Polish CEO and entrepreneur Ada Margo Marglewska is developing Capsule Piezoelectric Courts – the world's first squash courts that generate energy from every movement of the players.
In a concept that is purportedly "set to redefine sport facilities and renewable energy sources", a squash court is placed inside a capsule in which the rapid movements of squash competitors generates three sustainable power sources.
Firstly, the court floor is covered with piezoelectric coating that converts kinetic energy from players' steps and ball impacts into electricity. Additionally, it enables precise mapping of player activity for advanced sports analytics.
Secondly, the glass capsule shell is made of SQLaminate (quantum composite), which generates energy from diffused light, protects against UV/IR radiation, and is a lightweight yet extremely durable material.
Finally, the concept includes a graphene thermogenerator (GTG), a flexible thermoelectric cell based on graphene that produces electrical energy from temperature differences. Integrated with the court's ventilation system, the GTG recovers thermal energy, further increasing the facility's energy balance.
All energy generated by the court is stored in a dedicated space at the back of the facility, from where it can be distributed to the building's network or even to the municipal energy grid.
As Capsule Piezoelectric Courts's marketing blurb states: "The question is no longer just, "Who will win the match?" but "Who will generate more energy?"
The Capsule Piezoelectric Courts project is supported by a research and development grant of 260,000 PLN from PARP (a business acceleration programme in Poland). Inventor Marglewska says it's fully ready for implementation.
Marglewska says she has encountered political interference in Poland which prevented the project receiving EU funding, so has recently opened the process of seeking investors.
"From the beginning, I knew I wanted to create something more than just another sports facility. I wanted sport and energy to coexist in one self-sufficient capsule," she said. "This is how the concept of a court was born that not only serves for play but becomes an active energy hub."
Although the squash court is the showcase of the project, the technology has much broader applications. SQLaminate, as a lightweight, flexible, and efficient energy-generating construction material, could open doors to revolution in many industries. Potential applications of SQLaminate and GTG include the yacht industry, construction, offshore, electronics, and even space technologies.
"My goal has always been bigger. The squash court is a symbol. The technology is much greater than one infrastructure," Marglewska emphasised.
"I'm looking for partners and investors ready for technology co-ownership, licensing, or a tokenization model," the entrepreneur added. "The project has ready documentation and a prototype – it's waiting for a partner who will allow it to enter the market.
"The system may try to stop an innovator, but it won't stop an idea whose time has come. And technologies of the future will always find a way – even if they start from a country that is sometimes not ready for its own visionaries."
