South Africa’s Energy Minister will join the SA Wind Energy Association and learners in celebrating Global Wind Day in Cape Town on Saturday. Global Wind Day is an international initiative celebrating the power that wind energy has to change the world.
The Minister of Energy, the Honourable Ms Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, will join South Africa’s wind energy industry in celebrating Global Wind Day in Cape Town on Saturday.
Global Wind Day is a worldwide annual event held on 15 June. It is a day for discovering more about wind, its power and the possibilities it holds to change our world.
As part of the celebrations, the South African Wind Energy Association (SAWEA) will host a youth-focusedcharity event at Searidge Park Primary in Tafelsig, Cape Town. 220 childrenfrom Khayelitsha, Langa and Mitchell’s Plain will participate.
The event will be attended by the Minister of Energy, the Honourable Ms Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Miss Earth Regional Finalist Shaina Naidoo and the 2013 SA Global Wind Day Ambassador and former SA Youth Kite-surfing Champion Colin Heckroodt.
A full programme includes a mix of edutainment and will conclude with the Energy Minister flying kites with the learners.
“We are extremely honoured that the Minister of Energy, who is an internationally recognised renewableenergy champion, has made herself available to participate in this youth-focused event,” says chief executive of SAWEA Johan van den Berg. “Educating our children about the benefits of renewable energy and the realities of climate change is essential in securing a sustainable future.”
South Africa is one of more than 75 countries around the world where wind farms are in operation, generating energy from a clean, renewable and free source. Currently there are only eight turbines in the country, but through the Department of Energy’s sophisticated Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP), there are currently 15 wind farms under construction with many more in various stages of development.
Over the past year, South Africa has been internationally recognised for its renewable energy investments. Earlier this month, the country became one of the 10 founding members of the Renewables Club, a political initiative of pioneering countries that are united by an important goal: a worldwide transformation of the energy system. The 10 Renewables Club members currently account for more than 40 per cent of global investments in renewable energy.
Says Van Den Berg: “Our projections indicate that within three years South Africa will rank in the Top 15 countries for installed wind power capacity. Our resources and electricity demand are excellent and in time there is potential tomove further up the global order.”
For more information on Global Wind Day, visit http://www.globalwindday.org/
For more information on the Global Wind Day event in Cape Town, contact Leole-Ann Tchimbioputo
Cell: 084 599 2535
E-mail: leole@windaba.co.za
For more information on SAWEA, visit http://www.sawea.org.za/ or contact Ian Macdonald - 072 222 33 43 - ian@sawea.org.za
Note to editors:
SAWEA is the leading trade and professional body representing the wind industry in South Africa. As the voice of the this industry, SAWEA’s primary purpose is to promote the sustainable use of wind energy in South Africa, acting as a central point of contact for information for its members and as a group promoting wind energy to government, industry, the media and the public.
Our members comprise both national and international developers, manufacturers, and stakeholders working in the industry.
For more information on SAWEA, visit http://www.sawea.org.za/
Programme
09h00-09h30: Learners collected from schools by bus
10h00: Learners arrive at Searidge Park Primary
10h00-10h25: Registration and handing out of snacks
10h30-10h35: House Rules explanation Yolanda Adams / Word of welcome by Johan Van Den Berg ( CEO Sawea)
10h35-10h55: Miss Earth, Shaina Naidoo conducts presentation covering the importance of Renewable energy
11h00: Proposed Arrival of Minister Elizabeth Dipuo Peters
11h00-11h10: Introduction of Methuli Mbanjwa and contextualizing of video on William Kamkwamba
11h10-11h20: Screening of William Kamkwamba Video
11h20-11h30: Q&A and explanation of Turbine components
11h30-11h50: Learners to build turbines
11h50-11h55: Introduction of Colin Heckroodt
11h55-12h10: Colin Heckroodt explain kite surfing as a sport
12h10-12h20: Kites and how they work explanation
12h20-12h30: Children assembled in courtyard
12h30-12h50: Kite flying learners and Minister of Energy
12h50-13h00: Children reassembled in hall for words of encouragement by Minister of Energy
13h00-13h10: Word of thanks by Johan Van Den Berg
13h10-13h20: Food Parcel stations erected at departure points
13h20-13h30: Minister, Board Members and Volunteers to distribute food parcels to children as they get onto busses and leave from departure points.
