EDL Energy inspiring the next generation of engineers to problem solve
Sustainable energy producer EDL Energy is partnering with educational organisation Primary Engineer for a competition across United Kingdom schools to inspire more students to pursue engineering careers.
The Primary Engineer Leaders Award Competition is asking school students aged 3-19 to consider problems in their everyday lives and draw their solutions to the question, ‘If you were an engineer, what would you do?’
Engineers including Thomas Clarke, Hannah Rigbye and Stuart Markham (pictured LtoR) filmed a video describing how their interest in mathematics and science led them to careers in engineering, and what roles they now performed in the renewable energy industry.
The competition is running until the end of the Spring term in April, and EDL Energy employees are also helping to grade student entries. A national awards ceremony will be held in May, and a selection of regional winners from each year group will be put on public exhibition
EDL Energy first partnered with Primary Engineer in 2018, and General Manager UK/Europe, Aron Gunn, said his team enjoyed telling the waste to renewable energy story, as well as what inspired them to pursue engineering careers.
“The team are really proud of what we do at EDL Energy, contributing to decarbonising the energy industry by producing renewable electricity from everyday waste,’’ Aron said.
“The Primary Engineer competition is a fun way to introduce students to real-world industry examples of where they can go if they’re interested in science and mathematics at school.’’
Commercial Manager, Hannah Rigbye, began her journey into engineering at university, where she studied aero mechanical systems engineering.
“Following this I worked for 10 years at BAE Systems, on fast jets, and then came over to EDL Energy,’’ Hannah said.
“My job now involves engaging with our suppliers on contracts and commercial arrangements and delivering what our operations teams need, when they need it.’’
Environmental Manager, Stuart Markham, studied geography at university before beginning a career in waste management and renewable energy that over the last 20 years has seen him build wind and solar farms, and landfills and recycling facilities.
Watch the EDL engineer’s video here
EDL is a leading global producer of sustainable distributed energy and owns and operates 81 power stations and gas facilities in the UK and Europe, Australia and North America. EDL’s UK business generates 230 gigawatt hours (GWh) of renewable electricity each year for local networks. EDL’s facilities capture methane-rich biogas from neighbouring landfills and put that gas to beneficial use in gensets.
Primary Engineer is an educational not-for-profit organisation founded in 2005 which aims to engage both primary and secondary school pupils and teachers with the vast and inspirational world of engineering and technology. They work with businesses and industry across the UK to help develop a future, diverse generation of engineering and technology professionals.