Pupils and teachers at Bayhead’s Paible Primary School in North Uist are celebrating the start of their Climate Change Focus week on Monday with the official launch of their very own wind turbine on the school campus.  The innovative and environmentally aware primary six and seven pupils competed with 20 other schools throughout the Western Isles to come first in an energy reduction, production and energy use competition sponsored by Scottish and Southern Energy. 

The high performance wind turbine is a first for the school, and has been  named  Gale by the pupils.  It is expected to provide up to 5,000 kWh of renewable energy each year, and with high wind gusts recorded recently on the island it is an ideal site for a wind turbine.  The Proven 2.5kw model is expected to make a significant contribution towards the school’s total electricity consumption and in addition will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by around two tonnes each year.  Any electricity generated in excess of the school’s consumption will be sold back to Scottish and Southern Energy and will be measured by a state-of- the-art export meter. Additionally, the school could receive an income from Renewable Obligation Certificates* for the renewable energy the turbine produces.

Paible’s Headteacher Mr Hugh MacDonald said: “The pupils and teachers are passionate about renewable energy and proud of our new wind turbine. It’s going to make a real difference to our carbon footprint as well as being a great teaching aid, and it’s a perfect way to round up our Climate Change Focus Week.[
 
Local MP, Angus McNeil  said: “As a former teacher myself I can see the many benefits this will have for traditional classroom learning. It also has many other advantages, not least with a raised awareness of the energy that can be tapped from the environment in Uist, when it can be tapped and how often its available. He added: “This micro-renewable project is already a lot more successful than my efforts at that age, which involved bolting a fan to an old tractor dynamo which certainly turned but seemed to give no electricity!

As well as praising the efforts of Paible School in this very relevant and useful curricular activity, Scottish and Southern Energy have been shown to be deeply connected with the community which is also appreciated”

SSE’s Head of Sustainable Development Dr Keith MacLean said: “These young people are taking a real interest in tackling climate change and I am impressed by their enthusiasm and innovation.  Some of the winning ideas they came up with for the competition were ingenious. Just one example was an idea for energy production which was a device on a bicycle which could charge a mobile phone while you exercise!

SSE is supporting the school with an award of £9,700 towards the installation of the wind turbine at the school.

An official launch of the turbine will be held at 11.30am at the school on Monday 3rd March 2008.

Nigel Scott
Communications Officer
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar

Tel: 01851 709389 (Work)
Tel: 07884 236103 (Mobile)
email: nscott@cne-siar.gov.uk