequently need sensitive means of under floor heating control."

EnOcean Wireless Standard for a Healthy Climate in the Home (www.hbdonline.eu, 30.07.2008)

"Self-build specialist WeberHaus sets ecological and economical building installation benchmarks with EnOcean wireless technology. Oberhaching near Munich, 30 July 2008 - WeberHaus, a German-based eco construction company with reference sites throughout the UK and Ireland, is implementing new installation concepts in sustainable homes using EnOcean wireless sensor technology.
WeberHaus is offering four home automation models that can be combined to match specific self-build specifications and requirements. These include single room and central control of lighting, under floor heating, blinds and window monitoring, door entry security and central monitoring."

EnOcean Module Shipments of Wireless Sensors to Reach $1.4 billion in 2013, Says WTRS (PR-inside.com, 23.07.2008)

"New EnOcean 'energy harvesting' technology enlists 74 members in their month-old EnOcean Alliance, including such names as Distech Controls, Texas Instruments, Masco, Sylvania, Thermokon and more. This new wireless sensor network technology already installed in over 10,000 buildings. Clearly, it has achieved traction. WTRS completes the first study of this technology and forecasts strong market growth, while evaluating the competitive environment.[...] 'EnOcean has rapidly emerged as a significant competitor in the wireless sensor network arena,' according to Kirsten West PhD, principal analyst with WTRS. 'The combination of significant adopters, battery-less operation, and a mature and robust wireless sensor network protocol provide the market drivers required to succeed in today's market conditions. Given these and other factors, we forecast that EnOcean module shipments will reach $1.4 billion in 2013.'"

Ivory Egg and EnOcean Alliance Bring Lighthive Installation to 100% Detail (www.cpbsonline.eu, 22.07.2008)

"Ivory Egg together with EnOcean Alliance have pulled off a major coup in bringing Alex Haw’s amazing Lighthive installation to their stand at 100% Detail, the leading the UK's premier contemporary interiors event at Earls Court, London. First shown at the Architectural Association, the installation conceived and designed by Alex Haw is a gigantic lighthouse made up of hundreds of bespoke LED’s that was all made possible through the use of EnOceans innovative wireless sensor technology.
At the show, Ivory Eggs stand will be laced with a range of EnOcean's energy harvesting wireless sensor technology. Sensors ranging from door contacts to seat sensors, infra-red detectors to IP cameras when triggered will send a signal to individual receivers/dimmers, activating one or more of the bespoke LED’s of the luminous sky, filling the stand with light."

Getting A Grip On Building Automation (Electrical Contracting Products, July 2008)

"[...]'The challenge always has been in getting people to adopt the technology', says Graham Martin, CEO of the EnOcean Alliance. 'Adoption of any technology is usually slow, but the pace is picking up for building automation systems.'[...]'Because of advancements and simplification in the technology, building automation systems are more universal today[...]and mor people are realizing that building automation applies to them and they see it as a selling point for their property.'[...]"

Masco Announces Partnership with EnOcean Alliance for Self-Powered Wireless Control Systems (www.buildingonline.com, 17.07.2008)

"Masco Corporation has partnered with the EnOcean Alliance, a consortium of innovative international corporations with a mission to standardize wireless control systems for sustainable buildings. The partnership aligns EnOcean's energy harvesting wireless control technology with patented technologies developed by Masco to support of green building and to deliver forward-looking products to customers.[...] 'EnOcean has developed a truly groundbreaking self-powered wireless technology that will change the face of residential, commercial and industrial building construction for years to come,' said Dianne Pisarek, vice president responsible for Verve Living Systems. 'This has created a greater opportunity for companies worldwide by enabling a broad range of interoperable wireless monitoring and control products, and we're proud to be one of the founding promoters of the Alliance.'"

