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Hodgson Vo-Tech High School erected two wind turbines Wednesday as part of its ongoing Renewable Energy training for construction trades students.
The windstream (propeller) and windspire (circular) turbines were assembled by Hodgson Electrical Trades students under the direction of Blue Skies Solar and Wind Power Division of Wanex Electrical Services, a long-time supporter of NCC Vo-Tech schools, school district spokeswoman Kathy Demarest said.
The project, entitled Capturing the Wind, was funded through a competitive state Department of Education grant for innovative Career and Technical Education pathways programming, Demarest said. The first of its kind turbine installation for training purposes in the state, the $50,000 award was used to purchase components for the turbines and textbooks for instruction.
Capturing the Wind provides a natural segue for the students to expand their expertise into the green energy field, through actual installation of wind turbines as part of their instruction, she said. This added skill set will place them on the cutting edge of this growing industry as they pursue their journeyman’s status in the electrical field. In 2008, Hodgson was the first public school in Delaware to install solar panels as a training component.
Following today’s installation, subsequent groups of students will disassemble and reassemble the wind turbines as part of the electrical trades skills training. Future plans include a training component for all construction trades students to learn about renewable energy.
Nineteen 11th grade electrical trades students helped the Wanex crew with assembly of the turbines and site preparation.
The energy produced by the turbines will be cycled back through the power grid for energy credits, though this is not the primary objective of the installation.
Hodgson Vo-Tech High School erected two wind turbines Wednesday as part of its ongoing Renewable Energy training for construction trades students.
The windstream (propeller) and windspire (circular) turbines were assembled by Hodgson Electrical Trades students under the direction of Blue Skies Solar and Wind Power Division of Wanex Electrical Services, a long-time supporter of NCC Vo-Tech schools, school district spokeswoman Kathy Demarest said.
The project, entitled Capturing the Wind, was funded through a competitive state Department of Education grant for innovative Career and Technical Education pathways programming, Demarest said. The first of its kind turbine installation for training purposes in the state, the $50,000 award was used to purchase components for the turbines and textbooks for instruction.
Capturing the Wind provides a natural segue for the students to expand their expertise into the green energy field, through actual installation of wind turbines as part of their instruction, she said. This added skill set will place them on the cutting edge of this growing industry as they pursue their journeyman’s status in the electrical field. In 2008, Hodgson was the first public school in Delaware to install solar panels as a training component.
Following today’s installation, subsequent groups of students will disassemble and reassemble the wind turbines as part of the electrical trades skills training. Future plans include a training component for all construction trades students to learn about renewable energy.
Nineteen 11th grade electrical trades students helped the Wanex crew with assembly of the turbines and site preparation.
The energy produced by the turbines will be cycled back through the power grid for energy credits, though this is not the primary objective of the installation.
