Welsh High Schoolers rise to the Challenge with RWE

Connah’s Quay High School student Brude Jones (left) listens for the sea in some of the shells that he and fellow students collected for their project watched here by back L-R: Poppy Tremayne from RWE; teacher Chris Jennings and Kayleigh Brummell Careers Wales

• North Wales high school students take part in renewables-related learning activities
• Challenge developed by Wales’ leading renewable energy generator RWE, in partnership with local high school and support from Careers Wales

Students at a high school in Flintshire are gaining valuable insight into the skills and knowledge needed to drive the green industrial revolution with the help of staff from RWE, Wales’ biggest renewable energy generator.

Year 9 pupils at Connah’s Quay High School have been given real offshore wind or industry challenges to investigate, presented as scientific or engineering challenges.

Working in groups, they have been carrying out research and looking at issues relevant to the renewables industry, such as: investigating ways to increase biodiversity around the foundations of offshore wind turbines; methods of monitoring local species like birds or marine mammals during development and construction, and other biodiversity considerations, with a focus on the coastline locally in north Wales.

All of the lesson plans have been designed to meet Welsh curriculum requirements, encouraging pupils to develop key workplace skills in research, cooperative working, problem-solving and presenting skills, amongst others.

Poppy Tremayne, Stakeholder and Skills Manager for RWE, said: “There are so many different skills needed to develop, build and operate renewables projects like offshore wind. There are those out in the field carrying out surveys, desk-based engineers working in the development and operations phases of a project, and the technicians that head out on the waves to inspect and maintain our wind turbines.

“Giving students a taste of what is out there for them is hugely important. According to the most recent industry figures, the offshore wind industry’s UK workforce grew by 24 per cent from 2023 into 2024, and around 40,000 new jobs are set to be created before 2030.

“With projects like Awel y Môr planned for the sea off the coast of North Wales, there is real opportunity for sustainable careers open to students like these here in Flintshire and across north Wales, as they move through their high school years and learn about steps into industry from there.”

The Renewables Challenge was developed by the team working on the RWE-led Awel y Môr Offshore Wind Farm, in hand with the high school, and with support from Careers Wales.
Having now received its contract for difference, the Awel y Môr project team is now working towards its final investment decision.

Planned to generate electricity equivalent to the needs of more than half the homes in Wales, the project is poised to create hundreds of jobs during construction, with the operational phase to add another 50 to the 300 directly employed RWE staff in Wales.

Minister for Skills and former Connah’s Quay High School student, Jack Sargeant MS, said: “It’s brilliant to see students at my old school getting hands-on experience with the green skills that will power Wales’s future. Initiatives like the RWE Renewables Challenge are exactly what we need to prepare our young people for the thousands of quality jobs being created in renewable energy across Wales.

“By connecting classroom learning with real industry opportunities, we’re giving students in North Wales a clear pathway into sustainable careers on their doorstep.”

For more info visit https://www.awelymor.cymru/ 

1. Kayleigh Brummell Careers Wales and Poppy Tremayne from RWE get involved with the Connah’s Quay High School project with some of the students L-R: Brude Jones; Fedir Solomka and Adam Gadton
2. Kayleigh Brummell Careers Wales and Poppy Tremayne from RWE get involved with the Connah’s Quay High School project with some of the students L-R: James Jenkins and Kyle Develing
3. Connah’s Quay High School student Brude Jones (left) listens for the sea in some of the shells that he and fellow students collected for their project watched here by back L-R: Poppy Tremayne from RWE; teacher Chris Jennings and Kayleigh Brummell Careers Wales