Breaking News - A No-Glitch Switch (www.enzinearticles.com, 10.07.2008)

"Imagine being able to move all your furniture around without having to worry about obstructing the light switches - because the light switches can just be moved at random!
Imagine being able to switch all the lights on in your house just as you approach your own driveway - from a remote control in the car!
Imagine being able to raise or lower the intensity of any light bulb in the house - saving energy costs and light bulb costs!
These are just some of the available options with the remote controlled lighting system that is just being introduced into North America. Switches are not attached to their corresponding lights by wire, and even batteries are not used in this system.[...]The manufacturer, Verve Living Systems, boasts that they can be pinned, screwed or taped to all surfaces, including concrete, glass and brick. This means that little children do not need a visit from mum to put off the light, and any wheelchair bound residents will have a light switch well within their reach. Power cuts will not affect the programming of your remote control as it has a non-volatile memory."

RS components launch eco-friendly product range (www.cieonline.co.uk, 10.07.2008)

"Company unveils over 1,600 best-in-class power-efficiency products[...]Also featured are EnOcean wireless control, switching and sensing products that don't need external power or batteries as all the power is generated internally"

EnOcean's "Stealth Attack" in the Home Automation Market (abiresearch.com, 27.06.2008)

"Key benefits of energy-harvesting in the context of building automation are the elimination of the material costs and the operational expense and complexity of maintaining a large number of batteries in the deployed sensor and actuator nodes. Clearly, in a large commercial building with thousands or tens of thousands of end-nodes, this can be a very desirable benefit.[...] Rather than the direct technological benefits offered by EnOcean's energy-harvesting technology, ABI Research believes it's the business aspects of what EnOcean is doing that give it the most potential for levering its way into the home automation market. Most directly, EnOcean announced at LightFair that Masco Corporation, one of the world's largest manufacturers of products for home-builders, with 52,000 employees and $11.8 billion in 2007 sales, would be incorporating EnOcean's technology into a lighting control offering. While this offering could simply be deployed as a wireless replacement for wire-based light switches, it is also extensible to a full home automation solution, and EnOcean believes that in many instances this fuller functionality will be enabled - not only for lighting control but for other aspects of home control functionality as well, such as door and window contact sensors. Given Masco Corporation's size and reach into the US home-building industry, this instantly puts EnOcean's automation-capable technology in front of a large portion of US home-builders. This access to the US home-building market is an important win for EnOcean. As ABI Research has stated in previous research reports, such as the recently published "Home Automation and Security: The Opportunity for Wireless and the Line between Automation and Security Blur", a key challenge faced by the home automation market has been the simple lack of knowledge about the benefits of home automation on the part of a mass-market audience. Home automation technology vendors are trying to make in-roads into the mass-market by expanding beyond the traditional CEDIA custom installers and Web stores targeting technophile DIY hobbyists, to include high-touch retail, broadband, and wireless service providers...and home-builders. Because of this one announcement with Masco Corporation, EnOcean has gained significant traction in this new channel. ABI Research also point outs that EnOcean is far from unknown in its home European market. The company has been fairly successful in gaining traction there, particularly in the commercial building automation market. It has announced close to 500,000 nodes deployed in over 10,000 buildings, including the headquarters for Siemens, SAP, and IBM in Europe. An "EnOcean Alliance" was launched earlier this year with the participation of 50 member companies who will help develop the technology and ensure interoperability between products. While EnOcean will face stiff competition from ZigBee and Z-Wave - along with others - there is little doubt that EnOcean has launched itself into the home automation market in a big way."

EnOcean gets off to a flying start (www.bsee.co.uk, 27.06.2008)

"The EnOcean Alliance has announced worldwide success in its opening months of operation with over 50 companies pledging their commitment to the development of EnOcean self-powered wireless technology as the standard for sustainable buildings.[...] MK Electric, a Honeywell business, is the first UK-based Alliance promoter to integrate EnOcean technology in its Echo range of wireless switches, launched in April. US semiconductor giant Texas Instruments also recently announced its backing of the EnOcean wireless standard joining other innovators and industry leaders such as Masco, Siemens, Leviton, Osram Sylvania, Distech Controls, Omnio and Thermokon.[...]"

The Unexpected and Questionable Green Products at PCBC (greenbuildingelements.com, 27.06.2008)

"[...]This Verve living system offers what they call a living control system which in simple terms operates like a whole house lighting system. We've seen this before but this one operates on battery free, self sustaining technology or what the call energy harvesting radio frequency technology.[...]"

