Selkie Delivers Education Session as part of Destination Renewables

Last week, the SELKIE project were delighted to have been involved in the Destination Renewables Session at Pembrokeshire College, ‘An Introduction to Marine Renewable Energy and Floating Offshore Wind’.  Destination Renewables is a new pioneering programme preparing students for the future renewables’ jobs market.

To raise awareness of the renewable energy sector and develop a skilled future workforce, DP Energy (Selkie Project partners) and EDF Renewables UK, working with Pembrokeshire College and industry partners, have designed a 2-year programme called ‘Destination Renewables’. This industry led programme aimed at 16 to 18 year old’s will give students opportunities to link with future employers to prepare them for jobs in the fast growth green energy sector.

Selkie project coordinator, Matt Telfer joined Tim Brew, Education Manager, Marine Energy Wales, Dr Steven Hughes, Chief Technology Officer, Batri Ltd and Jack Hughes, Senior Simulation Engineer, Marine Power Systems in delivering the 2-hour session which involved presentations, interactive activities, guided discussion and a Q&A plenary.

The session provided a fantastic opportunity to impart some of the key research and workflows that the Selkie Project have outputted over 3 years.  The presentation informed students with a brief introduction to the collaborative nature of the project and its partners. The learning then focused on wave and tidal energy, how they come into formation, the technology that is being developed to harness these green renewable and predictable energy sources and also how the Selkie tools are helping to improve our understanding and gain better accuracy in predicting and measuring wave and tidal energy.

Some students were surprised to discover we have one of Wales’ best tidal stream resources on our doorstep – The Bitches tidal race in Ramsay Sound.  Students also seemed suitably impressed at some of the images of surfers and kayakers riding the spectacular standing wave that arises when the water between Ramsey Island and the Welsh coastline is squeezed over a sea bed that changes height dramatically.

There were expertly explained presentations from Dr Stephen Hughes who focussed on tidal range and how tidal lagoons work to capture this energy.  Jack Hughes’ presentation had some excellent animations of the latest Marine Power Systems modular platform technology, Pelagen which can harness both wave and wind energy most effectively.

Tim Brew who steered the session and brought it all together, provided positive feedback on how it had gone, noting the students engaged well and asked some thought provoking questions on the themes covered.

To view the Slides from the SELKIE presentation please click here

Destination Renewables is underpinned by the Skills and Talent programme of the Swansea Bay City Deal, jointly funded by the Welsh and UK Governments, alongside private sector investment.