Design > Brand Environment & Experience Design

TURNSTILE TURBINES

WEBER SHANDWICK, Paris / IBERDROLA / 2023

Awards:

Shortlisted Eurobest
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Overview

Credits

Overview

Background

Iberdrola was launched in France in 2019, it’s a Spanish company and European leader of wind energy. As a newcomer they were facing a very low level of awareness. Our mission was to make people know the brand but more importantly know what the brand is here for: provide a 100% renewable energy made with wind energy.

At a time when energy independence is one of the most needed things in France we wanted to show that green and local energy can be found everywhere, and non-renewable energy (providing by competitors) has now a smart challenger.

Iberdrola also wanted to highlight that they are not only an energy provider but also energy producers at the edge of wind energy tech.

Please provide any cultural context that would help the jury understand any cultural, national or regional nuances applicable to this work e.g. local legislation, cultural norms, a national holiday or religious festival that may have a particular meaning.

Since last year in France, the main media topic and concern was the energy crisis with government asking people to make efforts to avoid power cuts and the bills raising for everyone.

It generated a national debate around the energy independence: how to create a local and independent energy production. In this debate actors like Iberdrola must defend the solution they are providing, and wind energy deserved to be presented as a prior option.

In France, we have a saying: we don't have gas, but we have idea. Turnstile Turbines showed people that with a bit an ingenuity and creativity we can produce our own green energy (even in the middle of Paris).

Describe the creative idea

Europe is going through an unprecedented energy crisis with governments asking people to make efforts to avoid power cuts. Crisis are always opportunities to rethink existing things. Iberdrola, the European leading wind energy had a role to play, by reminding people and stakeholders the importance of green and local solutions.

We turned an effort people are already doing into a new source of energy: reinventing the turnstile 4.5 million commuters are crossing every day, by the world first underground wind turbines: the Turnstile Turbines. 14 engineer students built a functional prototype able generates energy hand in hand with Iberdrola engineers.

The mechanism is directly inspired by real wind turbines system and automatic watch. The design was thought to remind people of wind turbines, to make them understand the new purpose of the object. Prototypes were installed in the subway station Miromesnil, in the heart of Paris.

Describe the execution

All the production was handled by the engineering school Junia HEI with 14 students working hand in hand all a semester with Iberdrola engineers.

The mechanism is directly inspired by real wind turbines system and automatic watch. All built in biomaterials and eco-conscious conception for all the components of the project.

The design was thought to remind people of wind turbines, to make them understand the new purpose of the object.

6 prototypes were installed in the subway station Miromesnil, in the heart of Paris generating more than 2200 watt per days. Journalists, influencers, and politicians were invited to a premiere discovering the object directly in the subway.

List the results

- 6 prototypes built by 14 engineers’ students.

- 2 other engineering schools are working to upgrade the prototypes.

- Madrid is the next subway to install the Turnstile Turbines.

- 73% of commuters wanted to switch for renewable energy after seeing the campaign. Source Monkey survey.

- A French senator came on the operation and gave interviews about the project.

- More than 30 000 people interacted with the prototypes.

- 130 million organic impressions – With article in the most read French newspaper (ouest France)

- It crossed the Atlantic with american presenter Al Rocker (NBC's Today) celebrating the project and challenging the New York subway to implement it.

- The initiative was shared and praised by the World Economic Forum.

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