15 June 2021.

In celebration of Global Wind Day 2021 (#GWD2021), Perdekraal East Wind Farm launched a wind power focus competition, at three local community high schools.

Under the theme “CONSTRUCT A WIND TURBINE POWER PLANT MODEL” Ceres Secondary, Bella Vista High and Iingcinga Zethu High School are participating in this Global Wind Day Competition, which aims to create awareness and interest in the Renewable Energy Sector and the various careers that it offers.

Schools have been encouraged to enter teams of five, comprising Physical Science learners, each team is expected to construct a Wind Turbine Power Plant Model, that feeds electricity to a house or building.

“This is the first time that we have been able to celebrate this global event, so we are very pleased to be able to invite our local schools to join in,” Jo-Anne Brown, Economic Development Manager at Perdekraal East Wind Farm.

The competition prizes include: Winning School: R 7 000 and each participant will receive R600; 1st Runner-Up School: R 4 000 and each participant will receive R350; 2nd Runner-Up School: R 3 000 and each participant will receive R250.

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.