“A windmill is as it is”. It is worth for everyone to see up close personally how a modern wind turbine operates. As part of the “Summer with Windmills” project the special WindBus with a group of young ecologists that will encourage to learn wind energy set off from Szczecin on 2 July. The WindBus will end its journey on the Woodstock Festival, where one will attempt to break a record in the number of simultaneously flown kites. An official launch of the trip was made by Olgierd Geblewicz, Marshal of the Zachodniopomorskie Province.
The “Summer with Windmills” project is organised by the Polish Wind Energy Association (PWEA), which once again encourages tourists to visit wind farms operating in Poland during their holiday trips.
see photos from the WindBus departure
– ‘This is the best way to develop own opinion regarding this energy source and confront opinions to date with facts’, convinces PWEA President Krzysztof Prasałek. This is the second edition of the “Summer with Windmills” project, where we encourage personal, holiday “close encounters with windmills”. Everyone may learn the actual noise generated by a turbine and the distance from it when it becomes inaudible. One may also watch the nature, the birds’ responses to turbines and whether or not they are actually dangerous. Furthermore, own observation allows for assessing wind turbines’ impact on landscape. Wind is not only an inexhaustible, clean energy source, but also a unique, transparent energy factory.
The WindBus, together with a group of young volunteers, will visit holiday resorts along the coast. The route also runs through Warmia and Mazury, where a social debate on the future and principles for the construction of wind farms in this naturally valuable area is pending. PWEA volunteers will organise happenings on the Polish beaches, including arts and sculpting competitions and kite shows.
Szczecin leads by example
It is not by accident that the WindBus sets off from Szczecin. Zachodniopomorskie province is the wind energy leader.
– ‘In our province wind energy is developing not only dynamically, but also smartly and with regard to human and the environment’, says K. Prasałek. ‘There is more than 630 MW of installed capacity is relatively small number of wind farms (35 installations). This means that we are building large, modern and efficient wind farms. I have to stress that sustainable development of the technology is possible due to uniform policy and strict cooperation between investors, local and provincial authorities.’
Zachodniopomorskie province is the leader not only in energy production. This is the region with the highest number of new industry-related jobs. These are just a few companies proving that wind is an effective driving force for the economy: LM Glas Fiber blade factory in Goleniów; KK Electronic, producing control systems for the energy sector (including wind energy) and industry; or the international KSO consortium that wants to build offshore wind turbine towers on the area of the Gryfia Shipyard.
Kites at the Woodstock Festival. We will break the record!
The WindBus will end its journey at the Woodstoc Festival, where we will train before attempting to break the Guinness record in kite flying. “The largest number of simultaneously flown kites” is a joint initiative of the Great Orchestra of Christmas Charity, Allegro, the All For Planet Foundation and the Polish Wind Energy Association. During the Woodstock Festival Allegro will traditionally organise record-breaking in “eco-disciplines”. Last year the attempt to break the Guinness record in the highest total amount of energy produced using human muscles was crowned with a spectacular success; two years ago Woodstock participants played in the largest recycling orchestra in the world. This year the participants will pump water to a special screen tank. This years’ festival is dedicated to ecological power of water, but the hosts also want to demonstrate the tremendous energy of wind.
– ‘Wind is one of the eco-elements that accompany us every day, demonstrated by us every year during the Festival”, says Krzysztof Śpiewek from the All For Planet Foundation. ‘We want to show the power of wind, we want to demonstrate that it can be a source of clean, renewable energy’. By joint kite flying we also want to demonstrate the Woodstock participants’ energy, who for many years have demonstrated the power of joint efforts.
It’s a difficult task the participants face. The official Guinness record is held by Palestinian children, who in July 2011 flown more than 12 thousand kites at the Al Waha beach in the Gaza Strip. This year in Kostrzyn nad Odrą Woodstock participants will attempt to fly the highest possible number of colourful kites in a spontaneous, open formula. There will be no official entry in the Guinness Book of Records, but if this “general rehearsal” is successful, it is likely that we will go for an official record during the next edition of the Festival.
During the Woodstock Festival wind will be captured not only during the record-breaking, but also by means of art. A Polish Wind Energy Association tent will be established in the NGO zone, where it will be possible to “paint and sculpt the wind” during dedicated workshops.
The release is a part of the “Summer with Windmills” information campaign.
Polish Wind Energy Association wants to attract attention of the public to the need to develop wind energy in Poland. The text may be published by media, local governments and non-governmental organisations free of charge. We kindly request you to provide information about publication to media@psew.plShould you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us.
PWEA
WindBus project website: www.wiatrobus.pl
Facebook FanPage: www.facebook.com/wiatrobus
Media information and contact
Piotr Biniek
Polish Wind Energy Association
tel. +48 91 48 62 533
email: media@psew.pl
mob. 698644484
The WidnBus route may be subject to small changes. Follow our website and fanpage.
Start: 02.07.2012, 1200 hours, Wały Chrobrego, Szczecin
02 July – Szczecin
03-04 July – Świnoujście, Międzyzdroje
05 July – Dziwnów
06 July – Dziwnówek
07 – 11 July – Trzęsacz (Rewal), Trzebiatów, Mrzeżyno, Rogowo
12 July – Kołobrzeg
13 July – Mielno
14 – 17 July – Darłowo, Postomino, Ustka, Łeba.
18-21 July – Władysławowo, Puck, Gdańsk, Sopot.
22-23 July – Kisielice.
24 July – Elbląg
25 July – Ostróda
26 July – Olsztyn
27 July – Mrągowo
28 July – Mikołajki
29 July – Giżycko
30-31 July – en route to Kostrzyn nad Odrą
01 – 05 August – participation in the Woodstock Festival
05 August – arrival to Szczecin