Educational Complex Defends Its Kidwind Challenge Title Tomorrow

ST. CROIX – The second annual KidWind Challenge – a competition to get students excited about renewable energy – kicks off Saturday, according to the Virgin Islands Energy Office. Children compete in teams against their peers to design and build the best working turbine in order to win the competition that focuses on wind power.

The event takes place at the St. Croix Educational Complex cafeteria on Saturday from  9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Energy Office said Virgin Islands high school students learn about “the power and importance of renewable energy technology in our territory” through the competition.

Throughout the United States, the KidWind Challenge takes place with the support of schools or community organizations hosting these events. The Energy Office said it hopes to spark an interest in science and engineering by demonstrating to students the promise and limitations of wind energy technology and development.

Schools participating include: St. Croix Central High School, St. Croix Educational Complex High School, Good Hope Country Day, IQRA Academy, Free Will Baptist Christian School, and AZ Academy. From St. Thomas, participants include: All Saints Cathedral School, Charlotte Amalie High School, Saints Peter & Paul Catholic School and Ivanna Eudora Kean High School.

The VIEO provides the equipment and tools for the students to construct the turbines, the wind tunnels, and other related materials to test the models for the competition. Last year’s winning team was the St. Croix Education Complex.

Each team will be judged and scored based on the following: Energy produced (35 percent), turbine design (30 percent), written documentation of design (20 percent), knowledge of wind energy subject matter (15 percent), innovation (10 percent), drive train (10 percent), and innovation (10 percent). Students are given the opportunity to use the wind turbine kit provided or can customize their turbine with their own gears, blades, or airfoils.

Event sponsors include the UVI Caribbean Green Technology Center, Plaza Extra, the St. Croix Avis, and the V.I. Water and Power Authority. For more information on the KidWind Challenge please visit www.kidwind.org.