Learners visit wind farm to learn more about wind energy

The experiential ‘Each One, Teach One’ initiative, aimed at Loeriesfontein High School learners, is structured in such a way that it is interactive and engaging,  helping learners gain the most out of their visit to the wind farms.  Each participating learner received a questionnaire which needed to be completed during the day-visit; this meant that the learners were collaborating with the various wind farm representatives, asking questions and listening carefully to the presentations.

The Wind Farm site visit, followed on from a presentation earlier in the morning, where prizes were handed out for the best creative writing submissions, which is part of the ‘Clean Energy, Brighter Futures’ Renewable Energy Awareness Campaign. This was launched in March this year to increase awareness of wind energy and to strengthen ties between the local wind farms and the surrounding community.  The wind farms also funded a large purchase of Life Science text books for all Grade 10 learners.

“It is important that learners understand what wind energy is about and to see their local wind farms up close. Most importantly, we hope to encourage an interest in renewable energy as a future career option for these leaners,” said Leo Quinn, Project Manager of Loeriesfontein Wind Farm.

“The content of our programmes are targeted at Grade 8 to 12 learners and designed to fit into their Natural Sciences and Life Orientation studies. We endeavour to help learners understand the construction process and how their specific community will benefit from having a wind farm on its doorstep, both during and after construction,” added Kevin Foster, Project Manager of Khobab Wind Farm, the project that is located adjacent to Loeriesfontein Wind Farm.

Included in the awareness programmes, are topics such as the basics of renewable energy; how a wind turbine generates electricity; and the need for renewable energy projects within South Africa.