Switches incorporating EnOcean (www.connectingindustry.com, 17.06.2008)

"MK Electric has launched a range of ‘self powered’, wireless and battery free switches, dubbed Echo. MK claim that they are the first UK manufacturer to incorporate ‘enabled by EnOcean’ technology. The lighting system comprises two components - the ‘self powered’ switch, and an RF receiver. The receiver is installed at the lighting fixture and wired into the lighting circuit at the time of ceiling installation. The switch is then mounted, using either adhesive pads or with screws if additional security is necessary. The switch is ‘aligned’ to the receiver by setting it into ‘learn mode’ and pressing the rocker. The switch will then be wirelessly dedicated to the fixture in question. One receiver can be programmed so it can be operated by up to 30 switches, while conversely, any number of receivers can be activated by a single switch."

Energy Harvesters, Thin-Film Batteries, Micro-Channel Fuel Cells Start Production (www.semiconductor.net, 13.06.2008)

"[...]Making real inroads in commercial applications of energy harvesting is the Siemens spin-off EnOcean GmbH (Oberhaching, Germany), with its wireless light switches and sensors now reportedly installed in more than 10.000 buildings, primarily for cost savings in commercial projects in Europe. 'The goal is wireless controls,' said applications engineering manager Eugene You. 'And that means no wire for power either and no battery.'
The mechanical movement of pushing a wall switch changes the flux in a coil to generate a very short electrical pulse. That's enough to send a very low-power radio signal to turn a light on or off, eliminating the need to install wiring. Key is the combination of energy harvesting with very efficient radio design.
Other systems can enable a smart building to sense and adjust light of heat to cut energy usage. Although the company is focusing on the building automation market, EnOcean is also getting calls from folks interested in everything from wireless lighting control for boats to call buttons for aircrafts to automatic transmissions for bicycles."

Energy-saving wireless controls (www.csemag.com, 12.06.2008)

"Ad Hoc offers a new line of self-powered wireless controls that reduces the amount of the time and materials needed to install energy-management systems in green buildings. Based on EnOcean technology, the Illumra product line will include wireless light switches, temperature sensors, occupancy sensors, and light light sensors that are powered using solar or mechanical energy sources. These battery-free transmitters communicate with room and building controllers to conserve energy through occupancy sensing, daylight harvesting, and personal workspace control technologies.[...]"

TI Joins EnOcean Alliance (calibre.mworld.com, 11.06.2008)

"The EnOcean Alliance and Texas Instruments (TI) announced that TI has become a full member and participating company in the recently established EnOcean Alliance. According to TI, the Alliance was founded to establish a global standard for sustainable buildings based upon EnOcean's energy-harvesting wireless technology. 'The EnOcean Alliance is a grest opportunity for TI, which is innovating to enable smart, energy-efficient buildings,' said Lauren Giai-Miniet, TI's liw-power RF product line manager. 'TI's involvement in the EnOcean wireless standard is an important way to apply our low-power semiconductor technologies to harness the untapped energy around us and move beyond batteries and power cords.' TI said it is a semiconductor supplier to the EnOcean Alliance eco-system, which includes companies such as Masco, Honeywell, Siemens, Osram, Sylvania, Distech Controls, Omnio and Thermokon."

Distech Controls helps EnOcean Alliance establish a wireless standard for green buildings (www.esmagazine.com, 10.06.2008)

"Distech Controls has joined 15 other promoter members to found the EnOcean Alliance, a global consortium of companies working to further develop and promote self-powered wireless monitoring and control products for sustainable buildings. Distech Controls was the first building automation manufacturer to offer a turnkey, commercially available wireless solution, based on EnOcean’s wireless battery-free technology.[...]"

The intelligent way to control energy is wireless (Environment UK, June, 2008)

"[...]EnOcean offers an innovative and affordable solution to those challenges with a range of self-powered (battery-less) wireless sensors and switches - that can literally be glued to the wall - and intelligent receivers that control lighting, HVAC, blinds and other electrical loads.[...]"

