Kinetic Flooring Turns Pedestrian Traffic into Usable Power
Walking is an everyday activity, but a British company is harnessing it to generate electricity. Pavegen, a clean-technology firm, has developed a flooring system that captures the kinetic energy of footsteps and converts it into usable power, a concept that is moving from prototype to real-world installations.
The system works through a network of triangular tiles fitted with generators. When a person steps on a tile, the pressure causes the generator to vertically displace, creating energy through electromagnetic induction. This energy can be used immediately to power lighting, radios, or other devices, or stored in batteries for later use.
Pavegen CEO Laurence Kemball-Cook explained the potential in an interview with Futurism, noting that each person generates about 5 watts of continuous energy while walking. "So you are, we all are, a 5-watt power-feed. Now imagine 10 people," he said, "that’s 50 watts of energy continuously." While that may not seem like a large amount, it is sufficient for applications like illuminating pathways, which could also help reduce crime in urban areas.
The energy can also be stored, making it useful for high-traffic venues. "Let’s say you have 40,000 people an hour passing through Grand Central Station, that energy is stored in batteries, and at night time, the power comes on," Kemball-Cook said. "So municipalities, train stations, offices, schools—anywhere with lots of people walking—that’s perfect for us."
From Prototype to High-Traffic Installations
The latest version of the flooring, known as the V3 system, is a significant upgrade from the original 2009 design. The current triangular shape is engineered to maximize energy capture and output, and the company claims it is 200 times more powerful and more durable than the earlier square version. This makes it particularly suited for urban environments with heavy foot traffic.
Pavegen has already secured an installation at Westfield, the largest shopping center in Europe, which sees 45 million visitors annually. The company is also expanding into the United States, with a recent installation of a sustainable "red carpet" in San Francisco, created in partnership with Tribal Planet. Additionally, Kemball-Cook noted that the flooring is being installed near the White House in DuPont Circle and on busy shopping streets in London, close to Oxford Street.
These developments mark a turning point for the company, which has been working on the technology for years. "I’ve put the last 5 or 6 years of my life into making it real, and now it’s finally getting great traction," Kemball-Cook said. "Suddenly, all our hard work, and our new product, is all coming to life."
Beyond Energy: Changing Mindsets
For Kemball-Cook, the technology is not just about generating power—it is about changing how people think about sustainability. He argues that clean energy sources like nuclear power are only part of the solution. "Sustainability is more than just nuclear power. It’s actually about changing the way people behave and how they think," he said. By making energy visible, such as when a child jumps on a tile and sees the lights come on, the company aims to foster a deeper connection to energy consumption.
Pavegen is positioning itself as a pioneer in the field of kinetic energy, drawing parallels to the early days of solar power. "What we are trying to do is kind of what solar did over the last 70 years," Kemball-Cook said. "There’s no rule book here." As cities increasingly focus on green initiatives, the company hopes its technology will become a staple in urban planning, turning everyday foot traffic into a renewable energy source.
