News Archive
Electric paving slab gets stamp of approval
Released on 09/03/2010
A paving slab that generates energy from footfall has won first place in a green innovations competition supported by the CIOB.
The slab beat technologies ranging from home energy servers through to paper concrete construction blocks and waterless radiators.
Designed by Pavegen Systems Ltd., the slab works by converting the kinetic energy from people’s footsteps into electricity, which is stored in a battery in the slab. A rubber panel on the top of the slab flexes with each footstep, which powers a dynamo.
The energy produced can provide power for lighting, signage and information displays. Five hours of constant footfall would be enough to power the lighting of a bus stop all night.
The slab glows when stepped on. The slabs are the same size as standard paving and can be retrofitted in traditional concrete.
The contest was decided by visitors to London’s Ecobuild exhibition, plus online voters, nominating the innovation they felt would have the most impact.
The contest was run by the Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network (MBEKTN), along with partners the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), the Technology Strategy Board (TSB), the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC), the Nanotechnology Knowledge Transfer Network (NanoKTN) and the Creative Industries Knowledge Transfer Network (CIKTN).
