Leadership2050 edition 22: Pavegen – Creating Energy from Footsteps

Welcome to the 22nd edition of the Leadership2050 Newsletter in which I introduce the second of a number of case studies that focus on the concept of profitable growth for good. There is a simple question that I would like to pose in framing this concept: If you sold more of the products and services that you offer, would the world be a better place?

In Newsletter 20, I framed what I meant by this statement in terms of 1) the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, 2) views from the philosopher A.C. Grayling and 3) the words of the psychologist Scott Barry Kaufman. 

So, let’s look at our second example: Pavegen, an energy technology from the UK. The idea behind this company is very simple. Every day, billions of people around the world take thousands of footsteps. Each footstep has the potential to generate a small amount of electricity from the energy that it creates. If we could capture this energy in the form of electricity, then imagine the volume of electricity that could be generated to replace that from carbon-intensive technologies? 

It was for this reason that, a few years ago, I invested in Pavegen on the Crowdcube platform: not just for financial returns, but also to ensure that my financial resources were invested in technologies that would move forward in addressing the climate challenge facing the world. 

Below is a description of the operation of Pavegen, in the words of the CEO, Laurence Kemball-Cook: 

We set out with a clear mission: to produce clean, off-grid electricity all through the power of a simple footstep. Invented as an original, revolutionary technology, over 750 prototypes were created and, eventually, in 2009 a kinetic floor tile that could generate clean electricity was born.  

Laurence’s original dream was to create a floor tile that could power the entire world. However, as time has gone on, he discovered a way to create a far bigger impact, with our revolutionary underfoot generators. A component that is so crucial, yet is missing from so many sustainable solutions, is incentivising real behaviour change. We need a shift in the behaviour of our communities, making them smarter and, in turn, more sustainable. Pavegen inspire, incentivise, captivate, encourage and spark an entire experience through a single footstep.  

Now coupled with our newest technological development, Pavegen goes on to physically recognise this positive behaviour by rewarding users for contributing their steps and doing good. With this adaptable digital extension, your audience can leave a lasting impact on their community, which goes far beyond the initial touchpoint.  

Pavegen has been implemented in several indoor and outdoor places with high footfall, or where they can attract high levels of footfall. Below are examples that show how this technology is being implemented in different parts of the world. 

CASE STUDIES 

Hong Kong – Running Track 

The first Pavegen track, located in the centre of Hong Kong, recognises and harnesses the power of fitness. By promoting general wellbeing that supports the environment, communities surrounding the Quayside are able to put real purpose behind every step they take. Through using the track, not only are these communities encouraged to stay active, they can receive instant gratification and results through a live data screen that presents real-time energy and footstep levels generated from their time spent on the tiles.

London – Broadgate 

Pavegen partnered with Broadgate to utilise those very footsteps that contribute to the bustle of London, helping to contribute power to lighting and donations for a local homelessness charity. Designed to help spread awareness, Pavegen has enabled people to make a positive change that starts with them, allowing them to truly connect and give something back to their community.

Dubai – Expo 

Ch2m and Mace were looking for a fun, exciting and engaging feature to install in the children’s play area at the Dubai Expo 2020. Their focus was to promote the UAE Space Programme while inspiring young people to become more sustainably conscious and educate them about renewable energy resources. As a children’s play environment, we needed to create something enticing that could capture the attention of young people and encourage them to interact and participate with our sustainable technology…

Pavegen powered the minds of the next generation to build a more sustainable future using their footsteps. We educated the minds of tomorrow by bringing visitors of the exhibition into the North Park Latifa – The Race to Space! Gamification has become the latest and greatest experiential marketing tool to take the world by storm. Pavegen has incorporated this into our installation at the Dubai Expo 2020 to engage audiences and influence a change in behaviours.

The game is simple: use your footsteps to power the rocket and race against your friends. Whoever creates the most kinetic energy wins! Branded characters of the Dubai Expo, Rashid and Latifa are used to inspire young people and raise awareness surrounding the individual impact that each of them can have. Creating a game that includes these recognisable characters and actively involves influential visitors can ultimately ignite a change in behaviour, specifically towards sustainability-conscious behaviours.

When we consider these case studies and the description of Pavegen, what can we conclude about this company and its impact?

1.     It may seem obvious, but there is energy everywhere that can be harnessed as electricity, which we are not currently capturing. 

2.     We need more leaders like Laurence Kemball-Cook and companies such as Pavegen who have the insight, vision and capabilities to turn this energy into electricity without creating damaging environmental externalities. 

3.     Technology can make a massive contribution to how the world moves forward in addressing the climate challenge. 

4.     It is not just technology itself, but also how technology can be an enabler of people coming together in a social movement, which address this challenge. 

5.     This social movement is about showing people how they are making a positive impact on the local and wider world in which they live. 

In summary, when answering the question ‘If you sold more of the products and services that you offer, would the world be a better place?’, I have no doubt that, in the case of  Pavegen, the answer is a resounding YES! It is clear that they are making a major contribution towards Goal 7, which is Affordable and Clean Energy, but are also enabling people to address some of the ‘wellness’ challenges that Scott Barry Kaufman describes in his book Transcend: The New Science of Self-Actualization. See Newsletter 20 for more details about this.

Finally, you may be interested to know why I am writing this Newsletter. As a Senior Fellow of Management Practice at Sa?d Business School (SBS), University of Oxford, my research and teaching focuses on how leaders transcend 21st century challenges such as disruptive technology change and the climate crisis; also, how they create cultures that are diverse, inclusive, resilient and high performing, alongside the ongoing challenge of delivering profitable growth. At Oxford, I direct the Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership Programme and, in this capacity, work with leaders from many geographies, industries and governments. All this has given me a deep understanding of how good leaders create value and bad leaders destroy it, as measured from multiple perspectives. One could argue that never before has this been so important on a global stage; hence why I am undertaking this work. 

? Dr Andrew White February 2022