Given the amount of athletic competition that will take part in the Olympic Games it would be interesting to see how much power could be generated by the athletes. Unfortunately that isn’t actually possible in this year’s games, but many of the attendees will be powering some of the walkway lights leading to the Olympic Park.
Those attending the game might not know they’re generating the power, but they will do so simply by walking to see the stadium. Twelve special energy harvesting floor tiles, which were produced by renewable energy company Pavegen Systems, were situated along the walkway connecting the West Ham Station to the Greenway walking route to the Olympic Park will help light the way. With more 12 million impressions on the tiles are expected, it could generate 72 million joules of energy. That’s enough to power a small electric car for 397 laps on the Olympic track. It might not seem like much, but this is generated simply by people walking over those tiles.
The power will also be used to illuminate the walkway for eight hours each night at full power, and 16 hours during the day at half power. The units will further produce an energy surplus of around 35 percent, which can be stored to batteries.
Now if only the energy of the athletes could be harvested!
Pavegen Systems Official Website
[Via Energy Harvesting Journal: Pedestrians to power walkway to London 2012 Olympic park]