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Renewable Energy From The Gym

Posted: 15/05/2006

Fitness fanatics could soon be creating an environmentally-friendly energy supply - from their gym workout. Scientists at Stirling University say they have devised a grid that can harness electricity from exercise bikes, rowing machines, treadmills and cross-trainers and use it to power the gyms themselves or even light up hotel bedrooms and kitchens.

Researchers Tao Pei, 25, and Emmanuel Pogoson, 37, have been given £2,500 in university funding to develop a business plan to launch the renewable energy scheme. Mr Pogoson said: "Our idea is a very simple one. Things are at an early stage, but our ideas have already generated quite a bit of interest." It is estimated that the average person produces up to 300 watts of electricity during a workout session - enough to power a washing machine for an hour.

The Stirling University scheme would store electricity in a similar way to wind farms and wave machines. Gym equipment would be attached to generators or a central power source that could convert kinetic energy from movement into mechanical energy. The electricity created could then be used to power the gym machinery or the lighting and air conditioning in the building.

Graeme Bathurst, a senior consultant with the independent energy company TNEI, said it was an exciting eco-friendly development. "This is an absolutely fascinating project and these guys have a great and green marketing angle," he said. "Potentially, a system like this could generate enough power for the whole gym."

Carolyn Churchill / The Scotsman  
 

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