Ambient, NGK Form Strategic Technology Partnership

Ambient Photonics and NGK Insulators, Ltd. are partnering to co-develop sustainable energy solutions for maintenance-free connected devices that reduce reliance on disposable batteries.

Complementing Ambient’s solar cells, which generate 3x more power than conventional indoor solar cells, NGK’s lithium-ion rechargeable battery, “EnerCera pouch,” offers the benefit of a low self-discharge current and stable charge/discharge cycles, enabling efficient charging in low-light scenarios and power storage for extended periods of time.

This combined power advantage is in high demand as connected device manufacturers explore new designs to reduce their carbon footprint while expanding device capabilities. The Ambient and NGK technologies are also very thin, offering industrial design without compromise.

“When it comes to energy harvesting applications in IoT and other connected devices, battery performance and industrial design are critical considerations,” said Bates Marshall, CEO and co-founder of Ambient Photonics. “As the industry evaluates new technologies to lower emissions, it’s technologies such as NGK’s EnerCera pouch that deliver both a power and aesthetic advantage that will ultimately make the transition away from disposable batteries a reality.”

“Ambient Photonics and NGK share a sustainability forward vision,” added Iwao Ohwada, NGK’s VP of global business creation and corporate NV creation. “The combination of their superior solar cell performance with our battery performance will expand the variety of potential battery-free applications and markets.”