Human Power Plant (1.2): Work Songs

Video of the prototype in Antwerp. Made by Laura Zuallaert.

Everybody's talking about sustainable energy, but what is it exactly? And how does it sound? We try to answer these questions with the newest version of our prototype Human Power Plant, an off-the-grid renewable energy source that produces electricity, compressed air, and water under pressure.

In order to try and motivate people to generate their own power, we have equipped the human power plant with sound production. In earlier times, when physical labour was much more common than it is today in the industrialised world, people sang songs to increase work productivity, keep boredom at bay, or coordinate the actions of different workers. At the same time, these work songs were an outlet for humour, ridicule, and frustration.

Following the same logic, in the Human Power Plant every movement that produces energy now also produces sound. Consequently, each time the Human Power Plant is operated, a work song is composed. 

Prototype in Antwerp. Picture: Alies Broekhuizen.

The Human Power Plant 1.2 was built in Antwerp, Belgium, where it was shown during a preview on October 8, 2017. Archipel, the makers collective that offered us the space, brought a team of unsuspecting bodybuilders to the event and made a video, which you can see above. 

From October 14, 2017 to January 15, 2018, the Human Power Plant can be seen, touched and operated at the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam. It will power the Christmas tree of the museum, provided that visitors are prepared to exercise.

The Boijmans Museum made a video of us while we were building the Human Power Plant in Antwerp, which you can see below.

During the first month in Rotterdam, sound production has already proven to be a very effective motivator of human power, even without a tree to light up. In fact, the human power plant has become the victim of its own success, needing daily repair to keep it in operation.

In comparison with our previous prototype, which tried to lure people with a jacuzzi, it is clear that sound attracts more energy producers and keeps them exercising for longer.

The Human Power Plant in Museum Boijmans, Rotterdam. Pictures: Aad Hoogendoorn.

How Much Energy Does it Produce?

Some people have asked us how much energy the human power plant produces. The answer is: not much. This prototype was built to investigate whether or not people can be motivated to produce their own power, and do this in the most sustainable way (no chemical batteries, no high-tech components).

To achieve this, we built a very energy inefficient power plant. Everything that makes it fun, also makes it inefficient. Take a look at the scheme below. Mechanical movement is converted to water under pressure and compressed air, which are then converted to electricity.

There are so many conversion and distribution losses in the process that it's actually surprising that the human power plant still generates electricity at all -- an estimated 60 watts of power when all six exercise machines are used simultaneously. Assuming an average human power production of 100 watts, this corresponds to 10 watts of power per person, or an energy loss of 90%.

Could it be that efficiency is simply not fun? Or could we make a human power plant that is both energy efficient and fun to use? That´s the challenge for the next prototype.

More:

• Prototype Human Power Plant 1.1: Jacuzzi.
• Prototype Human Power Plant 1.0: it works!
• The Human Powered Student Building.

Comments

[Yolanda]

Echte kunst, ik vind het leuk
)))

[big]

Get some people to use their energy to heat others by exercising and see if their weight, measured to milligrams is reduced after supplying the energy. They will be warmer themselves, hence also heating the atmosphere around them. Voluntary slaves.