Taking steps towards cleaner energy

A brilliant technology that converts the kinetic energy from footsteps into low-energy electricity has been developed by a graduate in the United Kingdom.

The technology can be used to power anything from lighting and signage - to mobile phones and iPads, with any surplus stored in batteries.

Pavegen Systems is a “clean-tech” business founded by Loughborough University industrial design graduate Laurence Kemball-Cook in 2009. It recently negotiated its first major external funding, winning investment from partners including Renaissance Capital Partners and a syndicate from London Business Angels.

The company has already won a contract for an installation at Westfield’s new headline 2012 Olympic site in Stratford, east London - the largest urban shopping centre in Europe - where its energy-conversion tiles will be scattered along the central crossing between the shopping mall and the Olympic stadium.

The recently opened mall expects an estimated 30 million customers in its first year - "That should be enough feet to power about half its [the mall’s] outdoor lighting needs," said Kemball-Cook, Pavegen’s chief executive officer.

Pavegen’s concept has won a string of awards including the “Big Idea” category at the Observer newspaper’s 2011 Ethical Awards. It could be particularly attractive where connection to an electricity distribution grid is not feasible or where there is a special requirement for a low-carbon power source.

A standard Pavegen tile contains a central luminaire that glows when walked over; the harvested energy can also be used to power low-energy pedestrian lighting, way-finding signage and advertising, especially in high-footfall urban environments.

When stepped on, the flexible top surface of the tile, made from 100 per cent recycled rubber, is depressed by about five millimetres - not much but enough to harvest significant amounts of kinetic energy, said Kemball-Cook.

In standard form, some five per cent of the electricity produced is used to light up the central LED unit, and 95 per cent can be battery-stored for up to three days.

These proportions can be varied in other applications driving other forms of low-energy lighting. Although each step produces only enough electricity to keep an LED-powered street lamp lit for 30 seconds, Kemball-Cook described the tiles as a real-world "crowd-sourcing" application, in the way they harness small contributions from a large number of individuals.

“For example, we recently came back from a big outdoor festival where we got over 250,000 footsteps - enough to charge 1,000 mobile phones," he added. “Our customers are deriving value from Pavegen’s installations in a number of ways. As well as the energy generated, branded tiles are also proving a popular marketing tool.”

The company also plans to exploit its patented technology on roads and is developing a prototype system that will harvest the energy from trucks and cars on motorways and in cities to power street furniture such as lighting and LED information boards.

“The additional funding comes at a crucial time as we scale-up production and work with our corporate partners to supply their sites with the capacity to generate renewable energy and communicate their commitment to the environment,” said Laurence Kemball-Cook. “It wasn’t long ago that I was learning all about business angels in enterprise lectures at Loughborough University, and I’m delighted that we have closed such a significant deal.”

With a manufacturing site near Brighton and an imminent move to larger offices in central London, Pavegen is expanding its executive team to deliver the kinetic flooring technology to a number of key clients and markets.

Kemball-Cook’s business idea was supported in its infancy through the Student & Graduate Enterprise at Loughborough University and he was presented with a Graduate Enterprise Award in 2010. Student enterprise manager Marina Pickles said: “129 business ventures were launched by our students and graduates in 2009/2010. Pavegen is a shining example of graduate enterprise.”