Boy invents speed bump that powers street lights

A British schoolboy has won a competition to have his energy-saving invention debated at the climate change summit in Copenhagen this weekend. The 15-year-old has devised a way of powering street lights using speed bumps, and his idea has already won support from Dragons' Den investor Deborah Meaden. Shuffling from foot to foot, clutching his model prototype perhaps a little too tightly, Robert Appleton has his eyes fixed on the floor. He is about to present his idea to one of Britain's most famous "green" investors, Deborah Meaden, and admits he is "a bit nervous". 'Powerbump' The TV "dragon" is just metres away behind a heavy wooden door inside London's plush Charlotte Street Hotel, but Robert is determined to put on a brace face. He said: "I'm really looking forward to showing her this and I think it's a really good opportunity for me". He has even swapped his school uniform for a suit, and slips into the room with his head held high. The GCSE student, from Hemel Hempstead in Hertfordshire, first came up with his so-called Powerbump invention at a climate camp for young people in Sonderborg, Denmark in August. More than 500 teenagers from around the world were asked to brainstorm ideas for greener energy. His group devised a new system to power street lamps, channelling energy from cars driving over special speed bumps rather than connecting them to the national electricity grid. The idea is that each car pushes down a button on the tarmac to trigger a turbine underground. When the turbine spins, it generates power that can be stored in a battery. 'Political backing' That power can be used to light the lamps on pavements, and Robert believes just one car could generate enough energy to power a light bulb for around nine hours. Robert dismisses climate change sceptics who believe humans are not responsible for global warming and say we should not be concerned about the future. "I think it's important to save energy and resources, because we, as the younger generation, are the ones that are going to be affected by today's generation and the decisions they make," he said. "It's up to us to be more passionate because we are going to be the ones who see the results." So has he managed to convince Deborah Meaden to back his idea? Emerging from her conference room "den" in the hotel, he has a smile on his face. Apparently Deborah is not nearly as scary as she might appear on TV, and when we meet the multi-millionaire investor later on, she is beaming too. She said: "I think the idea is absolutely bang on. We have got an issue with energy and we have got an issue with climate change. It's in our lifetime... "For the first time ever we've got a situation where it actually makes good business sense to tackle the environmental issues. This sits absolutely at the heart of that... this could be a huge, huge market." She advises Robert to make sure no-one else is producing any similar systems, to start contacting businesses such as car parks and toll bridges who might be interested in buying Powerbumps, and to get further advice from engineers. But would she consider investing in his idea once he has worked on the details? "Absolutely," she says. While Robert and his school friends work on their business plan, there is a chance the Powerbump might also get political backing this weekend. The blueprint is being handed over to United Nations officials in Copenhagen, in a ceremony at the Bright Green business fair this weekend. Robert says: "We think the system could be used in cities around the world. It could be fitted every time a new speed bump is built." And if his business venture does not work out? "I want a career in politics," he says. (my view)-The government's will NOT allow this:( as it will not make money for them,they rather kill us all then saving us all