June 2019

Global Wind Day 2019 celebrations coincided with the end of the second school term and Youth Day, making it the perfect day for a group of learners from Enoch Mthetho High School to enjoy a visit to Noupoort Wind Farm.

Learners had the chance to enter a writing competition, expressing how the wind farm has benefited their home town. This school’s competition forms part of an ongoing awareness programme, called ‘Clean Energy, Brighter Future’, which was launched in 2016 and continues to work alongside local schools to broaden their understanding and experience of clean, green energy, with an emphasis on wind power.

“This celebration auspiciously coincided with Youth Day, honouring with the country’s commemoration, as well as the world annual Global Wind Day. We believe it is important that learners understand what wind energy is about, how it benefits our country, the environment and specifically the local community,” explained Noupoort Economic Development Manager, Sandisiwe Mntonintshi.

Global Wind Day (GWD) overlaps South Africa’s 2019 National Environment Month. During June, the government stimulate awareness of environmental issues and challenge all to become agents for change.

About Global Wind Day:

GWD 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:
 When the wind blows, 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.

About World Environment Day:

World Environment Day is the United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) biggest annual event commemorated on 5 June, with an aim of galvanising positive environmental action. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1972, and was first celebrated in 1974 with a view to deepening environmental awareness and address concerns such as the depletion of the ozone layer, toxic chemicals, desertification and global warming.