Hands-on Activity Windmill of Your Mind — Distributed Energy Goes to School

Learning Objectives

After this activity, students should be able to:

• Use a full range of strategies to comprehend technical writing.
• Write stories, letters and reports with greater detail and supporting material.
• Choose vocabulary and figures of speech that communicate clearly.

Educational Standards

Each TeachEngineering lesson or activity is correlated to one or more K-12 science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) educational standards.

All 100,000+ K-12 STEM standards covered in TeachEngineering are collected, maintained and packaged by the Achievement Standards Network (ASN), a project of D2L (www.achievementstandards.org).

In the ASN, standards are hierarchically structured: first by source; e.g., by state; within source by type; e.g., science or mathematics; within type by subtype, then by grade, etc.

NGSS: Next Generation Science Standards - Science

Common Core State Standards - Math

International Technology and Engineering Educators Association - Technology

State Standards

Materials List

• paper and pencils, for reserch and report writing
• Internet access, for online research

Pre-Req Knowledge

A basic understanding of wind as a renewable energy source, including the advantages and disadvantages wind turbines and wind farms.

Introduction/Motivation

As an alternative energy resource, wind power is coming into its own. In this activity, you will evaluate wind power as a form of distributed energy resource (DER) that not only can power a local facility—in this case a school—but that has the potential to generate extra power that can be sold back to the power grid for distribution to other energy users. In other words, a school can not only save money, but make money by generating its own power (see example described in Figure 1). After an initial pay-back period, additional funds may be available to directly benefit students for programs that typically get eliminated during budget cuts.

Sounds like a great idea, but is it feasible? The answer appears to be a strong "yes." Take a look at examples of wind turbines installed at Kansas schools, https://www.thomasnet.com/insights/imt/2011/11/02/the-answer-is-blowing-in-the-wind-kansas-schools-building-their-own-wind-turbines/, and at Iowa schools, https://www.cityofbryant.com/grab/documents/document_center/Library/SESEM%20Academy%20Resources%202014/Renewable%20Energy%20&%20Alternative%20Fuels/Wind%20Energy%20for%20Schools_201406171552194350.pdf. A local DER, such as a wind turbine, can also be connected to the power grid, as illustrated in Figure 2.

Why is distributed energy so important? Because it represents a dynamic way of solving problems associated with the aging infrastructure of the national power grid (as discussed in the Energy unit literacy activities in Lesson 4, Blackout! and The Grid). It also makes the system less vulnerable as a whole to disruption of power over large areas (blackouts).

As described in a U.S. Department of Energy fact sheet, The Choice for Onsite Power, "The mission of the Distributed Energy (DE) Program is to strengthen America's aging energy infrastructure and provide utilities and consumers with a greater array of energy efficient technology choices for the onsite generation of electricity and use of thermal energy." Source: http://www.eere.energy.gov/de/pdfs/distenergy_fs.pdf.

Onsite generation makes the local DER both independent and connected at the same time. The DER is not as susceptible to blackouts and brownouts and can in many cases sell excess power back to the grid to offset demand in other areas. Energy can even be generated and stored during periods of low demand, when the cost of energy is low, and then released during periods of peak demand when the cost of energy is high, an efficient process known as peak shaving.

In this activity, you will discover how your school could become a DER and take part in the exciting initiative that is helping to improve the way the U.S. distributes power.

Procedure

With the Students

Tell the students: This class activity has two parts.

1. You will assess the feasibility of installing a windmill at your school. To do that you will analyze the cost of the project and compare it with the benefits. Look at the financial costs and benefits and weigh them against social costs and benefits.
2. You will prepare a report of your findings to present to the school principal. If you find that the concept is feasible, your report will be a proposal recommending that the school district fund the project. You must demonstrate that the district will realize an acceptable return on its investment (ROI).

Observing

Conduct background research to learn about the general benefits of distributed energy and the U.S. Department of Energy's Distributed Energy Program (see https://www.energy.gov/lpo/distributed-energy-projects). As stated at their website:

Distributed energy offers solutions to many of the nation's most pressing energy and electric power problems, including blackouts and brownouts, energy security concerns, power quality issues, tighter emissions standards, transmission bottlenecks, and the desire for greater control over energy costs.

Make a list of the benefits, both for the local site and for the power distribution system (the grid) as a whole. Also check out Distributed Energy Resources at https://elibrary.ferc.gov/idmws/search/fercgensearch.asp.

The Whole Building Design Guide, Distributed Energy Resources (DER), one of the two main resources for this activity, also provides a good list of DER benefits (see http://www.wbdg.org/resources/distributed-energy-resources-der). As stated by Barney Capehart on the WBDG website:

"DER is a faster, less expensive option to the construction of large, central power plants and high-voltage transmission lines. They offer consumers the potential for lower cost, higher service reliability, high-power quality, increased energy efficiency, and energy independence. The use of renewable distributed energy generation technologies and 'green power' such as wind, photovoltaic, geothermal, biomass or hydroelectric power can also provide a significant environmental benefit."

Next, conduct some research to learn why a wind turbine is considered to be an excellent DER for a school. Look at the advantages and challenges of wind power itself at https://www.energy.gov/eere/wind/advantages-and-challenges-wind-energy.  Explore the Wind for Schools Project at https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy08osti/41966.pdf.  

See the References section of the Energy unit Lesson 2 literacy activity, Greenewables, for additional links to sources that provide in-depth wind power information.

