Geraardsbergen (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Students from Sint-Catharina College in Geraardsbergen won a festival e-mobile competition over Richtpunt Campus, creating a €3,000 renewable-energy trailer usable at events, confirmed by teacher Jan Borremans.
As VRT News reported, in Geraardsbergen, in the province of East Flanders, Belgium, students from Sint-Catharina College have turned a trailer into a festival mobile that combines sustainability and practical use. The trailer can keep drinks cool, charge an electric bike, and play music, all using renewable energy.
What solar-powered e-mobile did Geraardsbergen students build?
Officials mentioned that the assignment given to the students was clear: design a mobile system powered by renewable energy within a budget of €3,000. 2 schools took part in the challenge: Sint-Catharina College in Geraardsbergen and Richtpunt Campus in Ninove-Zottegem. Both teams focused on creating mobile, eco-friendly solutions that could be used at festivals and events. The judges were impressed by the Geraardsbergen team’s design. Their trailer won the competition.
“We really put a lot of time into it,”
say Kyan Langhendries and Milot Aslani about their festival mobile.
“There are solar panels on the roof, and inside there’s a battery and an inverter to store the energy. We have a small refrigerator, a projector, and sound reinforcement. You can even sleep two people in it if necessary.”
The e-mobile from Sint-Catharina College will actually be put into use.
“We’ve already received requests from the local youth group to use it. We’ll also use it for school activities and lend it out. In good weather, this device allows you to be independent of the power grid for 24 hours,”
assures teacher Jan Borremans.
According to officials, Richtpunt Campus also built a strong e-mobile. Their version could be used as a DJ booth or a mobile food truck. The judges, however, focused on details such as safety and road readiness.
This type of program was initiated several years ago. In 1994, the “E-Station” was researched and developed on a trailer to showcase renewable energy technologies at fairs and festivals. In 2022, the “EnergyDrive” mobile education unit in South Africa went to schools which had solar panels, a biogas digester, among other clean-energy exhibits, to educate students about green technology.
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