Pavegen Systems Limited is looking for ways to tap into the energy of moving crowds. For example the thousands of people passing through subway stations, schools and airports could contribute to generating electricity to run the lighting, barrier systems, revolving doors and ticketing systems used in these locations.
Laurence Kemball-Cook, director of Pavegen Systems, will be trialling the Pavegen System in several locations throughout the UK in early 2010. These energy generating pavement slabs move 5mm from each footstep, and this kinetic energy is converted into electricity that is stored within the slab or distributed to information displays etc. The Pavegen slabs glow when walked over indicating to users that they have generated energy, but only 5% of the energy produced is used to make the Pavegen slab glow.
Source: Pavegen Systems Limited
Each slab generates 2.1 watts per hour when located in an area with high footfall for example where there is a footstep every 4-10 seconds and this energy can be stored in a lithium polymer battery if it is not used immediately.
The slabs are made from marine grade stainless steel and the surface, which comes in a variety of colours and can be custom branded, is made from recycled rubber car tyres. The internal components are made from recycled aluminium. The slabs are robust and last approximately 5 years with annual servicing.
Pavegen systems is working with a leading recycled rubber paving slab manufacturer to offer tactile paving slabs that generate energy at pedestrian crossings and the system has also been tested in East London.
Credit: Pavegen Systems Limited
Top image source: Pavegen Systems Limited
