An artist's impression of the wearable, flexible battery which can be charged through movement.

Flexible Integrated Energy Device

The Flexible Integrated Energy Device (FIED) is a wearable, flexible electricity generation, storage and management system which can be used to provide power for personal electronics.

• 19 February 2010 | Updated 14 October 2011

• A wearable battery
• Harvesting the energy of movement
• Advanced conductive fibre technology

A wearable battery

CSIRO has combined its expertise in energy harvesting, energy storage and advanced fibre development to create the next generation of integrated battery technology.

The Flexible Integrated Energy Device is a wearable battery that can be seamlessly incorporated into clothing and charged by the movement of the wearer.

It is comprised of two components; a battery based on advanced, conductive fabric and vibration energy harvesting system.

Harvesting the energy of movement

The flexible battery can either be charged by plugging into an electrical power point or through vibration energy harvesting.

As the wearer of the garment moves, the vibrations they create can be captured and channelled into recharging the battery where it can be stored, or used for powering a plug-in electronic device.

Advanced conductive fibre technology

The conductive fabric is the key to linking the vibration energy harvesting system with the battery unit.

The advanced fabric material is fashioned from special conductive fibres which are made by coating conductive metal layers onto textiles, such as wool or cotton.

The fabric provides a conductive material for the flexible battery and contributes to its mechanical strength and stability by allowing the system to flex and fold.

The team is working to produce a demonstration device by mid-2011.

Read the CSIRO Energy Technology overview.