Glasgow-based green energy pioneer, Katrick Technologies has announced the winners of its wind panel design competition. Katrick Technologies, Glasgow City Council and STEM Glasgow collaborated on this community engagement project, which saw students from seven schools submit their designs for wind panels.

MSPs Kaukab Stewart and Bob Doris attended Caldercuilt Primary School on 5 November (2021), where the two winners were awarded for their designs, Sky Marshall-Harris, P7, and Lucy Walton, P7. Both received an iPad and the chance to see their designs brought to life on a full-scale wind panel. Glasgow City Council also provided two MacBook Pros to the winning school as an additional prize.

Katrick Technologies launched the competition in September to give students the chance to create artistic designs for the start-ups patented wind panels. The project was based on the theme ‘A Greener World’, with the winning designs to be displayed on panels in Glasgow for COP26.

The competition brought together seven schools: Caldercuilt Primary, Cadder Primary, Highpark Primary, Parkview Primary, Dunard Primary, Kelvindale Primary, and John Paul Academy.

Katrick Technologies has worked closely with Glasgow City Council and STEM Glasgow, part of the council’s Education Services on this project, and in attendance were Katrick Technologies Co-CEOs, Vijay Madlani and Karthik Velayutham.

To foster community engagement, the team also gave presentations to the schools discussing their innovative green energy technologies and how young people can get involved in careers in renewable energy.

Kaukab Stewart, MSP for Glasgow Kelvin said: “A huge congratulations go to Sky and Lucy, along with every other pupil who took part. There were some brilliant submissions and the standard of competition was incredibly high. “I would also like to congratulate Katrick Technologies for inviting the participating schools to take part in such a creative project.

“The design competition offered to introduce inquisitive young minds to real life renewable technology, developed right here in their home city of Glasgow. I have no doubt the pupils involved will all be inspired, and I hope many take that interest in renewables & climate action forward into their studies and their lives.”

Katrick Technologies is dedicated to community outreach, with education being a significant part of their culture. The company currently funds PhD studentships, giving candidates the chance to carry out important research into renewable energy. It also takes on interns from the University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde and Glasgow Caledonian University and give them valuable first-hand experience in the industry and developing a new generation of researchers and engineers.

Katrick Technologies’ main focus is developing innovative green energy solutions, and by actively involving local institutions and the community in their work, they hope to inspire others to consider careers in renewable power and the environment.