Harvesting Urban Kinetic Energy: A Study on Pavegens Energy-Generating

Abstract

The increasing demand for renewable energy sources has driven interest in innovative solutions for harnessing energy in urban environments. Energy-generating tiles, such as those developed by Pavegen, offer a promising approach to sustainable energy production by converting pedestrian footsteps into electricity. This paper investigates the concept of energy-generating tiles, focusing on Pavegen’s technology. The study encompasses the system’s design, functionality, implementation, and its potential applications in smart cities. The findings emphasize the effectiveness of Pavegen and energy tiles in generating electricity, demonstrating a significant impact in lowering a building\'s overall energy consumption, with potential savings of up to 62%. The findings also underscore the potential of energy-generating tiles as a supplementary energy source and a step toward sustainable urban living.

Introduction

In response to rising energy demands and urbanization, Pavegen offers an innovative, sustainable energy solution: kinetic tiles that convert footsteps into electricity. Founded by Laurence Kemball-Cook in 2009, the technology originated from his vision of generating clean, off-grid energy through human movement, inspired by his work in urban spaces like Victoria Station in London.

???? Proposed System Overview

The system consists of modular tiles embedded with:

1. Electromagnetic Generators – Convert footstep pressure into electricity.

2. Sensors – Capture footfall data for pedestrian flow analysis and urban planning.

3. Energy Storage – Powers nearby low-energy devices or feeds into the local grid.

These tiles are designed for seamless integration into environments like malls, pavements, and transportation hubs.

???? Literature Review Insights

• Earlier energy-harvesting efforts used piezoelectric and electromagnetic methods.

• Real-world tests in airports and stations have shown viability.

• Key challenges remain: durability, cost, and energy output optimization.

• Pavegen’s unique advantage lies in combining energy generation with data analytics, supporting smart city infrastructure.

???? System Architecture

1. Mechanical Layer – Absorbs kinetic energy.

2. Energy Conversion Unit – Generates electricity via electromagnetic methods.

3. Data & Communication Module – Transmits real-time pedestrian data.

???? Implementation & Testing

• Installed in high-traffic areas like malls and public squares.

• Steps included site selection, seamless tile installation, and field testing.

• On average, each tile generated 5 watts per footstep, enough to power small devices like sensors or lights.

???? Results & Discussion

• Energy Efficiency: Modest per-tile output, but scalable for larger energy impact.

• Durability: Tiles last 5–7 years, with strong resistance to wear.

• Applications: Street lighting, charging stations, and IoT support.

• Economic Impact: While initial costs ($200–$500 per tile) are high, long-term savings and data analytics value offer strong return on investment. Some pilot projects report up to 62% energy savings.

Conclusion

Energy-generating tiles like Pavegen represent a step forward in sustainable energy solutions. This paper highlights their potential to contribute to renewable energy ecosystems and smart city infrastructure. Future research should focus on: • Improving energy conversion efficiency. • Reducing manufacturing and installation costs. • Expanding the integration of data analytics for urban planning. Pros and Cons: Pros: • Generates clean, renewable energy. • Provides valuable data on pedestrian traffic for urban planning. • Modular design allows for easy installation and scalability. • Enhances smart city infrastructure by integrating IoT devices. • Long-term savings through reduced energy consumption. Cons: • High initial cost of installation and manufacturing. • Modest energy output per tile limits its standalone viability. • Dependence on consistent pedestrian traffic for optimal performance. • Requires maintenance to ensure durability over time. By addressing these challenges, energy-generating tiles can play a pivotal role in transforming urban environments into sustainable energy hubs.

References

[1] Streifel, Ryan; Alyward, Steve; Meyer, Evan; Shah, Kush. (2011) .An investigation into the implementation of Pavegen tiles in the Student Union Building [2] Shreedhar Patil, Saurabh Parsewar, Bodake Pranav, Sachin Aade, Suhas Hanmante. (2019). Energy Generation and Implementation of Power Floor (Pavegen) [3] Thitima Jintanawan ,Gridsada Phanomchoeng ,Surapong Suwankawin ,Phatsakorn Kreepoke ,Pimsalisa Chetchatree andChanut U-viengchai. (2020). Design of Kinetic-Energy Harvesting Floors [4] PAVEGEN OFFICIAL SITE

Copyright

Copyright © 2025 Chandana Ashritha Neerati. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.