Energy Floors generate power from your dance moves

Rotterdam-based company Energy Floors uses an electromechanical system to turn kinetic energy into electricity.

Its Sustainable Dance Floor uses the movement of dancers to light up the ground beneath their feet. The interactive light show was designed to raise awareness of the potential of kinetic energy, and has proved popular for corporate and public events, but they have since developed a new product with more practical benefits.

Their Sustainable Energy Floors are designed for areas with high footfall, such as shopping malls, sports arenas and airports. Each step onto a tile can generate between two and 20 joules of energy, which can be used to power nearby lights or signage.

How the Sustainable Dance Floor works

Energy Floors Sustainable Dance Floor

Tile compression 

When stepped, danced or jumped on, the floor tiles are compressed by 10mm (0.4in) before springing back up again when the pressure’s off.

Generating power

The vertical movement of the floor tile drives a small internal generator.

Smart floor

Electricity from the generator powers a microchip, which in turn controls the LED lights within the floor tile.

Light show

The LED lights give visual feedback that the dancer’s movements are generating electricity and creates a groovy light show.

Power output

Each 75 x 75 x 20cm (30 x 30 x 8in) tile can produce up to 35W of sustained electricity output, with 5-20W produced by each person.

Excess power

Any extra electricity created can be fed back into the power grid or used to power interactive signage.

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