OFFSHOREWIND4KIDS enters the educational journey for the youngest in Germany

The focus of the cooperation will be on activities to promote interest in technical issues of offshore wind energy among children and young people.

OffshoreWind4Kids teaches children and young people about engineering, technologies and renewable energies in a playful way using miniature offshore wind turbines. With the help of construction kit systems developed by William Beuckelaers of “OffshoreWind4Kids”, children and young people – boys and girls alike – can be enthused about technical issues and any inhibition thresholds can be reduced. The “OffshoreWind4Kids” initiative was first brought to Germany by DNV and has subsequently found further supporters here.

OffshoreWind4Kids wants to support women in engineering by encouraging girls to use the wind turbine kits and it aim to teach as many girls as boys about offshore wind. Other goals are to stimulate innovation and to spread awareness of offshore wind to the general public.

„We are pleased to join forces with the Competence Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, DNV, Northland Power Europe and OffshoreWind4Kids to make offshore wind energy tangible. In view of the increased expansion targets of the German Federal Government and the already emerging shortage of skilled workers in the upcoming years in the field of offshore wind energy, this initiative offers a great opportunity to introduce children and especially young people to the interesting occupational field of offshore wind energy during the career orientation phase and to get them excited about a career in the industry”, said Karina Würtz, German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation.

„I was immediately excited when reading about William´s idea. We had great fun with the first family event at Hamburg´s Elbe beach last year. To reach the energy transition goals, the wind industry needs to install 30 GW offshore wind capacity before 2030 and even more beyond. This rapid expansion means that a huge number of people are needed. Our aim is to encourage young people to begin their careers in offshore wind, this kind of hands-on experience is ideal to start the journey. Therefore, we are supporting the “OffshoreWind4Kids” initiative from the early beginning”, said Marcus Klose from DNV. 

William Beuckelaers, OffshoreWind4Kids, said that he is excited about this collaboration, which will help to expand the OffshoreWind4Kids activities in Germany.

“Despite the rain during our first demo day in Hamburg last year, all groups were eager to join us for the event. With our increased presence, many more children will have the chance to install their first offshore wind turbine and hopefully they will be inspired to contribute to the green transition”. he added.

The German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation was founded in 2005 on the initiative of the industry and under the moderation of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection (BMUV). The foundation’s overall purpose is to consolidate the role of offshore wind energy in the energy mix of the future in Germany and Europe and to promote its expansion in the interests of environmental and climate protection. It has established itself as a non-partisan, supra-regional and independent communication platform for the entire offshore wind energy sector. The foundation’s board of trustees includes key federal and state ministries for offshore wind as well as operators, manufacturers, transmission system operators, suppliers, banks and insurance companies.

Source: The German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation