Desempenho termodinâmico, ambiental e social de colheita de energia a partir de atividades físicas

Abstract

An Energy Harvesting System (EHS) based on physical exercise can address issues of energy sustainability and public health. Greener&Healthier Power (GHP) is an EHS that features a conceptual innovation: a training app with automatic intensity selection, simulating situations closer to the reality of outdoor exercise, and also controlling environmental parameters. The idea behind GHP is to encourage physical activity, reducing the risk of developing Non-Communicable Chronic Diseases (NCDs) and potentially contributing to lower public health costs. Based on an Energy Harvesting Farm (EHF) composed of 32 stationary bicycles responsible for collecting energy and supplying it to the grid, this study aims to develop a technical analysis and evaluate the thermodynamic, environmental, and social performance of EHF. Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is used to quantify the Greenhouse Gases (GHG) emissions associated with the EHF composition. The results reveal that a cyclist in one hour can generate an average of 75.5 Wh, that an EHF has a capacity of 8,167.9 kWh/year, and that its emission factor is 0.090 kg CO2-eq/kWh, significantly lower than that of the Brazilian national electricity grid (0.152 kg CO2- eq/kWh). For an investment of R$ 208 million, the estimated reduction in public health costs ranged from R$ 532 million to R$ 2.91 billion. Therefore, it can be concluded that the GHP is an interactive and connected system capable of harvesting energy from indoor cycling, reducing the carbon footprint, improving the population's quality of life, and with the potential to reduce public health costs.