Since 2014, local schools in the Kouga area have been celebrating Global Wind Day, which takes place each year on 15th June. This area of South Africa is home to some of the largest and most prominent wind farms, playing a part in the country’s wind energy sector.
This year’s Global Wind Day celebration coincides with Youth Day which honours the courage and sacrifice of our country’s youth and celebrates all young people.
Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm has once again invited learners to join in the festivities, by participating in a Natural Science and Arts schools’ competition, which explores the ‘movement of the air’. The programme runs over a three-week period and fits in with Life Skills in the Foundation Phase, which includes scientific concepts and scientific process skills.
Themed “The Wind” the competition allows for learners of the various Grades to participate. Depending on their grade and interests, learners can either conduct a simple experiment to show how air moves and write about the process and results, alternatively they can enter a unique piece of art in the form of a painting, drawing or other type of creative artwork along with a description of their creation.
Winners of the competition, across the various grades and schools, have been invited to spend the day celebrating Global Wind Day 2019 at Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm. All participants receive certificates and schools are rewarded with a gift of reading books, to encourage the joys of reading.
The participating 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 Global Wind Day and Youth Day natural science and arts competition gives us the ideal opportunity to get young learners excited about the prospect of living in a country that is transitioning to cleaner, green energy. We can also be proud to be in a region that has pioneered South Africa’s wind energy sector,” said Hlengiwe Radebe, Economic Development Director of Jeffreys Bay Wind Farm.
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 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. For more information, visit: www.jeffreysbaywindfarm.co.za or call 0860 333 384.
