Human Power Plant

Could We Run Modern Society on Human Power Alone?

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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. 

Continue reading "Human Power Plant (1.2): Work Songs" »

Posted on 27 November 2017 in Prototype Human Power Plant, Video | Permalink | Comments (2)

The Human Power Plant: How it Works

Human Power Plant How it Works Melle Smets Kris De Decker

The Human Power Plant is a working prototype of a muscular power generator, manned by a group of people. We cooperate with makers and sports coaches to build exercise machines that are suited for different types of human power sources, are fun and social to use, and produce a maximum amount of power.

The Human Power Plant is an all-round off-the-grid solution. It can supply energy anywhere and anytime, provided that humans can be motivated to operate it. The power plant supplies energy in the form of electricity, water under pressure, and compressed air. It is built from simple and durable parts.

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Posted on 18 September 2017 in Prototype Human Power Plant | Permalink | Comments (8)

Human Power Plant 1.0

+ Human Power Plant 1.1

+ Human Power Plant 1.2

Posted on 19 June 2017 in Prototype Human Power Plant, Video | Permalink | Comments (0)

Prototype Human Power Plant Under Construction

Schermafbeelding 2017-05-22 om 14.17.48

Our prototype human power plant now under construction in the Netherlands. Two more pictures below the fold.

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Posted on 23 May 2017 in Prototype Human Power Plant | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Power Potential of Various Exercise Machines

FitnessHalzonderCijfers

Exercise machines for strength training can produce a lot of power in a very short time, making them an interesting addition to stationary cycling machines for human power generation.

Continue reading "The Power Potential of Various Exercise Machines" »

Posted on 19 May 2017 in Human Power, Prototype Human Power Plant | Permalink | Comments (4)

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