New technique for generating electricity

New technique for generating electricity -- ScienceDaily
Research scientists at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have demonstrated a new technique for generating electrical energy.
The new method can be used in harvesting energy from mechanical vibrations of the environment and converting it into electricity.
Energy harvesters are needed, for example, in wireless self-powered sensors and medical implants, where they could ultimately replace batteries.
In the future, energy harvesters can open up new opportunities in many application areas such as wearable electronics.
...VTT estimates that the new electricity generation technology could be introduced on an industrial scale within three to six years. 
Energy harvesters and new sensing solutions are among the projected megatrends of the near future. Energy harvesters can replace batteries and other energy sources in applications where maintenance is difficult or impossible.