High Tech Approach To Sustainable Building (www.carbonfree.co.uk, 30.05.2008)

"A group of companies across North America and Europe have united to form the EnOcean Alliance. The Alliance's mission is to enable intelligent green buildings based on EnOcean energy harvesting wireless technology.[...]The Alliance addresses the demand in today's environment and economy for a wireless eco-system that combines a broad range of interoperable, flexible and uncomplicated monitoring/control products. In wireless building automation, the EnOcean self-powered wireless technology has the largest installation base in the world - with over 70 shipping manufacturers, 300 available products and 10.000 EnOcean-enabled buildings."

No wires, no batteries, no fuss as MK Electric’s Echo makes light switching ‘self-powered’ (www.voltimum.co.uk, 27.05.2008)

"MK is the first major UK manufacturer to incorporate this patented technology – so-called ‘enabled by EnOcean’, after the German company that developed it – into switches; and the new Echo range harvests tiny amounts of ambient energy to wirelessly operate lighting at ranges of up to 30 metres within buildings.
The wireless, battery free Echo range is suitable for a wide range of applications and installation environments: from office new build and refurbishment which may have a need to re-arrange space periodically, or glass partitions – preventing the use of wired devices – through to conservation or listed environments where chasing wires is not possible."

Intelligent Heating Control Cuts Energy Costs in Hospitals (Sustainable FM, February, 2008)

"A welcome and by no means insignificant side-effect of EnOcean wireless sensor technology, in addition to the lower burden on the environment through less consumption of energy, is that it reduces the generation of problem waste in the form of spent batteries. The application spectrum of EnOcean technology spans virtually every aspect of building automation. The technology is establishing itself as a standard, creating a foundation for biological construction systems, and presenting the key to smart green buildings."

Finger Power (Architecture Plus, December, 2007)

"Intelligent automation is the key to a major reduction of the energy consumed by a building- It also enables flexible room arrangement, because when almost inevitable changes are required, no recabling is necessary.[…] Even when planning glass dividing walls, an architect no longer has to dispense with the usual light switches and shutter switches next to a door or passage."

Harvest Time (Circuit Cellar, No. 209 December, 2007)

"EnOcean grabbed my attention with their 'energy harvesting' switch. The mythical 'stick on the wall' light switch always comes up in any conversations about embedded wireless and home automation. EnOcean makes it reality and takes it one step further by getting rid of the battery along with the wires. […] For now, it's mainly a matter of convenience and reliability (no battery issues), but ultimately on a grander scale, it's about capturing energy that we can no longer afford to waste."

Best Innovation in Green Product or Service (PFM, 11/2007)

"Self-powered wireless technology from EnOcean offers simple building automation for energy management. Not only does it simplify the cabling but it also is more flexible in high 'churn' environments. There are no batteries to be replaced and switches do not have to be installed at a prescribed location."

BuildingGreen Announces 2007 Top-10 Green Building Products (www.aia.org, November 9, 2007)

"It's green because it offers: Reduced material use, equipment that conserves energy or manages loads, improved light quality. Developed by German engineering giant Siemens and spun off as a separate company, EnOcean has engineered radio-frequency communication to use just one-tenth the power of most such controllers and figured out how to power these devices by harvesting ambient energy - including mechanical energy from operating a light switch or photovoltaic energy from lighting in a room. This enables the controllers to operate without batteries, thus saving the materials, energy, and waste from battery manufacturing and disposal."

EnOcean STM 110 Wireless Sensor Module (www.embeddedstar.com, November 4, 2007)

"The EnOcean STM 110 module is a wireless, battery-free sensor transmitter that integrates all sensor functions into a single module. The module targets OEMs developing products for commercial building monitoring and control, industrial processes, lighting control, automated metering infrastructures, and home automation. The integrated STM 110 module enables scalable and continuously adaptable sensor networks that can sense and transmit data on temperature, gas, humidity, vapor, current, light levels, water, pressure, location, occupancy and other parameters."

EnOcean scoops green tech award at Working Buildings Week (www.tmcnet.co, October 17, 2007)

"EnOcean's wireless, batteryless switch technology won the 'Best innovation in green product or service' award in The Working Buildings Week Innovation Awards 2007 - its second major design award in as many months. […] EnOcean's wireless switch also recently won the Building Product Innovation Award' at the 100% Design LondonAwards."

