Local schools raise awareness about Global Wind Day and creative competition

Local schools in the Kouga municipality are once again putting their weight behind Global Wind Day using it as an opportunity to teach children more about renewable Energy and in particular how clean energy is harvested from the abundant wind.

Themed ‘The Wind’, Grade 1 to Grade 3 learners from twelve local community schools are taking part in a Creative Art and Writing competition, for which learners have been incentivised to participate through prizes that include books, equipment & science goods. In addition to this the Grade 3 winners from across the 12 schools will be taken on a visit to Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.

The twelve schools form part of a Literacy Programme that is run in partnership with the Department of Education and ITEC and is supported by the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm. This initiative was developed in consultation with the Principals Forum which meets regularly to evaluate the programme.

“We are pleased to be partaking in Global Wind Day a day when we celebrate the clean energy that the wind provides us,” said Mr Coenraad, Principal of Sea Vista Primary.

Schools that are participating in the Global Wind Day celebration include: Chigwell Primary School, Gamtoosvalley Primary School, Graslaagte Primary School, Kruisfontein Primary School, Pellsrus Primary School, Hankey Primary School, Patensie Primary School, Quagga Primary School, St Patricks EC Primary School, Vukani Primary School, Weston Primary School and Sea Vista Primary School.

“This Global Wind Day celebration, fits seamlessly into our Foundation Phase literacy programme and gives us the ideal opportunity to teach learners about the importance of clean, green energy,” added Marion Green-Thompson, Economic Development Director of Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.

GLOBAL WIND DAY:
Global Wind Day is a worldwide event that occurs annually on 15 June. It is a day for discovering wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to change our world. In more than 80 countries worldwide, wind farms are in operation, generating energy from a clean and renewable source.

Here is a short outline of how wind turbines can transform free wind into electricity that powers our homes:

  • If the wind blows sufficiently, then wind energy is converted to mechanical energy through the turning turbine blades.
  • The turbine blades transfer this mechanical energy via the shaft and gearbox (the large box on top) to the electrical generator that turns the mechanical energy into electrical energy.
  • This electrical energy is then made grid compatible.
  • The grid compatible energy is fed from the Wind Turbines via a network of underground cables across the wind farm to the project substation. The substation forms the connection point between our “local” wind farm grid and Eskom’s national grid.
  • Eskom’s grid then “supplies” this energy to the consumers.

The European Wind Energy Association – EWEA – and the Global Wind Energy Council – GWEC – coordinate the Global Wind Day through a network of partners. The day started as a European one in 2007 and went Global in 2009. On 15 June, hundreds of public events are organised all over the world.

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