Powerpod Project Spreads The Message

Published on Tuesday December 23 2008

Edinburgh Woodcraft folk’s Powerpod is an innovative peer education venture exhibiting renewable energies to schools and groups around Lothian. The pod provides an interactive and fun introduction to renewable energies and the climate change challenge at a time when environmental news can be worrying. The more unique aspect of this pod is its commitment to peer education through workshops and a real sense of ownership and management by its young volunteers.

Robyn Riddoch became a peer educator, designing activities for the pod. “The workshop working group consisted of all young people with a couple of adult helpers. We worked out budgets, bought equipment and ran the workshops ourselves. We had equal say in other parts of design and management as well. I’m really proud of our group and what we’ve managed to achieve.”

During the summer the Pod travelled to T In The Park Festival in Scotland and immediately began to attract attention. “The Powerpod teamed up with the Eco-Village and offered hair straightening and mobile charging using renewable energy, it was a big hit” – Powerpod educator, Rachel Gibbs. A perfect example of the pod’s tandem abilities to promote its message and engage young people.

The pod itself is a single-axel trailer with a roof that supports four photovoltaic panels; two free standing additional PV panels are available and placed near to the trailer to collect extra energy. A solar thermal panel is also attached to one side of the trailer; this tilts to the same angle as the roof mounted panels, capturing the maximum amount of sun light. A small wind turbine, mounted on the front of the trailer provides additional electricity when rotated by wind or even a breeze.

Inside the trailer energy is converted for use and stored in three batteries. Energy collected using the turbine and panels passes to controllers that moderate its movement to the battery storage area. The trailer also contains hot and cold water tanks, an essential part of solar panel energy capture. Those that enjoy the wonderful world of science can see in detail how each device operates at the Powerpod site -

http://j.r.corney.googlepages.com/powerpod

Aside from capturing renewable energy what does the Powerpod do? The pod travels to an average of 23 schools a year, community events and festivals. Its main purpose is to engage young people in peer education and renewable energy in a fun, relevant way and feedback from schools visited seems to reflect this, “I actually see my ideas put into action!” Angus Chalmers, Gillespies High School

The entire project is run by a youth management committee and delivered by peer educators (11-20), each one is trained to take workshops featuring the pod at schools and events and can attain nationally recognised qualifications. At a recent meeting the management committee decided that it would now like to include an international development perspective of climate change and energy, and to deliver workshops around third world issues and inequalities. The pod itself has undergone recent changes and whilst it still makes school visits it now has a stronger trailer with several internal upgrades, including a grass floor!

The scheme has developed significantly since its inception in 2003 but its core aims of education and engagement remain the same. It can also be credited with the tasks of bringing groups together, providing role models for younger children and igniting an interest in the world around us. “I now know that anybody and everybody can do something to save our planet” Ruaridh Imlach, Boroughmuir High School

Further information can be found at www.edinburgh-powerpod.org/ or by contacting

Education and Development Officer - Sara MacLennan 07912353387 sara@edinburgh-powerpod.org