BREESI Bringing Renewable EnErgy to Schools Initiative
Drumlin’s Educational Programme for Key Stage 2 Pupils
Teachers’ Guide
CONTENTS
I am delighted to welcome you to this BREESI resource for Key Stage 2 pupils. The BREESI (Bringing Renewable EnErgy to Schools Initiative) programme has been developed and implemented by a team of experienced educators supported and funded through the Community Fund of the Drumlin Co-op.
Drumlin Wind Energy Co-op was founded in 2012. The Co-op owns and operates six 250 kW turbines in six locations across Northern Ireland and is unique in Northern Ireland since the project was entirely made possible by community investment. There are several stakeholders who benefit from the project including the members who receive interest on their investment and the farmers who own the sites. Community benefit with an emphasis on education was identified at the outset as an essential element of what Drumlin hoped to achieve. Soon after all the turbines became operational the BREESI programme was established and, over the last three years, has been delivered to almost 30 schools local to our turbines.
As evidence of the climate emergency becomes more stark, there is an urgent requirement to focus on meeting our energy needs without the use of fossil fuels so that further harmful environmental consequences can be avoided. The BREESI programme considers the range of renewable technologies available to generate electricity, identifies examples within Northern Ireland of how these are being used, and focuses on the value of wind power and how this can be harnessed in a wind turbine. The programme has a very practical emphasis and has been designed to fit in with curricular themes.
At the time of writing (Nov 2021) the Department for the Economy in Northern Ireland is working towards publishing its new Energy Strategy aiming to achieve full decarbonisation by 2050. Two important aspects will be encouragement for citizens to become engaged in community initiatives and the need for behaviour change to allow us to meet the challenge of “net zero”. It is evident that education is vital – and where better to start than with eager young minds which are open to new possibilities?
The Drumlin education team and the Drumlin directors have been very encouraged by the feedback from teachers and pupils who have engaged with BREESI in the past. We sincerely hope that you will take the opportunity to get involved, and in doing so gain a new awareness and understanding of the importance of clean energy from renewable resources and of some of the relevant technology. You will note that there are various ways to adopt the BREESI resources and we hope you will find the way which suits you and your school best.
We in Drumlin Co-op would encourage you to embrace this offer of help in your important work of equipping children to face the uncertainties that lie ahead and we look forward to assisting you in any way we can.
Anne Ford
Chair, Drumlin Wind Energy Co-operative
Contact: info@drumlin.coop