Latest news from º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ

17 Sep 2014

Graduate company installs world’s first people-powered football pitch in Rio de Janeiro

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ graduate, Gilmore Satchell, manages the technical installation in Rio.

º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ graduate company Pavegen has just delivered its most ambitious project to date – a sustainably powered football pitch in one of the most deprived favelas in Rio de Janeiro.

In partnership with Shell, Pavegen installed 200 tiles into the redeveloped pitch at Morro da Mineira which was recently opened by global football legend, and Shell ambassador, Pelé. The pitch is lit for ten hours during the night by a unique combination of Pavegen tiles, which convert the energy from footsteps into electricity, and solar panels.

The idea for Pavegen was conceived by Laurence Kemball-Cook during his Industrial Design degree at º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in 2009. Shell helped Laurence to progress the technology in 2011, through the Shell LiveWIRE competition, which highlights the importance of STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics) careers for aspiring innovators and entrepreneurs.

Malena Cutuli, Global Brand Communications Manager at Shell, said: “we were really impressed when Laurence presented his technology to us at ShellLivewire; his quest for energy solutions that can improve the planet has great potential to improve the world we live in. It’s great to see new solutions that help the world come to life with such huge impact in the future.”

Morro da Mineira’s football pitch took shape in just five days, with local children helping to complete the installation. Laurence said, “Following the unity and spirit of the World Cup, this project is an incentive to encourage entrepreneurial growth and disruptive innovation, allowing the community to hone their football skills on the pitch and be part of the energy generating process.”

He added: “Pavegen is at a critical point in our development, our focus is scale, and this pitch represents the largest use of our technology to date. We have taken this idea from a bedroom in London to a football pitch in Brazil with the support of Shell. We look forward to continuing to work together with Shell around the world.”

Professor Steve Rothberg, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ’s Pro Vice Chancellor for Enterprise, said: “This is yet another significant milestone for Pavegen’s founder Laurence, to whom we awarded the title of Innovation and Enterprise Fellow earlier this year. I am delighted that another º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ graduate, Gilmore Satchell, also played a key role in the Rio football pitch project as lead electrical engineer.”

Notes for editors

Article reference number: PR 14/161

1. Pavegen is the invention of Laurence Kemball-Cook, 28, an industrial design engineer and graduate of º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ. The CEO and founder of Pavegen developed the concept in 2009, whilst researching kinetic off-grid energy solutions in environments where low-carbon technologies like solar and wind are not practical. Pavegen tiles can be used in both indoor and outdoor locations and work best where there is high footfall such as retail and transport hubs. The technology is integrated, discreetly, into the existing environment, underfoot. Installations include Europe’s busiest airport, Heathrow, West Ham Tube Station in London and Federation Square, Melbourne. Pavegen units are also available in modular form for use at events, such as exhibitions and marketing campaigns, to demonstrate their commitment to innovation and sustainability initiatives.

2. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, putting it among the best universities in the world, and was named Sports University of the Year 2013-14 by The Times and Sunday Times. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and has been voted England's Best Student Experience for six years running in the Times Higher Education league. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

In 2015 the University will open an additional academic campus in London’s new innovation quarter. º¬Ðß²ÝÊÓƵ in London, based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, will offer postgraduate and executive-level education, as well as research and enterprise opportunities.

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