Two Wind Turbines Living on the Eiffel Tower
Cleverly hidden above the second level are two rotating objects that can be easily misinterpret as some kind of kinetic sculptures. In fact these rotating curves are wind turbines. In partnership with the Société d’Exploitation de la Tour Eiffel (SETE), UGE International has installed two VisionAIR5 vertical axis wind turbines on the Eiffel Tower as part of a high-profile renovation and upgrade to the monument. Located above the second level, the turbines generate unobtrusively over 10.000kWh of electricity a year, offsetting the annual consumption of all commercial activity on the Eiffel Tower’s first floor. Still this is mostly symbolic, the tower actually consumes 6,700,000 kilowatt-hours a year.
“The Eiffel Tower is arguably the most renowned architectural icon in the world, and we are proud that our advanced technology was chosen as the Tower commits to a more sustainable future.”
– Nick Blitterswyk, CEO UGE
Painted in bronze to support the mimicry, the turbines are perfectly placed symbols for the aim of Paris to eliminate 25 percent of greenhouse gas emissions and source 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2020.
