A glorious week of sunshine as PTC Trust rolled out its solar car workshops in the Auckland area. The devastating storm, flooding, and landslips occurring at the Mount Maunganui landslide site on January 26 highlight the climatic unpredictability facing Aotearoa and the wider world. Homes were evacuated, floods covered districts, and slips blocked roads as the storm knocked down power lines and took lives in the worst hit areas. The need for our rangatahi to learn about the benefits of renewable energy continues to reinforce PTC’s kaupapa to build resiliance and capacity amongst our youth.

According to Ecowatch “solar panels are designed to withstand high winds; the best are generally certified to handle winds up to 150 mph. Wind load rating is measured in Pa (dynamic pressure) and ranges from 2,400-5,400 Pa. ..Historically, solar panels have withstood the tests of several major hurricanes of late, including in Puerto Rico and Louisiana, where solar owners fared much better than those who relied on public utilities for power”.