Wireless conversion (www.eetasia.com, October 12, 2007)

"EnOcean GmbH offers electro-dynamic energy converters that are linked wirelessly to power switches: thus the switch can be placed anywhere in a room, without wires that connect it to the power grid and without a battery. […] Besides wireless light switches, EnOcean produces thermo and solar energy harvesters."

Enabling Intelligent Green Buildings (www.twmexpo.com, October 11, 2007)

"EnOcean is the Key to Intelligent Green Buildings with the unique combination of wireless and maintenance free solutions […] EnOcean is the Global Leader in energy harvesting wireless sensor solutions with over 200 interoperable products of over 60 OEMs."

Intelligent Green Buildings (www.macroworldinvestor.com, October 03, 2007)

"Andreas Schneider, EnOcean's Executive VP Sales & Marketing explains: 'EnOcean and its partners have been successful in equipping a significant number of buildings in continental Europe, and matching the requirements of UK regulations for efficient use of energy. We are now ready to enable intelligent green buildings in the UK and look forward to sharing the benefits of self-powered wireless technology with the architect, building contractor and property owner community.' EnOcean's technology has also been short listed for the Best innovation in green product or service' award in The Working Buildings Week Innovation Awards 2007. The awards will be presented to the winning companies during a ceremony on Wednesday 10 October 2007."

Award-Winning Self-powered Wireless Technology from EnOcean (www.electronicspecifier.com, October 03, 2007)

"EnOcean's wireless switch recently won the 'Building Product Innovation Award' at the 100% Design London Awards in association with property developer Londonewcastle (Earls Court, London, 21 September 2007). The device beat nine other products nominated for the award, which was judged by a panel of high profile architects, services engineers and structural engineers. The judges were looking for innovation, intelligent use of materials and technology, and evidence of how the product improves the construction process."

Self-powered Wireless Technology from EnOcean enables Intelligent Green Buildings (www.calibre.com, October 03, 2007)

"Powered by energy drawn from light, movement or even changes in temperature, EnOcean's technology is rapidly becoming accepted as the standard for innovative sensor solutions in ecological building automation projects, ensuring greater energy efficiency and unparalleled flexibility at the lowest investment and operational cost. […] EnOcean offers a simple yet intelligent, self-powered wireless communications solution which is eco-friendly, easily installed and maintenance-free."

Ivory Egg Wins Building Product Innovation Award (www.wnibi.com, October 03, 2007)

"Presented at 100% Design, Ivory Egg were successful in winning Building Design magazine's 'Building Product Innovation Award'. The award was presented to Colin and Liz Price of Ivory Egg in the presence of hundreds of international, architects, designers, specifiers and influencers."

Battery-free, wireless lighting is the ultimate in room service (HospitalityConstruction, 09+10/2007)

"The switch and receiver modules form a basic, battery-free wireless lighting control system that represents a fundamental breakthrough in the creation, storage and management of power. [...] In Europe, many hotels have integrated a battery-free window management contact module that adjust the room's HVAC system when someone opens a window. These sensors can cut a hotel's a restaurant's energy consumption for heating by 40 percent."

Wireless Without Batteries (www.tmcnet.co, September 26, 2007)

"If you think light switches and thermostats are not very high tech, think again. EnOcean GmbH is shipping wireless modules that use energy harvesting techniques so no batteries are required. To meet the new thrust to manage lights and temperature using wireless technologies that offer more precise control, modules must be small enough to fit in a light switch and be cost-competitive with battery-powered systems."

Innovation in MEMS at MEMS Executive Congress (www.newsblaze.com, September 26, 2007)

"At MEMS Industry Group's annual MEMS Executive Congress, commercial manufacturers will share with an executive audience the innovative ways that they are employing Microelectromechanical Systems (MEMS) technology. From Debiotech's tiny insulin pump, which comes close to matching the physiological delivery of insulin, to EnOcean's battery-less radio sensors, which combine miniature energy harvesters with radio technology to enable light switches, thermostats, leak detectors and other embedded sensing devices for home automation, MEMS technology is being used in applications as diverse as environmental monitoring in vineyards, digital cameras in cell phones, miniature microphones in PC laptops and location-aware mobile gaming."

