Global Wind Day in Eastern Cape

The Green Business Guide

Local schools celebrate Global Wind day in Eastern Cape. Twelve local community schools are putting their weight behind Global Wind Day, in an effort to teach learners more about Renewable Energy, and in particular how energy is harvested from the abundant wind in this province. These schools form part of the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm’s Foundation Phase Reading Coach Support Programme, an initiative that has been developed in partnership with the Department of Education.

Grade 1 to Grade 3 learners from the schools across Jeffreys Bay, Hankey, Patensie and Humansdorp are taking part in this initiative, aptly name “The Wind”. It includes a Writing and Creative Arts competition to celebrate Global Wind Day. Learners have been further incentivised through prizes that include books, equipment, science goods and even digital cameras. In addition to this Grade 3 winners from across the 12 schools will visit Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.

“We are pleased to be partaking in Global Wind Day with our local schools; a day when we celebrate the clean, sustainable energy that the wind provides us. This is of particular relevance in the Kouga area, which is in the forefront of wind-generated power in South Africa,” said Marion Green-Thompson, Economic Development Manager for Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.

Schools that are participating in the Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm initiatives include: Chigwell Primary School, Gamtoosvalley Primary School, Graslaagte Primary School, Kruisfontein Primary School, Masisebenze Primary School, Mzingisi Primary School, Patensie Primary School, Quagga Primary School, St Patricks EC Primary School, Vukani Primary School, Weston Primary School and Sea Vista Primary School.

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 power 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 in 40 countries. For more information visit: www.jeffreysbaywindfarm.co.za

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