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Imagine generating electricity with every step you take; that every time you drive or cycle, energy is sent to the national grid; and that even your workout is powering the lights and heat of the gym, replacing fossil fuel – sounds great, right?  Well, piezoelectricity is here.

Piezoelectricity is basically the use of certain materials to transform kinetic energy into electricity.  I wrote in another blog about the development of piezoelectric floor tiles that turn foot traffic into electricity; now the first practical installation of this kind is in place at a Sainsbury’s supermarket in Gloucester, England, where “kinetic road plates” are being used to produce 30 kW of electricity every hour. The company’s press release describes the process as a more physical process (plates are pushed down by passing cars to create rocking motions that turn generators) than a piezoelectrical one, but the broader concept of using transient motion to generate electricity is the same.

There’s no reason why this simple, cheap and sustainable type of energy conversion can’t be used in businesses and homes all over Ireland.  And genius scientists are also working on an even more Irish-friendly form of energy conversion: raindrops into electricity, in my next post!

How would you like to get your electricity from wind power, and at cheaper rates than the ESB?  It’s really easy to switch to Airtricity online, all you need is your ESB account number (on your bill), and if you have the number of the meter reading to hand it makes things even quicker.  Within 5 minutes you can be finished with ESB and fossil fuels!

Airtricity is owned by Scottish and Southern Energy (SSE).  The renewable-energy company, established in 1999, was the first independent supplier of green energy to customers both in the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  It has now built up a considerable infrastructure of wind farms across Ireland, with 17 onshore wind farms generating 878 mega watts of electricity – enough to power 180,000 households. At present, the company provides green energy to just over 60,000 customers across the island of Ireland, of which 45,000 are SMEs and 15,000 are domestic customers.

Airtricity has also just announced that they are to create 200 jobs in the Irish market, in the areas of sales, customer support, billing and support services. Fifty of the positions will be created in Airtricity’s headquarters in Sandymount, Co Dublin, with the remaining 150 comprising outsourced roles.  Green, clean, and profitable: these are the kind of green shoots that matter.

Just think – right this second, millions of people in gyms across the planet are running, stretching, lifting weights, stepping, cycling and leaping around the place, God love them.  Imagine how many units of energy are being burned – and all of it simply floating into the ether, unused, untapped and unappreciated.  Now that may all be about to change, thanks to some imaginative inventions.  The “Bike Power Generator” is a stationery bike that can directly power some DC appliances such as water pumps, but is primarily designed to charge a deep cycle, 12-Volt battery.  For those of you concerned about bingo wings you can get the irresistibly-named Human Power Generator (power from the people!).  But wait – there’s more!  The very footpaths we walk (or jog) on may soon become part of the national grid, as brilliant minds have designed “Powerleap” (as seen on the Sundance Channel) - floor tiles that emit an electrical response to impact.  If jogging isn’t exciting enough for you, jump up and down!  Dance!  Do long jump!  You’ll be doing your bit for the planet.  These inventions are all so simple one might wonder why they weren’t created sooner, but a perfect storm of climate anxiety and new technology has allowed them to come to market now.  So the next time you’re feeling a little pudgy, hook yourself up, feel the burn and see the light!