Piezoelectric paradise
How many volts from a dog on a trampoline?
Imagine generating electricity with every step you take; that every time you drive or cycle, energy is sent to the national grid; and that even your workout is powering the lights and heat of the gym, replacing fossil fuel – sounds great, right? Well, piezoelectricity is here.
Piezoelectricity is basically the use of certain materials to transform kinetic energy into electricity. I wrote in another blog about the development of piezoelectric floor tiles that turn foot traffic into electricity; now the first practical installation of this kind is in place at a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Gloucester, England, where “kinetic road plates” are being used to produce 30 kW of electricity every hour. The company’s press release describes the process as a more physical process (plates are pushed down by passing cars to create rocking motions that turn generators) than a piezoelectrical one, but the broader concept of using transient motion to generate electricity is the same.
There’s no reason why this simple, cheap and sustainable type of energy conversion can’t be used in businesses and homes all over Ireland. And genius scientists are also working on an even more Irish-friendly form of energy conversion: raindrops into electricity, in my next post!
Related posts:
- Energy is raining down
- Sustainable electricity from the salt of the earth
- Energy Independence for Ireland
- Airtricity – power your home or business on wind
- Pros & Cons of the hydrogen car
- Green Energy is No Bull
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Are any of these brilliant ideas making it to the market place??? it makes so much sense to incorporate this type of technology into new builds and infrastructure
great idea!
Thanks for your comments – in answer to Mia, I’ve written to several of these piezoelectric manufacturers to find out about commercial usage but have so far received no answer. Like yourself I think they should be used in all new builds and the technology is actually pretty uncomplicated. I’d really like to investigate manufacturing piezoelectric tiles, etc., here in Ireland. Anyone want to join forces?
I’m trying to find a manufacturer for piezoelectricity. Anybody has any contacts??
The only manufacturers I know of are in the States or mainland Europe, and only a couple have responded to my inquiries and those aren’t ready for the marketplace – however the technology itself isn’t that complex and could easily be built here. I’d love to talk you more if you’re interested in trying to get something going in Ireland?