Aberdeen schools lead the way with wind power projects
06/02/07
Two Aberdeen primary schools will become the first in the North-east to generate their own wind power.
Cults and Milltimber primaries are poised to install wind turbines to provide energy for the schools and to raise awareness of renewable energy among pupils, other schools and the wider community.
Cults Primary School is ready to start work this month on a free-standing wind turbine, which will be erected in a next-door field. The £19,500 turbine is powerful enough to provide enough energy to run most of the school’s catering operation.
North-east company Brumac Engineering Ltd, of Laurencekirk is supplying the 5-kilowatt Iskra turbine.
The cost of the turbine and installation has been covered by the Scottish Executive-funded Energy Saving Trust (£13,326), Aberdeen City Council (£9,500), the school’s Parent-Teacher Association (£1,000) and Cults Community Council (£1,000).
Milltimber School, meanwhile, is planning to install a 1.5-kilowatt building-mounted turbine and a set of solar collectors on its roof.
Renewable Devices is supplying the £5,000 Swift turbine, which will provide enough power for some of the lighting the school. The solar panels will provide the power to heat most of the school’s hot water in the summer months and a smaller proportion of the hot water in the winter.
The Milltimber scheme is being funded by the EST (£10,375), Aberdeen City Council (£5,000), Murtle councillor Matthew Duncan’s ward budget (£3,000), and a donation from an anonymous benefactor.
A 32-inch LCD screen will be mounted indoors at Cults Primary, which will allow pupils and staff to monitor wind speed and direction, power output, and the tonnage of carbon dioxide which would otherwise have been pumped into the environment if the schools were using conventional power sources. A less sophisticated screen will be installed at Milltimber School to provide similar information.
An Aberdeen City Council spokesman said: “These two primary schools are really showing the way on the importance of renewable energy. The youngsters and staff at Cults and Milltimber are taking positive, practical steps to be kind to the environment and to help combat carbon emissions and global warming.
“The schools are setting a fine example and we hope they will inspire other schools, and indeed local businesses and homeowners, to follow in their footsteps and help keep the North-east at the forefront of environmental action.”
The city council will closely monitor the performance of the devices to discover how they match up to predicted performance levels. Neither turbine is expected to pay back the costs over a short time. The schemes are designed more to showcase renewable energy and raise awareness of its possibilities.
Work is scheduled to start on the two projects later this month and, depending on the weather, the schools could be producing power by the middle of April.
The schools already have an environmental-friendly track record and have both been awarded coveted Green Flag status under the national Eco-Schools Project, run by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
Pupils have to form an eco-committee and then map out how they can become more “green“ in eight environmental categories – waste, water-use, energy, litter, health, biodiversity, transport and school grounds. Schools can work up from a Bonze Award through Silver to the top award, the Green Flag.
The EST has further funding available for schools keen to go ahead with renewable energy schemes. The organisation can also offer advice and grant help to community groups and householders – log on to www.est.org.uk/schri for more information
Small businesses can get information on renewables by telephoning 0845 458 5040, where they can get access to a network of advisers who specialise in the field. Energy-efficiency advice for householders is available on 0800 512012.
