Piezoelectric effect as an energy generator: A describal historic of its performance

Abstract

Knowing that world population, process automation, energy demand and environmental impacts increase every day, the energetic efficiency analyses the supply possibilities of the increasing electricity usage. Thus, the article describes the historical performance of the piezoelectric effect studies implemented in Brazil and worldwide, represented as an alternative for power generation in small and large applications, comparing with other existing renewable sources and listing their advantages and disadvantages. It has gotten as a result it is an old technology, however low used in energy generation. The generation by piezoelectric effect does not emit greenhouse gases, does not work with combustion and does not need renewable resources such as sunlight, actions from wind or water. The PZT ceramics are deployed in urban and busy locations such as highways, airports, railways, sidewalks, supermarkets, and soccer fields around the world, attending the demand in small daily applications, getting great strides in reducing greenhouse gas emissions caused by non-renewable sources and some renewable sources. It was concluded that there is a possibility of diversifying the energy matrix with existing technologies, in simple applications such as residential and public lighting, as well as encouraging the elaboration of research and projects that can decrease the environmental impact and increase the energy efficiency.