News Article

Teachers and pupils across the North East will soon be given the opportunity to truly get to grips with renewable energy in the classroom through an innovative new project funded by One North East.

Available to all publicly-funded middle and secondary schools in the North East of England, Explore Renewables will give children a hands-on way of understanding renewable energy and assist practical learning in maths, science, engineering and geography.

A newly launched website is now giving schools in the region the opportunity to sign up for the scheme ahead of the official launch of Explore Renewables at the Centre for Life on 29th April. Visit www.explorerenewables.co.uk for more information.

The project is being delivered through the North East’s Centre for Excellence for New and Renewable Energy, NaREC, in partnership with eaga Renewables and the Centre for Design Research at Northumbria University. 

By summer 2008 all middle and secondary schools participating in the scheme will have their own specially designed mobile renewable energy unit which they will be able to use together with an interactive website and specifically written key stage three curriculum support materials.  Together these tools will encourage practical measurement and data-recording activities and help children to understand the impact and relevance of sustainability in everyday life.

It is a well known fact that fewer school children – within the North East and the rest of the UK, are opting to study subjects which could lead to a career within a Science or Engineering discipline. Explore Renewables will help to encourage our children to reconsider science and engineering as career options, vital given the growing need for these skills within the region’s own thriving economy.

The project will allow children to witness first hand how renewable technology can be applied in their schools – and by inference in their own homes. Explore Renewables will transform two selected schools in the North East into flagship sustainable schools which will have their carbon footprints, and energy bills significantly reduced through the installation of full scale renewable energy systems.

The three-year project will build up a unique network of children and teachers in schools across the North East who will be able to interact through www.explorerenewables.co.uk. Schools will be able to share data and information with other classes using the same technology elsewhere in the region, and arrange collaborative class projects.
Schools involved in Explore Renewables will also be able to access live data feeds from the flagship schools and a permanent renewable energy unit at the New and Renewable Energy Centre in Blyth. Other interactive science learning centres in the region will be offered their own version of the mobile unit for use in exhibits and learning activities.

All publicly-funded middle and secondary schools in the North East are eligible to participate in the scheme. Schools wishing to sign up to Explore Renewables must register their interest as places will be issued on a first come first served basis and all schools must be registered before the launch event on 29th April. School representatives can find out more information and secure their school’s involvement now by registering on the website at www.explorerenewables.co.uk

James Battensby Energy and Environment Specialist Advisor, One North East said, “The North East has set its sights on significantly reducing its carbon footprint - in order to achieve this we are working with communities and businesses across the board to enable us to become more energy conscious.  We must engage with young people now, if we are to make the major changes in lifestyle and behaviour that will be needed to meet our carbon reduction targets. Explore Renewables is an excellent way of introducing young people to new forms of renewable energy and show them how to conserve energy and protect their environment.”

Dr. Keith Melton, Project Manager for Explore Renewables at NaREC said,
“Bringing renewables into the classroom is the best way to the next generation to understand the relevance and application of renewable energy in their daily lives.”

Mike Tones, Secondary Professional Development Leader at Science Learning Centre North East has been involved in the development of the project, “Sustainability is going to have a significant impact on the lifestyles of the next generation. This project will make renewable energy a tangible, understandable and relevant topic for our school children, helping them to embrace it and see its importance – now and in the future. As a curriculum-based scheme Explore Renewables will also be a considerable asset for key stage three students who will be able to use the project to gain practical experience maths and science.”

Steve Caseley, Managing Director of eaga Renewables, added: “The concept of offering renewable energy demonstrator kits for schools was really designed to give school children some basic knowledge of zero or low carbon energy production and hopefully to get them excited in the potential for renewables.”
Explore Renewables is being implemented by Blyth-based NaREC, the North East’s Centre of Excellence for New and Renewable Energy, in partnership with eaga plc, and The Centre for Design Research at Northumbria University, with funding from One Northeast.

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For further information please contact:

Louise Harrison
Marketing Manager
Direct Dial: 01670 357 621
Email: louise.harrison@narec.co.uk