The thrust for renewable energy was one of the main themes for PTC’s 2023 workshops.

With a range of our power networks affected by the devastating effect of Cyclone Gabrielle, now more than ever is the time to ensure our youth are well aware of alternative sources of power for our future.

In collaboration with Professor Alan Brent, holder of the Chair in Sustainable Energy Systems at Te Herenga Waka Victoria University of Wellington, PTC aims to respond to the challenge ahead. As he reiterated in his 2023 NZIIA article, “this once again emphasises the vulnerability of centralised power systems to increasingly severe weather events. It is crucial for communities to adopt more resilient energy solutions that can withstand such challenges in the face of a changing climate”. One such solution is how ‘microgrids could help keep the power on during extreme weather events’.

Students across Horowhenua and Lower Hutt arrived excited to learn this new technology and they were not disappointed. The day was spent learning about electricity, renewable forms of energy and then building a solar-powered car capable of functioning!

It was a rich day of learning and togetherness