Gym machines that generate power among the ‘golden nuggets of new eco innovation’

A steady pace creates enough electricity to run the machine but pick up speed and you can generate a surplus to power other appliances.

“It’s a really simple idea,” said Susan McEntegart of Expert Leisure which has brought the Eco-Powr units to Ireland. “But often the simplest ideas are the last ones anyone thinks of.”

The first Eco Powr treadmill installed in Ireland is in the Co Kildare college’s library, appropriately home to ICARUS, the Irish Climate Analysis and Research Units.

There, students can take a break from their books, run off stiffness and generate renewable energy for the building at the same time.

“At a very conservative count, there are 830 gyms in the country. That’s based on classification for commercial rates only so it doesn’t include hotels, GAA clubs, workplaces and private homes that have gym equipment,” said Ms McEntegart.

“If the 830 swapped two treadmills for Eco Powr units and used them six hours a day for 350 days a year, it could save 1,000 tonnes of carbon.”

The machine has an appeal feature for competitive fitness enthusiasts. “You can see the watts you’re generating as you run and people love that.”

The Eco Powr range, which includes steppers, exercise bikes and cross trainers that work on the same principle, was displayed at the recent Energy Show in the RDS which showcased more than 100 firms working in energy innovation.

Daniel Farrell was manning a stand that seemed to promise the impossible – carbon-neutral solid fuel.

His WillowWarm briquettes are made of locally grown willow dried, compressed and packaged in Co Meath.

“The willow is grown specifically as a fuel crop – it grows for two years, you harvest and you replant – so it’s fast and renewable. It also provides the fuel to run the factory,” Mr Farrell said.

With the phase-out of peat briquettes and restrictions on smoky fuels tightening, and with farmers looking to diversify, Mr Farrell was confident of finding plenty of suppliers and buyers.

Limerick brothers Justin and Conor McCormack were also watching trends, in their case the growing number of planning applications for large-scale solar farms.

They are Irish agents for SolarClean Robotics, assembling and deploying robots remotely programmed to drive across solar panels, cleaning and inspecting for damage as they go.

With solar farms covering 300 acres and more on the way, the brothers predict a large market. “You only need to clean twice a year, or three or four times in places where heavy soiling occurs, but it has to be done right,” said Justin. “The robots are very precise and they only use as much water as is needed so there’s no waste there. 

“We’re adding thermographic imaging so any damage is spotted and pinpointed with GPS.

“The smallest damage to one panel can affect the performance of the others so it’s important to fix it fast.”

Getting ahead of a trend is even more important for Clarke Energy, which builds on-site power plants for industry.

Its main product has been gas-fired electricity generators. Now they’re building hydrogen-ready generators and power-hungry data centres – a lightning rod for energy-waste criticism – are a key target.

“At the moment, if you’re using natural gas, you can take up to 20pc blended hydrogen, but these units will take natural gas now and 100pc hydrogen when it’s available,” said Toni Pedder of Clarke Energy. “We just need the hydrogen but that will come. There’s a lot of focus on developing supplies of it. The data centre industry believes it’s coming because they’re looking for these units now.”

Clarke Energy has an order for 20 from one data centre operator in Ireland alone.

“I can’t say who because of confidentiality for our clients but I’d love to shout it from the rooftops because it’s really positive,” Mr Pedder said.

For the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), which runs the Energy Show, the annual event is a welcome reminder that there is no shortage of innovation for tackling the climate crisis.

Declan Meally of the SEAI says Irish companies are well-placed to bring new ideas and services to the market.

“There are some fantastic opportunities for Irish businesses. Because we are a smaller country, you can join the dots so much easier here,” he said. “You can connect researchers, companies, communities, state agencies and try out new ideas.”

Ideas being collectively explored range from large-scale hydrogen creation and storage to streetside pop-up electric vehicle chargers.

“A lot of focus is on getting more out of what we already have because that makes a difference straight away,” he added. “For example, we’ve helped Diageo so a pint of Guinness brewed now uses half the energy it did 10 years ago. Every day we see innovation and ideas. We have no silver bullet to the climate crisis but what we are seeing is lots of little golden nuggets in innovation and that gives us hope and optimism.”