Voe school shortlisted for energy award again

Olnafirth Primary School in Voe is bidding to claim the top prize in a national renewable energy competition – for the third year running.

The school is just one step away from claiming the 2014 Junior Saltire Award, after seeing off competition from a record number of entries.

Olnafirth is one of nine schools shortlisted after being asked to create, build and test a simple hydrokinetic generator which would be suitable for Scottish waters.

The finalists will test their models at the new FloWave facility at Edinburgh University on Wednesday 4th June. The winners will be announced the following day at the Celebration of Engineering and Science at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, with school prizes of up to £750 and medals up for grabs.

The competition is managed by Skills Development Scotland (SDS) in partnership with Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI).

Olnafirth pupils are in the P5-P7 category. Another island school, Sanday Community School from Orkney, has been shortlisted in the secondary pupils’ category.

SDS strategic relations manager Rob Orr said: “The Junior Saltire Award helps to develop an awareness of marine renewables and encourages our young people to explore careers and investigate the skills that are required to work in this industry.”

SCDI chief executive Ross Martin said: “This initiative is a way in which to celebrate the positive role that young people can play through their interest in engineering and science.”

Tom Davey of FloWave, said: “We are delighted to invite the finalists to test their devices at the new FloWave test tank, which offers a world-leading test facility for any combination of current and wave environments.”

The Scottish government set up and The Saltire Prize, Scotland’s £10 million challenge to accelerate the commercial development of marine energy. This is the fourth year of the award.