EnergyDRIVE arrives in the Western Cape |
September 2021.
The custom-built EnergyDRIVE truck will spend three days, hosted by in the beautiful Witzenberg area, to teach high school learners from Ceres and its neighbouring communities of Nduli and Bella Vista, about the benefits of renewable energy technologies. Funded by Perdekraal East Wind Farm, learners will also have the chance to visit their local wind farm and experience the technology up close.
“The container features attractive interactive demonstration models, which assist with understanding a range of renewable technologies, raises awareness of renewable power resources as well as addressing the important issues associated with climate change. We have selected learners from three of our community schools, namely Ceres Secondary School, Bella Vista High School, Iingcinga Zethu high School and are confident that this will be an experience that will have a lasting impact,” explained Jo-Anne Brown, Economic Development Manager at Perdekraal East Wind Farm.
Featuring a solar roof structure, biogas digester, photovoltaic panel display unit as well as a solar hot water display unit, the EnergyDRIVE is an ideal way for learners to grasp the benefits and uses of renewable energy technologies. It is also in line with Perdekraal East Wind Farm’s renewable education awareness programme, which launched during its construction phase, engaging over 1700 learners. The programme, targeted also offered information to youth regarding the opportunities available to them, relating to careers inherent in harnessing wind energy.
“Our Economic Development team aim to create an interest in learners to pursue careers within the field of Mathematics and Science with a specific focus on renewable energy and engineering. Additionally, our awareness programme links well with the academic curriculum, so it receives positive support from both teachers and learners alike,” added Jo-Anne Brown.
The 2021 EnergyDRIVE kicked off its trip, leaving its base at the Durban University of Technology (DUT) on 1 September and will wrap up its journey three weeks later, having reached many hundreds of learners across the country’s green energy map. This is the third time that the edu-vehicle has made this journey, since its inaugural 2017 trip. It has already reached almost 3 000 learners, in Grade 9 to 12 and is a result of a partnership between the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) and the (DUT), who consider high school learners to be the leaders and decision makers of tomorrow.