Pavegen is a company that has developed a flooring tile technology that converts the weight of a footstep into renewable electricity. The aim of the project is to demonstrate the possibilities of a future where communities are at the heart of renewable energy generation, providing power when and where it is needed.
Canary Wharf, in the heart of London’s financial district, has a daily footfall of around 100 thousand commuters, which means that the public spaces within the district offer a new opportunity for the company to try out its new technology.
The technology is the invention of Laurence Kemball-Cook, an industrial design engineer and graduate of Loughborough University. It was developed by Pavegen in 2009 and can be used in both indoor and outdoor locations where there is a high footfall, such as retail environments and transport hubs. The tiles are integrated discreetly into the existing environment, underfoot. So far, it has been installed in three schools in the UK, the entrance to a large office and an installation at Federation Square, Melbourne, Australia, among many other locations. The tiles can also be used in modular form at events such as exhibitions, conferences and marketing campaigns
“Pavegen is one of the greatest ideas, which needs to be implemented by more companies within the public space” said CEO and Chairman of Canary Wharf Group, Sir George Iacobescu. “I think it could shape the future of renewable energy generation, with an enormous scope on helping the Canary Wharf district achieve sustainability, through lighting, HVAC, and endless applications.”
The company has already tested the technology in over 20 countries, from transport to retail sectors across the world, with clients including Transport for London, GDF Suez, Siemens, JLL, Samsung, Coca-Cola, Adidas and more. It is headquartered in London with a 30-strong development team and has 6 global distributors. Pavegen has also showcased the technology at the Cognicity Challenge, a pioneering project established by Canary Wharf Group with the aim of accelerating the growth of small and medium-sized start-ups through mentoring from experienced business leaders and the company now has an opportunity to develop a pilot project.
Pavegen are also in the process of developing additional wireless features for the technology, enhancing the capabilities of the tiles and emphasising the connection of the real world to the digital world.
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