As part of Airtricity’s partnership with Eco-Schools Northern Ireland, 30 pupils from Gillygooley Primary School, Gortnagarn Primary School and Sacred Heart College visited Airtricity’s Bessy Bell Wind Farm near Omagh earlier this week.
Airtricity, the principal sponsor and energy topic ambassador of Eco-Schools Northern Ireland, invited the three local schools to visit its Bessy Bell Wind Farm to learn more about wind energy generation and to meet its team of wind farm operators. The visit was a reward to the schools following their successful work on Eco-Schools and Operation Energy, Airtricity’s programme for greener schools.
After a brief introduction to the wind farm from Francis McKenna, the local site manager of the wind farm, the pupils were taken on a route which allowed them to get up close to the turbines. The students learnt all about the turbines, how they work and the amount of green energy they generate. The elder students even discussed careers opportunities within the renewables sector with the team.
Sacred Heart College teacher, Mr James Kerr said:
“We enjoyed a super day out and the visit to the wind farm has really inspired the pupils. As a school that works hard to promote sustainability, not only was it very beneficial to get up close and personal to the turbines, but the opportunity to speak with so many people that work in the renewables industry was a really invaluable experience for our students.”
Miss McFarland, Gillygooley Primary School teacher, said:
“We had a great time. The children were very excited about getting inside the turbine and were particularly impressed with the mechanics of the turbines and how they work. The whole experience really made the study of energy and renewables come alive for the children and I’m sure they would love to get up on site again.”
Carmel Fyfe, Eco-Schools NI Programme Manager, added:
“The visit to the wind farm was a wonderful opportunity for pupils to meet directly with the operations team at the wind farm and to learn first-hand about green energy. Pupils have seen up close turbine technology and become generally more energy aware. I was extremely impressed with how eager the pupils were to learn through the visit and we are grateful to Airtricity for making this educational visit possible and their continued support of Eco-Schools work.”