Crookwell students were given a guided tour around a 70 metre wind turbine blade during transit to Biala Wind Farm on July 24 at the Crookwell Showground.
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The event was led by BJCE Australia and Regional Development Australia Southern Inland (RDA Southern Inland) as part of the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Industry School Partnership (SISP). The SISP program is funded by the NSW Department of Education and coordinated by RDA Southern Inland.
Camilla Staff, project officer said, "The students have studied renewable energy in their classrooms and the blade viewing allowed us to show students a real world-application... and to talk to experts in the industry.
"Most of these students drive past wind farms daily, but you don't get a sense of their size until you are up close.
"It was an unforgettable day," she said.
Students learned about wind to energy conversion, power generation, the shape and curve of the blade, and turbine construction from industry experts, including Isabel Nelson and Leo Pearce from BJCE Australia, and Andy Wang and Alison Deale from Goldwind Australia.
Mr Wang, turbine supply and installation project manager said, "I can definitely see some future engineers and technicians amongst them."
Since March, oversized wind farm components have been delivered to the Biala Wind Farm, under construction around 14 kilometres from Crookwell. The wind farm is owned by BJCE Australia, an industry partner of the SISP program since 2018.
Derek Powell, deputy general manager from BJCE Australia, said the partnership provides an opportunity to teach children about renewable energy and wind farm development.
"Under different circumstances, we would have loved to open this particular event to the wider community. Wind turbine blades are highly engineered pieces of equipment and, in my view, their shape and scale make fascinating viewing up close," Mr Powell said.