Energy Concepts
1) Distributed Energy Systems – focuses on small‐scale energy systems suitable for residences,
buildings and communities
 Backup Generators
 Small Wind Turbines
 Small Solar Systems (photovoltaic and/or solar hot water)
 Geothermal Systems
 Small‐scale Energy Storage (batteries or other)
 Net‐Metering and benefits to the consumer
Related Project Ideas:
Get Something for Nothing: Free Power from the Sun!
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Energy_p004.shtml
Now You're Cooking! (Solar Ovens)
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Energy_p018.shtml
Guide to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Science Projects
http://www.nrel.gov/education/pdfs/educational_resources/high_school/re_ee_projects.pdf
Solar Energy Science Projects
http://www.nrel.gov/education/pdfs/educational_resources/high_school/solar_projects_hs.pdf
More Solar Energy Science Projects
http://www.makeitsolar.com/science-fair-ideas/
2) Energy Systems of the Future – explores energy systems that will become commonplace in
the next generation.
 Clean Coal
 Nuclear
 Renewables
 Oil & Gas
 Biofuels
 Other energy systems
 Energy Storage (batteries, pumped hydro, compressed air, flywheels, others)
 Integration of various types of energy systems
Related Project Ideas:
Water to Fuel to Water: The Fuel Cycle of the Future
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Chem_p099.shtml
Biodiesels: Converting Oil into Clean Fuel *
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Energy_p032.shtml
Decomposing Energy: Extracting Heat Energy from a Compost Pile
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Energy_p035.shtml
Go Green by Growing Green: How to Extract Energy from Grass
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Energy_p034.shtml#procedure
3) Challenges and Opportunities for renewable energy systems – provides knowledge and
understanding of significant benefits and hurdles to large‐scale adoption of renewables
 Emissions Reductions – impacts on individuals and communities
 Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) and
other policy driven measures
 Distribution of energy from the source to the consumer
Smart Grid
Resource variability/intermittency
Related Project Ideas:
Guide to Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Science Projects
http://www.nrel.gov/education/pdfs/educational_resources/high_school/re_ee_projects.pdf
What are Renewable Portfolio Standards, and how will they shape our energy
infrastructure over the coming decades? What does Illinois’ Renewable Portfolio
Standard tell us about how electricity will be generated in the future? Should there be a
comprehensive national energy policy? If so, what should it look like?
What are advantages and disadvantages of the energy resources at our disposal? How
can they be combined most effectively and efficiently to meet our energy needs? If you
are designing an energy portfolio on a local, regional or national scale, which energy
resources would you want to utilize?
4) The Value of Energy – focuses on the importance of energy as it relates to public health,
safety, sociology, industry, agriculture, and economic development.
 Importance of energy for developing countries
 Reliance of industry on energy
Related Project Ideas:
Waste Not, Want Not: Use the Microbial Fuel Cell to Create Electricity from Waste
http://www.sciencebuddies.org/science-fair-projects/project_ideas/Energy_p026.shtml
Greener Grocery Stores:
http://www.progressivegrocer.com/inprint/article/id1966/greener-grocery-stores/
Lighting in the Library: A Student Energy Audit
http://www.nrel.gov/education/pdfs/educational_resources/high_school/energy_audit_hs.pdf
How can Real-Time Pricing (where the cost of electricity varies on a real-time basis
depending on real-time supply and demand) save producers money and benefit society
as a whole? By shifting electrical loads to periods of low electricity cost, can production
costs be reduced? How might this impact the future of electricity infrastructure? For
more information about Real-Time Pricing:
http://www.ameren.com/sites/aiu/ElectricChoice/Pages/ResRealTimePricing.aspx
What are some ways that producers can reduce their energy costs? For example: are
there more cost-effective ways (perhaps geothermal or solar thermal systems?) for
grain drying operations or heating workshops/out-buildings? What about modifying
existing systems (e.g. adding insulation or passive thermal systems)?