Energy startup LV Energy has developed an innovative method to generate electricity from sound wave vibrations. Their goal is to capture the loudest sounds and convert them into usable energy. Noise pollution is everywhere, and vast amounts of sound energy go to waste daily. With the technology LV Energy tested at ESNS, they aim to transform this untapped resource into power.

At ESNS, LV Energy integrated their system into a loud generator to demonstrate its potential in real-world conditions. This breakthrough innovation could pave the way for concert halls, highways, and other noisy environments to become energy sources. To actively engage festival visitors, they introduced an interactive device that allowed people to shout into it, instantly converting their voices into electricity and lighting up LEDs in response.

LV Energy’s theory has been confirmed: it is indeed possible to generate energy from sound, particularly when close to the sound source. During testing, a small wave-harvester panel generated 1 watt of energy, while an 18 cm panel connected to a generator produced 20 volts. A challenge that remains is the distance to the sound source. Ambient sound doesn’t have enough density to generate energy effectively at a distance, meaning the technology currently only works close to the sound source.

An exciting new discovery emerged during testing. In addition to sound waves, the small harvester can also generate energy from sound vibrations. With this in mind, LV Energy is exploring the development of a hybrid product that can harness both applications.