ESB Networks Announces Winner of Weather Watch Programme Which Saw 8,000 Students Nationwide Become Energy Ambassadors

ESB Networks is proud to announce Oatlands College, Stillorgan, Dublin as the winners of its first ever Weather Watch Schools Programme aimed at educating young people about the impact weather has on electricity generation from wind and solar energy and encouraging energy awareness conversations beyond the classroom.

The first-year classes standout entry creatively displayed their increased understanding of the link between weather patterns and renewable energy generation. St. Pauls Secondary School, Greenhills, Dublin and Ramsgrange, New Ross, Wexford were named as runners up.

Launched in 2025, the ESB Networks Weather Watch Programme aims to support Junior Cycle and Transition Year students in exploring the link between weather and renewable energy. More than 8,000 students across 90 schools nationwide took part, each receiving a free weather station and gaining access to a suite of learning resources via the programme’s dedicated website. These included lesson plans and activity sheets all designed to foster interactive learning.

By integrating weather data tracking into classroom activities and encouraging students to examine the relationship between weather and electricity generation, the programme promoted energy awareness both inside and beyond the classroom, bringing the messaging from the ESB Networks campaign “Is This a Good Time?” to a wider audience. Weather Watch has helped bring this campaign into the classroom, linking energy use behaviour with real-time weather patterns observed by students.

Speaking about the impact of the programme, Brónagh Sweeney, a teacher from the winning school Oatlands College, said:

“This initiative gave students the opportunity to engage with real-world energy challenges. They are not only learning about sustainability—they are actively thinking about their own role in how energy is used.”

Participating schools played a key role in embedding the programme into everyday learning. Teachers praised the educational benefits of using the weather stations, which enabled students to see the science of renewable energy in action, analyse real-time data, and link it to broader national conversations about energy use and sustainability.

Lindsay Sharpe, Strategy and Customer Management, ESB Networks said:

“The Weather Watch Programme has exceeded our expectations in building a national network of informed, engaged, and proactive young energy ambassadors. It demonstrates the power of education in driving real change and inspiring the next generation to support Ireland’s journey to a cleaner energy future.”

As Ireland continues to prioritise sustainability and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, the lessons learned through the Weather Watch Programme will help equip young people to play a vital role in shaping a more energy-aware society. The next instalment of the programme will launch in the upcoming school term, expanding to even more secondary schools across Ireland. For future updates visit www.esbnetworksweatherwatch.ie.