Wireless switch wins BD's Building Product Innovation Award (www.bdonline.co.uk, September 24, 2007)

"Ivory Egg has won BD's Building Product Innovation Award with its wireless, battery-free, maintenance-free switch. The Enocean switch beat nine other products in the running for the award which was judged at the 100% Detail show on Friday. Five years in development, the switch can be used to control lights, blinds, shutters, heating or air conditioning without the need for cabling."

Searching for a design star (www.bdonline.co.uk, September 14, 2007)

"The Enocean switch can be used wherever there is a need to control lighting, blinds, shutters, heating and air conditioning. This is a brilliant little device that takes the headache out of wiring or rewiring buildings. [...] Given that no cabling is required, the device allows for great flexibility and is particularly useful in situations where no allowance has been made for lighting switches. Enocean also dramatically cuts down on wiring and maintenance costs."

Apollo Would Approve Of This Self-Powered Wireless Sensor (www.electronicdesign.com, Sep 13, 2007)

"The Sun God has been frowning on humanity for quite some time now as we continue to make little use of his gift that keeps giving—solar energy. But EnOcean Inc. gives him a reason to smile with its EVA120C wireless sensor kit, which relies on the company's STM110C solar-power module. Its small solar cell offers an integrated energy store for unrestricted functionality that lasts 60 hours in total darkness."

EnOcean EVA 120C Evaluation Kit (www.embeddedstar.com, September 12, 2007)

"EnOcean's EVA 120C Evaluation Kit includes everything necessary to quickly develop and test ultra low power wireless sensor modules for a variety of electrical and electronics applications. The kit components include an EnOcean STM 110C solar powered sensor transmitter module and a development board with a PC interface. [...] The Developer's Kit enables designers and engineers to quickly and easily simulate STM performance, to understand results and develop application-specific wireless sensor products based on EnOcean technology."

EnOcean Launches Battery-Free Wireless Sensor (www.sensorsmag.com, September 06, 2007)

"Finally, a complete package. The world's 'first wireless, battery-free...and affordable...sensor transmitter to integrate all sensor functions into a single module' has been unveiled in North America for OEMs developing products for commercial building monitoring and control, industrial processes, lighting control, automated metering infrastructures, and home automation. [...] STM 110-enabled products can be designed for quick and easy peel 'n stick installation practically anywhere. Products can be moved readily as floor plans or monitoring requirements change. Most installations do not require outside electricians or added networking overhead for managing the radio frequency."

First Battery-Free, Wireless Sensor Debuts (www.wirelessiq.com, September 05, 2007)

"'Battery-free, wireless sensor modules need to be designed as an integrated package,' said Jim O'Callaghan, EnOcean's vice president of Sales & Marketing, North . 'Piecing together components from different suppliers is inefficient because they have not been optimized to work with each other.' The integrated STM 110 module makes possible scalable and continuously adaptable sensor networks that can sense and transmit data on temperature, gas, humidity, vapor, current, light levels, water, pressure, location, occupancy and other parameters."

EnOcean Releases Developer's Kit That Lets OEMs Design Their Own Energy Harvesting Wireless Sensors (www.calibre.com, August 27, 2007)

"EnOcean has released a Developer's Platform that enables OEMs to design self-powered wireless sensors that do not require batteries or external power. The EVA 120C Evaluation Kit includes everything necessary to quickly develop and test ultra low power wireless sensor modules for a variety of commercial, retail, residential and industrial applications."

EnOcean Introduces Energy Harvesting Developers Kit (www.sensorsmag.com, August 21, 2007)

"EnOcean today released a Developer's Platform that enables OEMs to design self-powered wireless sensors that do not require batteries or external power. The STM module is the only commercialized product that integrates a wireless sensor, low power radio, solar cell power generator, microcontroller and ultra low power sleep timer and threshold detector for energy management. All module elements have been optimized to work together."