Thinking

For your feasibility analysis, answer the following questions for your state and location:

1. Is your state's public policy friendly to the development of DER in general and wind turbine technology in particular?
2. Is your location windy enough?
3. Is the local cost of electricity average or above average?
4. Does your school use electricity at a high enough rate (kWh per year) to justify installing a wind turbine?
5. Are there financial resources available in your state, such as a state-sponsored low-interest loan program or grant program, to help with funding such a project?
6. What would the typical energy savings be? 
7. Which size turbine would you need, based on the kWh per year your school uses?
8. Is there a site available on the school property for a wind turbine that allows for adequate "setback" and distance from surrounding residences?
9. Calculate your annual savings on electricity. On that basis, how long will it take your system to pay for itself? How long before it can produce a return on investment (ROI)?

The goal of this activity is to introduce students to the basic concept of how engineers analyze feasibility. If the students get excited about the project and can "do the math" [basic arithmetic and percentages] consider taking the project to the level of a realistic analysis of cost-benefit and return on investment. You may wish to bring in a local environmental engineer to assist with the project.)

Writing

If you are able to justify a wind turbine installation at your school, go the next step and make a proposal to your principal. This is exciting. If your principal likes the concept, s/he might take it higher up, to the school administrator(s) or board. You could make history in your local school district!

You do not need to write a full-blown formal proposal; an executive summary will serve to get the main points across. In this case, your executive summary should have three parts:

1. Problem: A brief statement of the need for the wind turbine (one or two paragraphs).
2. Solution: A short description of the project, including what will take place and how the school, the school district and the students themselves benefit (two paragraphs, one for description, one for benefits).
3. Funding requirement: An explanation of the amount of loan or grant money required for the wind turbine installation and how long it will take to start paying for itself and provide a return on investment (ROI) (one paragraph).

Vocabulary/Definitions

cost-benefit analysis: The analysis of the potential costs and benefits of a project to determine return on investment. (Source: Jane Evenson)

distributed energy resources: Any technology that is included in DG and DP as well as demand-side measures. Under this configuration, power can be sold back to the grid where permitted by regulation. Source: Abbreviated as DER. http://www.wbdg.org/design/der.php.

distributed generation: Any technology that produces power outside of the utility grid (for example, fuel cells, microturbines and photovoltaics). Abbreviated as DG. Source: http://www.wbdg.org/design/der.php.

distributed power: Any technology that produces power or stores power (for example, batteries and flywheels). Abbreviated as DP. Source: http://www.wbdg.org/design/der.php.

executive summary: A summary of a report or proposal intended to provide the main conclusions and recommendations of the longer document in short form for a busy person to read. (Source: Jane Evenson)

feasibility study: An analysis of a proposed project that addresses issues including the project's benefits, costs, effectiveness, alternatives considered, environmental effects, public opinions and other factors.

feasible: Capable of being accomplished or brought about; possible: a feasible plan.

peak shaving: Generating and storing electricity during periods of low demand, when the cost of energy is low, and then releasing it during periods of high demand when the cost is greater.

power grid: A network of electric power lines and associated equipment used to transmit and distribute electricity over a geographic area. The network of transmission lines that link all generating plants in a region with local distribution networks to help maximize service reliability. Also called a utility grid or electrical grid.

proposal: A plan put forward for consideration, discussion or adoption.

return on investment: The amount of income or cash flow realized from an investment, usually expressed as a percentage of that investment; the additional sum of money expected from an investment over and above the original investment. Abbreviated as ROI. (Source: Jane Evenson)

Assessment

Pre-Activity Assessment

Call-Out Questions/Quiz: Reinforce the basic concepts and vocabulary introduced during the Observing activity with call-out questions and a vocabulary quiz.

Activity Embedded Assessment

Call-Out Questions: During the Thinking discussion, use call-out questions to test students' understanding of the concepts.

Post-Activity Assessment

Reports: The students' feasibility analysis and written proposal demonstrate their understanding of the concepts.

Activity Extensions

Windmill of Your Mind: Build a model of your wind turbine to accompany your proposal.

Energy Fair: Conduct your own school Renewable Energy Science Fair and make your feasibility study and windmill turbine proposal the centerpiece of the event.

E-Pals: Learn about elementary schools in other countries that are installing wind turbines. Write students in these schools to learn about their experience, for example, the photograph in Figure 1 shows students from a school that is the first in the United Kingdom to install a wind turbine on its grounds. You might try contacting them.

DIY... Design-It-Yourself: Use HOMER to design a DE system for your school. NREL's HOMER is a design optimization tool. You don't need to restrict yourself to designing a wind turbine; that would be re-inventing the wheel. Let your imagination fly. Maybe you'll come up with a new idea for a way your school can generate its own power. (This is an advanced activity, but worth exploring because the software provides a real-world glimpse of the kinds of tools engineers really use to design systems. While HOMER is user-friendly, you may want to find the assistance of an engineer who is familiar with software of this kind and the concepts involved.)

Activity Scaling

This activity is intended to be an introduction to the concept of the feasibility study and proposal. At the fifth-grade level, obviously not all technical factors need be considered that would normally apply. The idea is to give students the essential concept along with an opportunity to use math skills to conduct a basic cost-benefit analysis. For more advanced classes, scale up the activity to include more technical considerations.

References

Copyright

Contributors

Supporting Program

Acknowledgements

The contents of this digital library curriculum were developed under grants from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education (FIPSE), U.S. Department of Education and National Science Foundation (GK-12 grant no. DGE 0338326). However, these contents do not necessarily represent the policies of the Department of Education or National Science Foundation, and you should not assume endorsement by the federal government.