Nearly 1300 students from Pomerania learn about offshore wind energy

How will the energy from offshore wind farms get to the sockets in houses? How do turbines work? What do offshore wind farms mean for Pomerania and its inhabitants? These issues will be introduced to students of Pomeranian primary schools during lessons on offshore wind, carried out by Equinor and Polenergia. In April this year, nearly 1300 students of grades I-VIII from 11 schools from the municipalities of Redzikowo and Ustka, as well as in Ustka and Łeba itself, discover the secrets of offshore wind energy, using the author's notebook with lesson scenarios "The Baltic Sea. The Sea of Green Energy", also prepared for teachers.

The development of offshore wind energy is the economic future of Pomerania and new jobs. Therefore, it is crucial to build competences from an early age, so that the inhabitants of the Pomeranian region can fully exploit the potential of offshore energy and take advantage of the opportunities it offers.

The April workshops in schools are a continuation of the activities carried out as part of the educational program "One Sea, Many Benefits. Offshore Wind Energy in My Region". This is the fourth edition of the project implemented under the aegis of the flagship program – "Academy of Maritime Competence", initiated by Equinor and Polenergia as part of the Baltic Sea offshore wind farm projects. This year's edition goes one step further. The teaching materials are based on original lesson scenarios. It is a practical tool for teachers that facilitates classes and helps to pass on knowledge about offshore energy.

The workbook prepared by Equinor and Polenergia is a comprehensive study supporting the implementation of the core curriculum in the field of nature, ecology, physics and social issues. It consists of six lesson plans – two for each of the three age groups of primary schools. It contains, m.in: worksheets, experiments, board games and multimedia materials. It makes it easier for teachers to conduct interesting lessons that combine learning with fun, support the development of students' knowledge and help explain what elements offshore wind farms consist of and how they function, and what impact they have on the development of the region and the country. Older students learn about professions related to offshore wind energy, which can support them in choosing further fields of study.

Modern energy education in practice

The scenarios combine various forms of activity, adapted to the age of the students. The youngest children from grades I-III, thanks to playing together, can learn how the wind works and what it can be used for, as well as take a closer look at the construction of offshore wind farms. Students in grades IV-VI experiment by observing how corrosion occurs and look at the process of converting wind kinetic energy into electricity. The oldest group of students has the opportunity to learn about issues related to units of measurement of electricity, the path taken by electricity from offshore wind farms to the grid, and thanks to an educational game – learn about educational paths and future-oriented professions offered by the offshore industry.

The Bałtyk 2 and Bałtyk 3 offshore wind farms, as well as Bałtyk 1, developed by Equinor and Polenergia Group, will have a total installed capacity of 3000 MW and will provide green energy to over 4 million households in Poland.

You can read more about the educational project on the Education tab.