Battery-Free Joins Peel 'n Stick to Resolve Concerns (www.lightboard.com, August 1, 2007)

"Tens of millions of square feet of existing space need upgrading, but there's reluctance to install high- performance lighting controls because of the high cost of installation, disruption to operations and complexity… Battery-free EnOcean technology coupled with easy peel and stick installation of OEM-designed switches, monitors, sensors and personal lighting controls hurdle that reluctance."  

Wirless Switching without batteries (www.connectingindustry.com, July 18, 2007)

"'In the past, designers have been reluctant to take up radio frequency control for switching applications due to the need for switches with batteries, which obviously have a limited life,' said Mark Redfern of Wieland. 'Historically, therefore, radio control has been seen as an increased burden for the building operator. However, with EnOcean, because there is no power supply required, there are no maintenance requirements. By providing simple to program switching units combined with the plug-and-play gesis installation system, the EnOcean technology becomes a quick to install and cost effective solution for building and room control.'"

Harvest Time for Wireless Sensors (www.theiet.org, July 12, 2007)

"Boeing aims to use the same kind of design in its aircraft to replace miles of cabling that is currently needed to support the communication between switches in a passenger's armrest an the lights and alarms they control….The plan is to use wireless, self-powererd switches to transmit RF signals to sensors mounted in the ceiling that are powered from a 9V mounting rail. Trials are just beginning using customised switches developed by EnOcean."  

Sensors Insight (www.sensorsmag.com, July 12, 2007)

"Vibration isn't the only waste energy source being tapped—companies are converting light and heat into electricity, too. EnOcean, for instance, uses solar cells coupled with a storage device to power wireless sensors from ambient light. For links to other companies working on energy harvesting, the Energy Harvesting Forum is a good place to start."    

Lighting Up New York (www.energyandpowermanagement.com, June 28, 2007)

"Echoflex solutions, a manufacturer and distributor of lighting and HVAC control solutions introduced self-powered wireless switches and sensors. Using the EnOcean technology (a spin-off of Siemens AG), these switches and sensors provide the solution to wireless controls. The EnOcean technology generates energy derived from the environment and has a range of about 100 feet. When the wall switch is pressed, a piezoelectric crystal provides the power to send a signal to remote fixtures. Other environmentally derived methods include solar and electrodynamics. Watch this technology. I believe it is the sleeper technology that will jump start the wireless control revolution."  

Green Chips, Blood Logs, Sickis and Folksonomic Futurism (www.worldchanging.com, May 2, 2007)

"It's still only 2007. Apple has not yet shipped a single iPhone. We don't have Windows with Wheels and Eyeballs either. But self-powered green chips? The Germans, in the unlikely global stronghold of wind and solar, are very busy on ambient power: unlike Apple and Microsoft, nobody's ever heard of EnOcean. It's a start-up specializing in wireless doodads that can harvest and store the tiniest traces of environmental energy: a flux in daylight, a change of air pressure. Green-powered micronetworks—no more batteries."  

Energy for free (Components in Electronics, 4/2007)

"Energy harvesting and low-power wireless are being hailed as the 'The Next Big Thing'. … EnOcean currently ships transmitters that are powered by energy harvested from piezo, thermal, solar and electrodynamic sources."    

Ivory Egg launches EnOcean wireless and batteryless home automation solutions (www.hiddenwires.co.uk, April 2, 2007)

"EnOcean is a revolutionary wireless & batteryless sensing system that is establishing itself as the standard for wireless automation in commercial buildings. But the technology is equally suitable for residential use. In fact EnOcean products are already in use in UK homes where manufactures such Aqualisa use it to activate its Digital showering system from up to 30m away. EnOcean differs radically from other wireless systems in that it uses harvested energy from solar, mechanical and thermal sources to power the sensors within a building."

Harvesting energy next thing in a 'green' home (Chicago Tribune, March 30, 2007)

"The term 'energy harvesting' is just vague enough to be a bit on the creepy side - it could just as easily have come from a 1950s B-grade sci-fiction film as from a 21st Century German high-tech firm. However mysterious it may be in name, in concept energy harvesting is actually about creating power from a wide range of environmental sources beyond the usual solar and wind technologies. Energy harvesting is also the foundation for an unusual and growing line of electric switches and sensors from Germany-based EnOcean."