TENISON Woods College is well on its way to becoming a leader in sustainable energy as it faces a one in three chance of claiming the Zayed Future Energy Prize in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
In the running to win a total of $100,000US to fund a renewable energy and sustainability project, the school could soon be recognised as a pioneer of a sustainable energy future.
Joining around 40,000 people during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability week, the three representatives from the local school, which includes one student and two staff members, will also have the opportunity to speak with a range of exhibitors from across the world during their stay.
With plans in place to install solar photovoltaics on the roof of the school and to create a Tenison Renewable Energy Education and Sustainability Academy, board member Jean-Claude Cesario it focused on educating the future leaders of the country.
“Regardless of whether we win this competition or not, we have already announced ourselves as winners,” he said.
“Being involved has spurred on a whole lot of extra projects that we will follow through with no matter what happens.”
Eager to get students involved with every step of the projects, school sustainability coordinator Tom Linnell said it would help to provide a pathway into the industry.
“We are looking at bringing the whole concept of renewable energy and sustainability to the forefront of learning,” he said.
“Where we can, we will adjust the curriculum to bring that in and already plan to include students in the process of installing the solar panels.”
Selected as the lucky student to join Mr Cesario and Mr Linnell in Abu Dhabi for the announcement of the winner, Year 10 student Dylan Leadbetter said he was grateful for the opportunity.
“We did a competition at school where we wrote about what we would do with the money and I won that so was selected,” he said.
“I’m really excited to go over there and have already been in contact with students from other schools across the world and past winners.”
Whether or not they are successful in claiming first prize, Mr Cesario said the projects would go ahead with plans to also engage with the wider community.
“The future of this planet depends on us reducing our carbon footprint,” he said.
“If we can get a jump start and get the kids here working on new areas they will have pathways to make a difference.
“We shouldn’t leave it to other countries to come up with the ideas, why not do it here?”
