Alternate energy source?

Question

Why couldn't power plants be replaced with "people power", people peddling bicycles for energy or something similar?

I mean, if it could provide a decent amount of electicity, wouldn't it create jobs too?

I want to know the physics behind this. Why isn't it doable?

Answer 1

How much time do you want to spend generating other people power on a bicycle?

That is why this isn't doable.

Answer 2

There is a popular exhibit you often see in children's museums where they hook a bike up to a generator connected to a 60 what light bulb. Then you watch the light brighten as you pedal faster and harder. You might want to look for one in your area.

It actually takes a fair amount of effort to light just one light bulb. An adult who is in shape could do it, and sustain the rate for a few hours. But now start talking about trying to power a TV, toaster, washer,.... Imagine just how much "people power" we would need to power the average American family of five.

Answer 3

A business in Japan uses the power of people stepping on the floor to make electricity.   It was no wheres near cost effective, but just something they do for some reason.   Not enough energy produced by people.    We do put out about 500 btu in heat each though, so get enough people in a room and it will warm up.

Answer 4

wow, that would be more expensive than solar, even if you only payed the people $3 an hour(which is illegal). also the cost of the equipment to turn cycling energy into power would be expensive. lastly, if if an economically feasible way were found out, there wouldnt be enough people willing to do that to keep the plants running at capacity 24/7.

Answer 5

I'd do it. It's better than my current job! I think it's a great idea on an individual level. I think doing for 8 hours a day in a big power plant would be a drag! If someone wanted to exercise and charge a battery at the same time, why not?

Answer 6

Assume one person could generate enough power to supply one house which is optimistic. Assume 20 million households in the UK alone. That's 20 million people. They couldn't pedal 24 hrs a day so pedalling in 8 hour shifts that's 60 million people pedalling 7 days a week just to supply domestic electricity. Then they need to be fuelled. Since coal and oil has a much higher energy content than the food we eat, which is why we use it to generate power, those 60 million people would be constantly eating just to stave off exhaustion, so then another few million are required to service the bikes they are pedalling, grow the food they eat etc.

I think you underestimate the amount of power required to generate electricity.

Perhaps we could breed billions of hamsters and set them all running on wheels connected to generators.

Answer 7

So what your suggesting is to put the health clubs 'Spin Classes' on the power grid?