STUDENTS from Dumfries and Galloway College visited a windfarm to learn more about turbine design and the green economy.
The group of S6 pupils visited Vattenfall’s new South Kyle Wind Farm last month on behalf of the Developing Young Workforce programme.
The mechanical engineering students were invited to see up close the major components of a turbine before installation, helping inform their own turbine design project which is part of their Foundation Apprenticeship course at the college.
South Kyle Wind Farm is a 50 turbine, 240MW project north of Carsphairn which is in its third year of construction.
Carol Kane, from Vattenfall, said: “We were pleased to welcome the students to South Kyle Windfarm and offer them the chance to see our turbine components before they were lifted 80 metres up and into position.
“It was great to meet so many young people with such enthusiasm and interest in renewables, and we hope their visit helped inform and inspire the next steps in their learning and future careers.”
Graham Anderson, mechanical engineering lecturer at the college, said: “Teaching theory and practical lessons at college doesn’t always make it clear what opportunities lie within the engineering sector.
“But during a recent collaboration with the DWY, DG College and South Kyle Wind Farm our students got valuable insight into the various types of engineering skills involved while visiting the site.
“The students saw the importance behind the design of the large blades, to installing the blades. From this one visit alone we now have students who would like to enter the sustainable energy sector and have also signed up for next year’s wind turbine course at college.”
