School pupils turn green

Twelve teams were asked to become green mini-manufacturers for the day devising inventive eco-friendly power generation and energy solutions. The challenge was set by the senior management team at the Sharp factory at Wrexham, whose state-of-the-art solar module manufacturing facility is one of the most technically advanced in the world. Heat winners Ysgol Bryn Alyn (pupils Elliott Russell and Siobhan Richards pictured) impressed the judges with their low cost, high quality 'Energy Saving Schools' design which generated and captured enough solar power to run a green high school. The team also proposed that each pupil in the school would receive a solar-powered personal organiser that would change colour to illustrate their own energy-efficiency. Runner-up prize went to Darland High School which chose 360 degree solar panels to provide light, heat and hot water for the guests of a new, trendy boutique hotel. Having designed and built 3D floor plans of their energy-efficient buildings the teams then pitched their ideas and marketing and sales plans in a two-minute presentation to a team of 'dragons' from Sharp. Denise Marsden, general manager of the Wrexham factory said: "We were delighted to be able support this event. It not only helps educate young people and encourage them to consider manufacturing as a career choice for the future, but is allows Sharp to showcase manufacturing and to raise the profile of the company. We are committed to helping industry utilise sustainable energy that not only has a positive impact upon the environment, but also helps their bottom-line profitability through lower energy bills."