Journey of Innovation: Designing a Disruptive Technology for a Sustainable Future – Pavegen Systems Ltd.

What would be an alternative energy resource that could work well in the middle of a crowded city?• Footsteps are an untapped

natural resource• Technology that harvests

kinetic mechanical energy of walking feet

• The Challenge – convert footstep energy to electrical energy

• The Solution – hybrid of piezoelectricity and induction

Practical Problems• Footstep energy input is not constant• The Challenge – how to store and regulate available

energy• The Solution – a tile that withstands adversity

Every time someone walks over a Pavegen tile, renewable energy is harvested from the footstep. The technology converts the kinetic energy to electricity that can be stored and used for a variety of applications.

Solution – Consists of Two StagesStage One• Inside the tile – rectified power is used to

charge batteries, which store the voltage and maintain it relatively constant

• Every step on a tile produces about 7 Watts of power for up to five seconds

• Many people walking can generate 12 – 24 Vdc at 2 to 3 amps

Solution – Consists of Two StagesStage Two• External – physical structure of the tile is

critical to the technology• Electrical circuitry must work flawlessly• Top surface must be rigid enough to sustain

weight differences and activity level of individuals

• Can not be affected by weather conditions

The Technology

The top surface of the flooring unit is made from 100% recycled rubber and the base of the slab is constructed from over 80% recycled materials. The system can be retrofitted in place of existing flooring systems, or specified for new developments.

The Technology• Tiles are daisy chained in

parallel• Standard waterproof

connectors are used to connect the tiles

• Connected tiles charge a bank of supercapacitors

• Wireless interface enables communication with software and hardware applications

The Technology

• Must maintain continuous flow of stable power

• Capacitors can store enough energy to maintain current flow for up to one week

• By adding tiles and capacitors, it is easy to scale up the system

The Technology• Tiles form a network that sends footfall and

energy data to a base station• Monitors display data as real-time feedback

on energy generation• Integration of power generation and wireless

data transmission give ability to combine: – off-grid sustainable energy– data communication– control of automated systems

Real-World Installations• Simon Langton Grammar School for Boys – UK • Empire State Building - US• Panduit Corporation World Headquarters – US • Riverdale Country School – US

What the Future Holds . . .• Pavegen is continually working to improve system• Large grid creation to feed single supercapacitor• Pricing in line with regular flooring• Produce power compatible with the grid

For More Information . . .

• Download the Executive Summary at www.techbriefs.com/walkingforpower

• View the Webinar at www.techbriefs.com/Webinar218