Daniel Sheridan

Location: Hemel Hempstead, United Kingdom

Joined: 30/07/2009

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About: I'm a 25 year old product design graduate from the UK. Following volunteer work in Kenya in Summer 2007 I was inspired to undertake a design project for the final year of my studies, on beneficial product design for rural African communities.

I formed PlayMade Energy in May 2008 whilst completing my studies and have since developed the Energee-Saw and setup primary school teaching workshops on renewable energy and sustainable design in the UK.

I have recently been a guest speaker at the Global Humanitarian Forum Youth Forum in Geneva and was the recipient of the UK Lord Stafford Award 2008 for 'Entrepreneurial Spirit'. I also secured ERDF based match funding for the development of the Energee-Saw.

Electricity Generating See-Saw - PlayMade Energy

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Electricity Generating See-Saw - Play...

Thanks Eleni 1) We are t...

The Pitch:

PlayMade Energy was formed in May 2008 to commercialise an electricity generating see-saw design which has been called the 'Energee-Saw'. This idea began as a result of personal volunteer experience in Africa and a University master's level research project.

The product has been primarily designed to bring playground equipment and electricity to schools in the developing world which have no access to power.

Without power, development can be very difficult. The Energee-Saw will help to power low drain appliances such as LED lighting and school communication devices using a renewable energy source generated by fun and play! Play is a natural and universal activity that helps children to communicate, develop and form friendships and cooperation.

The Energee-Saw has been designed as a kit which is as environmentally sustainable as possible at this stage. The kit will comprise of metal assembly components, two portable generator units, and a simple pictorial installation instructional aide. With the additional use of local materials, this approach will reduce the carbon footprint of installing the product.

The kit will weigh approximately 40 - 45kg depending upon which accessories and appliances are included. This means that with standard long-haul and enhanced baggage allowances, kits can be taken by organisations, volunteers and others by air to be installed at supported school projects all over the world. Kits could also be sent out to locations by combining with charities' and organisations' existing supply chains and shipping of materials.

The transported kit will be combined with materials locally sourced by the charity or organisation, including sustainably chosen timber and reused car tyres to complete the build of an Energee-Saw. This will involve the community, uses local labour and workmanship and helps to build a pride and care of ownership at each Energee-Saw school. This community involvement and support from a charity/organisation will be key to ensuring the sustainability and longevity of every installation.

In future, the intention is to maximise the number of components which can be locally produced.

When children have played on the Energee-Saw, electricity will be stored in 12v batteries contained within the generator units. These are portable and can be easily brought into the classroom to power appliances when they have charge, and in addition can be stored securely during poor weather and at night contributing toward the product's sustainability.

Testing is currently underway to establish average amounts of electricity that can be generated as a by-product of play, as there are several variable factors to consider. However, power has been generated to operate LED lamps to provide useful low-level office and classroom lighting along with powering other low drain appliances.

We hope to continue to design and evolve further products in the future which take advantage of ever developing battery technology.

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The Energee-Saw is also a great way of demonstrating renewable energy and environmentally responsible design to western school children in a very fun and practical way. The growing 'eco-schools' initiative makes this the ideal time to also potentially implement an exciting innovation such as the Energee-Saw into schools in Europe and North America.

Comments:

katie myers says: I first heard about this in the Coventry University alumni magazine and ever since I have been extremely interested in the project. I think it is absolutely fantastic and demonstrates first hand thinking 'out of the box' and genuinely can not see how anybody could fault this. It combines a very useful and much needed way of demonstrating renewable energy with the clever and innovative method of 'having fun'.

excellent idea, I'm behind it 100% - best of luck.

Katie Myers

Chris Aylett says: A fantastic idea which could make a real difference - bravo!

Chris Aylett

adam barnes says: fantastic idea and a strong pitch to! i hope it all goes well

adam barnes

dan castle says: What a fantastic idea, with an extremely thorough well rounded pitch!! Best of Luck!!

Dan Castle

Chris Townsend says: Innovative, well executed and meaningful business model. I wish this project every sucess for the future. I'm in!

Chris Townsend

Eleni Pallas says: Daniel,

Really nice. Bravo!

A few questions:

1) how robust in the see-saw? with all those children playing on and around it, how likely are accidents and malfunctions due to sideways movement, jarring and then rain, wind, dust, etc.

2) are they easy to repair and is it right to assume that the locals will be trained to do so?

3) how much do you think they will cost?

4) what is your sales and distribution plan? which NGOs/charities would you contact first? how will you identify new NGOs/charities (in addition to those you know through your volunteer work)?

Thank you,
Eleni Pallas.

Daniel Sheridan says: Thanks Eleni

1) We are testing the design to answer the question of physical robustness. In addition to calculations made in the UK, installations at schools over an appropriate period of time will prove the exact demands of the intended context. Durability is the major challenge and the design is evolving as a result of what we are learning.
The product compliance consultants we have employed have helped us to eliminate the risk of accidents, as the design has followed the relevent UK/European standards and directives.
The metalwork components are treated and we are using oil free bearings so that damage or failure is not incurred by factors such as rain, wind and dust.

2) The kits will be straightforward to install and maintain by organisations and communities working together. Yes, we want local people to be able to conduct any maintenance, but also that via the supporting organisation at that school location, replacement parts if ever required could be sent from the UK or manufactured locally. Additional sponsorship provision for maintenance requirements would ensure upkeep.
Again, we are planning revisions to the design that will make assembly simpler, based on our tests this year.

3) Cost will very much be determined by quantities of kits manufactured and therefore it is difficult to give a figure at this stage. The price of the assembly kit (which excludes the cost of the locally sourced materials) is expected to be a three figure sum in GBP. It is the sponsorship/donor model through corporate social responsibility that we would primarily like to promote to fund kit purchase/installations for charities and NGOs.

4) We intend to continue working with small partnered organisations at this time - the early backers of this concept - to implement, test and make appropriate revisions. It is the intention to demonstrate successful case studies and a sustainable model with which to approach larger development organisations and reconnect with those who have already expressed an interest. We will simultaneously be looking at fresh design concepts including incorporation of the latest appropriate technology, for evermore efficient solutions.

As mentioned in the pitch, support for applying this concept to a European and North American educational market will potentially be another exciting step. It proves that this is not only a concept that could benefit underprivileged schools (ie. African communities) but could be effectively used all over the world to benefit children's education in several ways.