Two sixth formers swapped part of their summer break for a special project recovering a control panel dropped from a vessel into the North Sea off Lowestoft.
Aspiring engineers Alice Hill and J’Lan George explored solutions to the hypothetical offshore windfarm dilemma in a month-long internship with ScottishPower Renewables (SPR).
The students from East Norfolk Sixth Form College in Gorleston spent four weeks working with renewable energy experts from SPR’s East Anglia THREE offshore windfarm and its parent company Iberdrola, gaining insight into the industry.
The duo, who both live in Lowestoft, were based in SPR’s offices in the town’s renewable energy hub OrbisEnergy as they worked with some of the team behind East Anglia THREE.
SPR created the challenge for their Coastal Energy Internship Programme, which provides bursaries for year 12 and year 13 students for 20-day summer placements in the energy sector managed by The Ogden Trust.
They were faced with the hypothetical challenge of recovering a 50kg control panel roughly the size of a household fridge that had been dropped from a vessel during cable laying operations.
They came up with three potential solutions to recover the panel, taking health and safety, environmental factors and cost implications into account.
Alice, 18, who is now studying for an engineering degree at Brunel University, said: "This internship has been invaluable for me as I want to pursue a career in engineering."
J’Lan, 19, is studying engineering and information technology after moving to Lowestoft from the Caribbean three years ago.
He said: "I’ve taken many skills away from this including team working and being more responsible doing my research.
"It’s really helped me to socialise and build my confidence."
Jack Brooke, Global Technical Safety Lead for SPR, said: "It’s been great to work with Alice and J’Lan and give them the opportunity to grow their skills and profile within the industry."
Dr Catherine Richards, East Norfolk Sixth Form College Principal, said: "The opportunity to undertake an internship with such a prestigious employer and to spend time in industry is so important for our students."
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