Contact details:

gavin-brown@live.co.uk

Energy producing street light

The worlds population relies heavily on fossil fuels as a means to power vehicles. There are growing concerns over the environmental impact of fossil fuels, increasing fuel prices and the security of supply. A viable alternative to conventional transport fuels is required to meet increasing global energy demands.

Algae absorbs carbon dioxide as it grows and can be used to produce sustainable biofuels by extracting the natural oils that it produces. It has numerous benefits over conventional biofuel crops such as higher growth rates and valuable by-products. Algalight makes use of currently unutilised urban space for algae cultivation and provides sustainable street illumination.

Algae is cultivated in modular bioreactors, that make up the vertical post of the street light, absorbing sunlight and carbon dioxide as it grows. Photovoltaic cells convert the suns energy to electricity to light ultra bright LED's and aerate the growth system. The algae is extracted using a low energy harvesting method and can then be converted to biofuel.

I have a keen interest in how we produce and use energy in all aspects of our daily lives. Design and engineering is at the core of providing the energy
we need and can have huge influence on reducing consumption. I intend on entering the energy production sector upon graduation.