The team behind a pioneering green energy project earmarked for Peterhead have visited local schools for a series of science workshops.
The carbon capture and storage (CCS) scheme spearheaded by energy giant Shell would transform the town’s power plant into the first industrial scale CCS project in the world.
Now the CCS project team have hosted an event for senior pupils from eight schools across the town to show what energy challenges the world faces in the future.
More than 230 kids turned out, dressed in lab coats and safety goggles, for the scientific demonstrations which included chocolate rocks, lava lamps and marshmallow-based CO2 molecules.
Shell’s project leader Bill Spence was delighted with the level of enthusiasm the children showed.
He said: “We were overwhelmed by the response from the schools when we put forward the idea of the CCS workshops.
“And we were really impressed by how fully and enthusiastically the pupils participated on both days. Energy is a topic on which they clearly spend a lot of time in their classrooms, and this was an opportunity to complement their regular class work with some hands-on experiments and interactive challenges.
“These children are the leaders of tomorrow and the ones who will ultimately benefit from the long-term development impacts of CCS and other technologies.”
The workshops were held in Central School, with pupils from Buchanhaven, Clerkhill, Port Erroll, St Fergus, Meethill, Anna Richie and Dales Park all getting involved.
Earlier this week, members of the Buchan area committee unanimously backed Shell’s ambitious plans to convert Peterhead power station.
Peterhead councillors Alan Gardiner said: “It’s a great opportunity – little Peterhead has a chance to lead.”
He added that he hoped Shell would employ as many local people as possible during the construction phase.
The planning application will now go to full council on June 18 for a final decision. Shell is expected to make a final investment decision on whether to progress with the CCS scheme at the end of this year.