Leighton Buzzard train station has become the first UK transport hub to trial the use of kinetic energy from commuters’ footsteps, under a government-funded local innovation project.
Sponsored by the Department of Transport (DfT) through the £22.9m Adept Smart Places Live Labs Programme, the project is a UK test case of a kinetic energy system from technology firm Pavegen.
Central Bedfordshire Council secured £1.05m from the Live Labs programme and has partnered with Ringway Jacobs, West Midlands Trains and Pavegen to deliver the project.
Leighton Buzzard train station has two walkways made up of kinetic floor tiles. The aim is to power two USB charging benches and a digital data screen. The data screen will show commuters their contribution and can host important messages.
Cllr Ian Dalgarno, executive member for community services at Central Bedfordshire Council, said: “This trial looks at how we could use kinetic energy to power nearby highway assets and having seen the installation I am really impressed with how the Pavegen technology works.”
The kinetic energy technology has been installed over 200 times across 37 different countries, with applications aimed anywhere with high footfall.
The scheme is one of a number of local authority-led Live Labs – an initiative overseen by council directors body Adept – aiming to transform local places and highways through piloting innovation across energy, data, materials and mobility.
Giles Perkins, Live Labs programme director, said: “The untapped footfall energy at our transport hubs represents a real opportunity to provide sustainable energy sources to power bespoke applications, while engaging audiences and encouraging behavioural change.
“This trial will help demonstrate the viability of the technology and could be a step change in the way transport hubs engage with commuters.”
Pavegen will work alongside Central Bedfordshire Council to demonstrate how engagement with the project can also help local shops through a reward scheme using the Pavegen app.
Laurence Kemball-Cook, CEO, Pavegen, said: “We have evolved our product to create a new and engaging mobile app platform to reward passengers for the footsteps they use.
“These rewards could be used to encourage footfall and get people back to retail, leisure or hospitality sections of the UK’s larger train stations.
“This is without losing sight of the purpose, using footsteps to create clean electricity for off-grid, bespoke solutions.”
The Adept Smart Places Live Labs programme is a two-year project supported by project partners SNC-Lavalin’s Atkins business, EY, Kier, O2, Ringway and WSP to foster the use of digital technology in place-based services.
