EDPR North America is supporting renewables non-profit KidWind to put wind or solar starter kits in students’ hands as coronavirus shifts education online.
The discounted kits will have everything students need to compete in KidWind’s online challenges and learn from home, experimenting to build the most efficient small-scale wind turbine or solar structure.
Nonprofit organisation KidWind, which works to educate students and teachers on the benefits of renewable energy, has shifted its competitions online in light of coronavirus social distancing guidelines.
Typically, students from nearby middle schools and high schools compete in local, in-person KidWind Challenges to create the most efficient small-scale wind turbine or solar structure.
Students present their work to judges, and the selected winners are then given opportunities to proceed to the National Challenge, which was scheduled to take place in Denver, Colorado, this year.
Now, students will build their renewable energy structures at home and use remote tools to present their work to judges.
“While we love the energy and excitement at an in-person KidWind challenge event, the online challenges are an alternative opportunity for students to still participate,” said KidWind CEO and founder Mike Arquin.
“Our wind and solar challenges provide students the chance to experiment and innovate at home and share their experience with the world. We can’t wait to see their ideas in action.”
KidWind had more than 25 upcoming, in-person challenges scheduled for students across the country; however, with many schools closed for the remainder of the academic year, KidWind is hosting online challenges in an effort to continue to promote hands-on learning.
EDP Renewables typically supports KidWind’s work in communities where the company operates wind farms and solar parks by funding travel scholarships for teams to attend challenges, teacher training workshops, and other in-person learning opportunities.
With students and teachers now required to work remotely, EDP Renewables is helping KidWind provide discounted wind and solar kits for students to experiment with from the safety of their homes.
“Aside from offering a fun, hands-on learning experience, KidWind gives students a chance to see if they are interested in working in the burgeoning renewable energy industry,” said EDP Renewables North America spokesperson Bevan Augustine.
“We love getting to work with kids in the communities near our projects to spark an interest in engineering and help them learn more about the wind farms and solar parks near their homes.”