This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer-readable media, for implementing a power harvesting protocol at a network entity and a channel engineering device (CED) of a wireless communication network. In some aspects, the network entity and the CED may implement a power harvesting protocol that includes power harvesting capabilities and configuration signaling to support power harvesting at the CED. The CED may provide a power harvesting capabilities message to the network entity that includes a parameter that indicates capabilities for power harvesting at the CED. The network entity may respond with a power harvesting configuration message to configure the CED for power harvesting. After configuration of the CED, the network entity may transmit dedicated and non-dedicated (or opportunistic) power harvesting signals to the CED for use by the CED for power harvesting. The dedicated and non-dedicated power harvesting signals may be periodic or aperiodic.