Year 6 students from across the Southern Downs gathered in Warwick today for the ACCIONA Energía Schools Paper Plane Finals, competing for the longest and most accurate flights while getting hands-on with the science of wind. 

Held at SCOTS PGC College, the event brought together school finalists after classroom heats earlier in the week. Students applied aerodynamics and design principles to build and fly their own planes - a simple, tangible way to explore how wind works and what it can do. 

"Wind is invisible, but activities like this make its energy real," said Renee Mooney, ACCIONA Energía’s Community and Stakeholder Engagement Lead in Queensland. "Students are experiencing STEM in action while getting a feel for what renewable energy actually means." 

Global Wind Day is marked every 15 June to recognise the wind's role in clean energy. The Southern Downs sits at the centre of Australia's wind transition - home to MacIntyre Wind Farm, one of the largest wind farms in the Southern Hemisphere, and a project backed by more than $195 million invested into local work and services from over 80 regional businesses during construction. 

The paper plane competition is one of several ways ACCIONA Energía works alongside the Southern Downs community. The company funds local projects, supports schools and awards grants to sporting clubs and emergency services across the region. Round 2 of the 2026 MacIntyre Small Grants Program also opened today. Community groups can apply at https://community.acciona.com.au/macintyre/small-grants. 

The day ended with a community barbecue and prize ceremony, with more than $2,000 in prizes awarded to participating schools.