In an experiment, Paris has generated clean energy from metro passengers by converting six turnstiles into mini turbines at the Miromesnil Métro Station.
The turbines were designed by students from French engineering school Junia, and were 3D printed using a biodegradable material made from cornstarch.
According to a video shared by the World Economic Forum, the turbines converted the movement of 27 000 passengers into clean energy over a two-day period last year. Each passenger generated 0,2 watts of energy.
If this technology were implemented across the city’s entire metro system, which serves 1,5 billion travellers annually, it could result in 136 megawatts of clean energy being generated per year. This would save up to 300 000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.
