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Pavegen, Former ID Student's Electricity-Generating Floor Tile, Gaining Traction

By Rain Noe - September 26, 2011

in Tech | Sustainable Design

Several years ago, British entrepreneur Laurence Kemball-Cook built his first Pavegen electricity generating prototype while studying Industrial Design & Technology at Loughborough University. The Pavegen is a floor tile, similar in concept to (though developed independently of) the Sustainable Dance Floor from the Netherlands. Like that product, it captures electricity generated by footfalls, making it an ideal way to generate power from nothing more than people walking over it.

In December of last year the Pavegen began real-world trials at a grammar school in Kent, and now Kemball-Cook has received his first commercial order for the system: The new Westfield Stratford City Shopping Centre in East London plans to roll out a grid of Pavegens to power the lighting. "30 million shoppers a year = great for Pavegen!" tweeted an exuberant Kemball-Cook on the mall's opening day.

With tops surfaced in 100% recycled truck tires, the Pavegens are designed to withstand outdoor punishment. A good thing, as Stratford City plans to install the tiles outdoors in a main crossing between the shopping centre and the London Main Stadium, an area expected to see the heaviest foot traffic.

Earlier this year the Pavegen won the Big Idea category of the UK's sustainability-centric Observer Ethical Awards, and Kemball-Cook is now a contender for the Shell LiveWIRE Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2011 award, which would bring in 10,000 pounds Sterling.

You can learn more about the Pavegen and how it works here.

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Oliver

13 years ago

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Despite this being created with probably the best intentions I can't help but feel that this is an awful idea.

It's environmental credentials are questionable - it will actually save very little energy as LED lighting uses relatively little power anyway. More importantly is that the battery technology in it will have a maximum service life of 5 years, even with the best technology around. This will have to be replaced by someone who has to drive to each one and be paid a significant amount.(with expertise / training in changing these batteries also!) This simply adds to the maintenance bill of the responsible party.

It just seems like a products that only the short sighted would buy. Practical benefits of this? Yes, there's no cable to wire in. really though, it's not going to save a penny or a Joule in the long term.

I'd be interested to hear other peoples opinion on this product.
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lazlo

12 years ago

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Similar thoughts to Oliver - initially I was impressed by the concept but the product itself is very large for the minimal affect it seems to have. What is the embodied energy of each 'paving slab' look at the glass cover, the machined metal ring, the rubber mat, the battery, not to mention the installation. How hard-wearing are they? How resilient to dirt and grime, ice and snow. How much energy do they actually produce? And then there is the maintenance - how often and how many?
Sorry I'm not convinced.
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interaction_cities

13 years ago

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I think that there are a lot of internet haters on here!

What a great idea and innovation! I want to have every city / town/ village / country covered in these and we can power our world!

GOOD WORK PAVEGEN!!!!! I am your new best fan! @interaction_cities
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ianfisher

13 years ago

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The kinetic energy exerted by humans is used from the food that they eat- I imagine that the force required to step on one of these is the same as a rubber childrens playground or stepping up a single step- does this really affect peoples energy at the end of the day? SWPU- of course this technology is not going to power the worlds energy requirements but its a good start!

People are trying to keep fit so surely this a way to help them out? Especially with all the obese people in the US- it could shape up the whole nation!!!
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kokoloco

13 years ago

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I think that this idea is transformative as an energy source in urban areas- Having looked at renewable energy in detail- I know that solar and wind are not as viable in urban areas due to planning, bad wind and lots of tall building giving shade! This makes sense and is the future...!

looking at their website and info online- it says that they do not need batteries as this is one of the key advantages of energy harvesting. The energy generated can be immediately used to power lighting especially when lots of people are walking past at the same time.
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ScienceWorksPleaseUseIt

13 years ago

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The energy harvested by these tiles is not free. It comes from the metabolism of food. Producing electricity in this way is usually more carbon-intensive than producing it in a fossil fuel power plant.

Combined with Oliver's excellent points, this makes the tiles really neat pieces of art and not legitimate contributors to energy efficiency or ecological sustainability.
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