In this lab, students are introduced to renewable energy, where they will learn about the benefits of renewable energy sources in contrast to the dangers of non-renewable energy sources. Students will learn how to build their own solar-powered and wind-powered turbine prototype, while trying to keep their costs as low as possible.
This reflects how today’s engineers work to lower the cost of renewable energy sources in order to make them more appealing to the public.
Students will:
- Analyze real-world problems and use critical thinking skills in order to solve them
- Explore & describe renewable energy
- Design and build a solar-powered turbine
- Design and build wind turbine blade prototypes
- Collect and analyze data
- Explain the engineering process as it pertains to their design
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Lab time commitment
100-130 minutes
(including 45-minute intro video) -
Lab materials
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Live Q&A session and wrap up with
College Students & Professional Engineers
Classroom Tools & Resources
Get access to all of the presentation materials, workbooks and resources to run the Renewable Energy lab in your classroom.
Lab Intro Videos
Get our engineer’s introduction to the lab topic and learn more about the lab activity.
If you've completed the lab intro, you can find additional optional lab extensions beginning at timecode 43:23.
Teacher Guide
Pre-work, instructions and troubleshooting advice.
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Student Workbook
Questions and assessments from the lab presentation.
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Abbreviated Student Worksheet
A worksheet containing major student lab activities.
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Engineer’s Presentation
Full lab presentation presented by our engineers.
ViewMeet the lab intro host
Erik O. Einset
Director, Engineering Tomorrow
Erik has over 30 years of experience in various engineering and leadership roles, including 17 years at GE in R&D, product development, process improvement, technical sales, and business management. After GE, he spent 16 years as a member of the operations team at Global Infrastructure Partners, working on business improvement in a variety of infrastructure businesses in the energy and transportation sectors. He has been a director at Engineering Tomorrow since 2014. Erik is the author of 6 patents and numerous technical publications, and holds Chemical Engineering degrees from Cornell University (BS) and the University of Minnesota (PhD).
Erik has over 30 years of experience in various engineering and leadership roles, including 17 years at GE in R&D, product development, process improvement, technical sales, and business management. After GE, he spent 16 years as a member of the operations team at Global Infrastructure Partners, working on business improvement in a variety of infrastructure businesses in the energy and transportation sectors. He has been a director at Engineering Tomorrow since 2014. Erik is the author of 6 patents and numerous technical publications, and holds Chemical Engineering degrees from Cornell University (BS) and the University of Minnesota (PhD).
Lab Day Keynote
Every Engineering Tomorrow Lab Day event ends with an inspiring keynote from an engineering expert. Watch this one from the latest Renewable Energy Lab Day.
Alexandra Coleman
Head of Centrica Business Solutions North America
WHY ENGINEERING TOMORROW
Labs are always conducted with no cost to schools, teachers or students.
Hands-on student activities get students excited and keep them engaged.
Cutting-edge instruction designed by professional engineers.
Unlock opportunities for kids all over the country.
