Energy Generating Pavement from Pavegen
Filed Under: Green Technology on November 2, 2009
Using kinetic energy from various transportation sources, especially vehicles and pedestrians, is something that several researchers and startup companies have been working on. In the past, I’ve shown you parking lot collection plates for gathering kinetic energy from slow moving cars and using it to power lights or ice melters. Now, a company called Pavegen is doing it for pedestrians.
The idea is to collect kinetic energy from pedestrians and use it to make electricity for street lamps, crosswalk signals, and so forth. The idea isn’t totally new, with another company called POWERleap is a finalist competing for the MIT Ignite Clean Energy Award next week. The difference here is that Pavegen has already begun field trials of their product.
Basically, the Pavegen is a square meter (or yard) of rubber set into a walkway on a sidewalk or high-pedestrian traffic area. When people step on the Pavegen, it has a slight give, producing kinetic energy. This is in turn converted to electricity and stored in batteries or sent directly to a power-using device such as a street lamp.
The slabs emit a light glow when stepped on (using about 5% of the total energy produced) to let the person know that they’ve helped generate power. It may also encourage other people walking by to deviate a little to step on the Pavegen, helping generate more power.
Pavegen pads have been tested in East London and are spreading around the UK for more field tests during 2010. The company, Pavegen Systems Ltd., is run by its inventor Laurence Kimball-Cook. He hopes to have Pavegen test pads in Time Square and Disneyland by this time next year.
The slabs themselves are framed in marine-grade stainless steel (recycled) and the surface, which can be made in several colors, comes from the rubber of old tires while the internal components are mostly recycled aluminum. Each Pavegen has an expected lifespan of five years or 20 million steps and are easily replaced. Busy walkways could see the unit paid for within a year of installation. The technology is patent-pending.
The idea is for the rubber mats to make areas self-sufficient so that a pedestrian space where safety systems such as lighting and crosswalks are electrically powered are not a drain on the grid. Information signs, store lighting, and more could also benefit from the pavers.
Pretty great idea! I hope it takes off.
