21 June 2024
Fife College has hosted the first UK final of the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix (H2GP), an international STEM-based educational programme for high school students where they design, construct and race hydrogen-powered remote-controlled cars.
The event, which took place at Glenrothes High School (19 June), saw pupils from around the UK compete in the largest hydrogen competition in the world, showcasing their engineering prowess.
The two overall winning teams on the day, Glenrothes High School (overall Scotland winner) and Prince Henry’s Grammar School, Otley, Leeds (overall England winner), have been invited to represent the UK at the world finals in California, USA, this September.
The final featured ten teams, including six from Fife, two from the Isle of Wight, and two from the Midlands, all competing in a four-hour endurance race with prizes also awarded for design, innovation and teamwork. The race is the culmination of the programme which sees students develop creativity, ingenuity and real-world problem-solving skills needed to tackle tomorrow's energy challenges.
Other participating schools from Fife included Levenmouth Academy, St. Andrew RC High School, Bell Baxter High School, Auchmuty High School and Waid Academy.
Cameron McMillan, who was part of the winning team from Glenrothes High School, said:
“I've always been interested in engineering but I've never really looked at the eco-friendly side of things. This has definitely got me interested in hydrogen engines and hydrogen cell technology.”
Cameron, from Kirkcaldy, added:
“I'm so ecstatic about going to the world finals! I've never been to America so I'm really excited.”
Leo Easton, from Leeds, was part of the overall England winning team from Prince Henry’s Grammar School. Leo said:
“I've really enjoyed the team building that we've developed. There were a few crashes and a few mishaps that happened but together we came through as a team and I feel like it made us stronger.”
Jenni Doonan, Head of Projects at Fife College, said:
"Fife College is committed to helping fill the STEM skills gap by encouraging young people to become interested in these subjects from an early age.
“We were therefore thrilled to host the first UK final of the Horizon Hydrogen Grand Prix which promotes sustainable energy solutions and provides students with invaluable skills in engineering, teamwork, and problem-solving.
“We are proud of all the team’s performances, they all showed great inventiveness and enthusiasm. Congratulations to all, especially the two overall winning teams who have been invited to compete in the world finals in California later this year."
Ben Giordano, Director of Program Development at the Hydrogen Grand Prix, said:
"Securing Scotland’s energy future starts with investing in skills through hands-on education programs like the H2GP.
"The event saw enthusiasm, ingenuity, and innovative thinking skills that will prove vital to the future hydrogen and energy economy, and we were particularly proud of the programme’s work in widening participation and opening up pathways to STEM careers among these schools in Fife."