Book on Wind Energy Launched

Wigton Windfarm Limited on Wednesday (August 16) launched its first endorsed book, ‘Understanding Wind Energy: Youth Repowering the Future’, at a function held at the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Trafalgar Road, in Kingston.

The book, written by one of its employees, Senior Engineer, Oswald O. King, provides a summary of the fundamentals of wind energy and how this renewable resource can be exploited for harnessing electricity.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Dr. the Hon. Andrew Wheatley, said the publication will assist in building a knowledge-based society.

“A knowledge-based society is one where we ensure that we develop that mindset and that approach to be more innovative,” he said.

The Minister congratulated Mr. King for writing the book, noting that the transfer of knowledge is critical for any nation to advance.

“You have taken a bold step of ensuring that you transfer the knowledge that you have, and you have taken a decision to start with those at a very tender age, developing that appetite or that appreciation for the subject area,” Dr. Wheatley said.

He added that this will ensure that the country is putting in place the foundation for its own energy security “and for us to truly build out a knowledge-based society”.

The Minister noted that the publication is an “easy read” and is hoping that the target audience will develop a greater appreciation and appetite for the subject area.

Giving a rationale for writing his book, Mr. King explained that while undertaking school tours at the Wigton facility, he noticed that students would ask the same set of questions.

“I didn’t want to be answering the same questions every day, so (I said) why not put it in a book. I spoke to the General Manager and he said go ahead,” he said.

He informed that the book has six main sections covering topics such as ‘What is a Wind Turbine’; ‘What is a Windfarm’; ‘Components of the Wind Turbine and Wind Farm’; How Do Wind Turbines Make Energy’; Windfarms in the Caribbean and Globally’; and a final quiz.

“It is a very good book. Most of the information that you want for your child is there. Even if you are not familiar with the wind turbine industry, it is a good book for you to have,” Mr. King said.

Meanwhile, General Manager for Wigton Windfarm Limited, Earl Barrett, said it is hoped that in reading the book, “students will become excited into action to continue to drive the transformation of this world to one that is fuelled mainly by renewables”.

The book has been approved by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information and will be used as teaching material to educate secondary-school students in grades seven to nine about wind energy and how it can be harnessed for the generation of electricity.

It is anticipated that the book will be published and made available in stores by the end of September 2017.