Students from St Matthews Catholic High School in Mudgee have made a special visit to Crudine Ridge Wind Farm to learn about renewable power in New South Wales’s Central West.
The wind farm hosted 120 students from the Year 9 science class on Tuesday morning.
St Matthews Catholic High School organised the excursion in conjunction with Squadron Energy to give students an insight into how wind farms operate.
Students and staff received a safety briefing before touring the site, with the wind farm’s team offering a close look at the project’s turbines.
Squadron Energy Site Operations Manager Glen Best said the site visit was an exciting opportunity for the students.
“It was great to welcome the Year 9 students and teachers from St Matthews Catholic School in Mudgee to Crudine Ridge Wind Farm for a close-up look at how wind energy is generated.
“Hearing directly from our technicians and seeing a turbine up close helps bring science to life and shows how renewable energy works in the real world.
“We were also pleased to talk with students about the importance of safe behaviour and the safety equipment needed on an operating wind farm,” Mr Best said.
The St Matthews Catholic High School science teacher Maree Harries said it is one thing for the students to be taught about renewable electrical generation in the classroom, but it is quite another to visit the site and gather the facts on wind generation first-hand, from those involved in the industry.
“Students enjoyed trying on the safety equipment like harnesses and face shields. They had the opportunity to hold some of the operational tools and clothing.
“Connor Hackett enjoyed seeing saw just how massive a turbine was.
“Bailey Tumeth was surprised at the diversity of career opportunities offered by renewable energy generation in his local area, while Lawson Adams-Fox was pleased to know that with the use of the latest technology, renewable energies are evolving to become more sustainable,” Mrs Harries said.
Crudine Ridge Wind Farm, located 45km south of Mudgee, became fully operational in 2022.
With 37 turbines, the wind farm generates enough electricity to power more than 75,000 homes and avoid 266,000 tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
It supplies clean energy to corporate partners such as Sydney Airport and Nestlé Australia.