High school students from across Japan gained practical knowledge and first-hand experience of the green energy sector through Vena Group’s fourth Green Energy Overseas Study Programme.
Over four days in Japan and Taiwan, the students visited green energy projects, engaged with local communities and experienced professional offshore wind safety training. Each activity introduced them to a different aspect of responsible green energy development, from supporting regional progress and protecting local ecosystems to upholding worker safety.
Connecting Green Energy with Community Progress
At the Kasama Solar Project in Ibaraki Prefecture, the students learned how the project generates electricity and explored the daily maintenance activities that support its safe and reliable operation. They also discovered how measures to preserve the water-retention functions of the surrounding forests help the project operate responsibly within its local environment.
Seeing the solar project first-hand prompted thoughtful questions, including how utility-scale solar differs from residential rooftop systems and how cloudy weather affects electricity generation.
The group then visited Kasama City Hall, where they met with local government leaders and learned about the city’s efforts to achieve carbon neutrality. The visit also introduced them to initiatives that draw on local resources, including Kasama ware pottery and the region’s chestnuts, to promote a circular economy and support regional development.
Together, these experiences gave the students a broader understanding of how green energy, community priorities and long-term regional progress can be connected.
Exploring How Green Energy and Nature Can Coexist
The students continued their journey in Taiwan with a visit to Vena Group’s Mingus Solar Project and Environmental Education Centre.
Developed on former salt fields, the project demonstrates how green energy infrastructure can be designed and operated with consideration for surrounding habitats. The students learned how Vena Group works with a local non-governmental organisation to support biodiversity through initiatives such as the creation and maintenance of artificial habitats and careful water-level management.
These efforts help protect local ecosystems and migratory birds, including the endangered Black-faced Spoonbill.
The students then applied what they had learned during a group workshop centred on one question:
“If you were to build a power plant in your hometown, what measures would you take to protect birds, nature and local communities?”
Working in teams, they developed and presented ideas that considered both environmental and community needs.
Experiencing the Training That Keeps Offshore Wind Workers Safe
For the final stop of the programme, the students visited TRAINERGY in Taiwan, where they took part in demonstration activities based on the training undertaken by offshore wind professionals.
From simulated work-at-height exercises to virtual reality firefighting activities, they gained a first-hand look at how workers prepare to operate safely in challenging environments. The students also tried on professional safety equipment, including harnesses, to better understand how it is used during offshore wind operations.
Although the equipment and activities were unfamiliar, the students approached each exercise with enthusiasm and curiosity.
The experience gave them a deeper appreciation of the preparation required to support safe offshore wind operations. It also highlighted the dedication of the people working behind the scenes, as well as the procedures, technologies and practices that help protect workers every day.
Turning Experience into New Perspectives
Throughout the four-day programme, the students considered one important question:
“What can we do to create a better future?”
They returned home with new perspectives on green energy, community engagement, environmental conservation and worker safety. More importantly, they saw how technical expertise, local knowledge and collaboration come together to support the responsible development and operation of green energy projects.
By connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences, Vena Group’s Green Energy Overseas Study Programme aims to inspire the next generation to create lasting positive impact and help engineer a greener future.