ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE
WIND ENERGY ENTERPRISE CHALLENGE FORMAT Ten teams of six students from across Kent competed over two days to design a wind farm and simulate its operation over 30 years, with models. At the end of the second day each team presented its findings to a panel of industry experts who judged the teams on a range of criteria.
DEMONSTRATING UNDERSTANDING By the end of the second day each team was able to demonstrate an understanding of the issues involved in the design, building and maintenance of wind farms, and of the importance of the sector to Kent and the UK.
Celebration of Learning winners Oakwood Park Grammar School Maidstone
Kevin Donovan, Director of Windpower Renewable Solutions
“Kent County Council showed great initiative in creating the “Wind Turbine Challenge” and when Windpower Renewable Solutions were asked to participate in the event we were delighted to say yes.
The event was superb, the organisation was perfect and it informed a large number of students about the benefits of Wind Energy. It was an absolute pleasure to see the work that the students put into both the practical and the theory side of the challenge, it is so important to involve students of this age in the development of alternative energy, they are our future and this event certainly confirmed that.”
SIMULATION EXERCISE The enterprise challenge gave students the opportunity to experience the challenges of choosing locations and planning; understanding and manipulating data to optimise wind turbine variables such as gear ratios and blade pitch, budgeting for design, build and maintenance of a wind farm, and experimentation and testing with model wind turbines.
WINNERS AND AWARDS The winning team of six year 12 students came from Oakwood Park Grammar School who enjoyed a trip to Denmark funded by London Array. They visited DONG Energy’s Avedore Power Station and test turbines before heading to the Vestas Nacelle factory.
The team who took second place came from St John’s Roman Catholic Comprehensive School and Wind Power Renewable Solutions funded a trip to Belfast. Students attended the Quo Vadis Conference for employers in the renewable energy industry and toured the Harland and Wolff shipyard.
STUDENT BENEFITS Young people who participated in the challenge benefitted from being exposed to the challenges faced by wind energy companies and the presence of senior managers from Dong Energy and Wind Power Renewable Solutions throughout the challenge enabled them to acquire an in-depth understanding of the industry. Students acquired a wide range of skills
during the course of the two days and it is hoped that the whole experience will enable them to make informed decisions about their future as they progress from school into further and higher education and employment.
Kent County Council
www.kent.gov.uk
London Array Offshore Windfarm
www.londonarray.com
St John’s Roman Catholic School – winners of the second prize
Elias Dencker, Operations and Maintenance Project Manager from Dong Energy
“We were so pleased to see the interest from schools who wanted to enter the wind turbine master class competition, letting their pupils build micro turbines capable of generating electricity was a great way to teach them a bit about the sorts of jobs a wind farm can offer along the way. They all had a great time on their visit over here with us and now they all know more about London Array and DONG Energy.”
QUOTES – just some abbreviated quotes on the challenge – full accounts can be found on the London Array website
= See video library online
www.windenergynetwork.co.uk
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