Renewable Energy Proposal Lesson Plan

NGSS Standards:
HS-ESS3-2. Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing
energy and mineral resources based on cost-benefit ratios

Introduction
Students will be working in groups of 2 to create the best proposal they can for an
energy plan. To complete this, students will use a spreadsheet simulator to create a
viable plan and estimate the land and financial cost. Additionally, they will do research
to determine the environmental impact of their choices and to offer up potential
solutions.

Required Materials:
Attached instructional sheet outlines the project
Linked Google sheet (Energy calculator)
Slides presentation software

Lesson Opening:
Teacher discusses the need to evaluate energy sources based on their advantages and
disadvantages. Students have previously had a debate pitting non-renewable vs
renewable energy sources and are familiar with the basic benefits of each. Explain
students will be creating a proposal to present in front of a committee. Their proposal
will be judged based on how efficiently they use the resources available and how well
they address possible problems.

Go through the instructions with the students and show them how to use the
spreadsheet calculator. Outline the presentation requirements and introduce the grading
rubric.

Lesson Body:
Students will work in groups by using the spreadsheet calculator and doing research on
the available renewable energy sources. Two to three days.

Lesson Closing:
Students will present their proposals to a committee made up of two to three teachers or
a select set of students. Proposals will involve having the committee asking questions
about the choices made. Each presentation will be evaluated with the grading rubric.
Project description:
Come up with a proposal for a renewable energy plan for a specific population that maximizes
benefits while minimizing costs. Students will analyze data in order to create a plan that will
provide enough energy for a population while keeping costs and negative environmental impact
down.

Background:
In the future, new worlds are being colonized by humans. On a planet very similar to Earth a site
for a new colony will need to be selected. The colony will consist of a population of 110,000
(same population as Norwalk) and will require approximately 1,000 MW of energy daily. It has
been decided that all energy produced must come from renewable sources. You are part of the
energy engineering group who has been chosen to create a proposal for this new colony. A
committee of colony leaders will evaluate and vote on your proposal so you must come up with
the most appealing solution.

Constraints:
1. Cost - students must present a proposal that meets the requirements while minimizing
costs
2. Environmental impact - minimize negative effects on the local wildlife and their habitat
3. Energy needs - the plan should meet the entire energy need of the city’s population at all
times
4. Energy flexibility - energy should be available during all times, no more than 10% of land
should be used for wind farms
Criteria:
1. The financial costs for the proposal must be as low as possible while meeting the
requirements.
2. The negative impacts of each energy solution should be addressed and solved in a
reasonable way.
3. Extra land left over is preferred.
Options:
1. Students may use the following to power their colony: geothermal, hydroelectric, solar
photovoltaic, concentrated solar, and wind
2. There will be 3 different sites each with a different set of terrain conditions allowing for
specific natural resources to be exploited.
3. Students will be given broad flexibility in their budget, but lowered costs are desirable.

What students will do:

• Use a data model to determine a possible solution for the problem being addressed.
• Create a proposal and present it to a committee that may consist of a group of teachers,
chosen students, or a population such as the whole class.

Table 1 - Energy Costs

Energy Generation Method Energy Cost ($USD/kW) Land Cost (acre/kW)

Photovoltaic 11,567 0.045

Concentrated Solar Power 13,910 0.023

Hydroelectric 3,198 N/A

 Wind 4,476 0.014

Geothermal 4,227 N/A

*All energy values shown represent the amount of energy produced per day.

Table 2 - Site Options

Site Description Natural Resources Site Area

1 Lowland river territory with 2 small 2 sites for hydroelectric dams of a Up to 32,000
rivers nearby. No geothermal capacity no greater than 100 MW each. acres
activity nearby. available.

2 A valley with a large river running One site for a large hydroelectric dam up Up to 24,000
through the territory. Nearby hot to a capacity of 200 MW. A geothermal acres
springs demonstrate minor site with low activity allowing for a available.
geothermal activity. capacity of up to 90 MW.

3 Higher altitude plateau with a A medium sized hydroelectric dam site Up to 27,000
moderate river nearby and high for a capacity of up to 140 MW. A very acres
geothermal activity throughout. active geothermal site for a capacity of available.
up to 120 MW.

Table 3 - Project Constraints

Category Constraints

Cost Proposal should have a minimal cost.

Energy Proposal should meet a requirement of 1,000 MW per day. Excess energy does
Requirement not constitute any benefit.

Energy Flexibility No more than 10% of land may be used for wind farms. There is no limit on solar
farm land usage.

Land Use Total amount of land used cannot exceed the available site area.

Environmental The negative impact of each energy generation method must be addressed.
Impact Proposals will be subject to questions about their environmental impact.

Deliverables
Students will present a proposal for an energy solution that meets all the criteria outlined above.
The proposal should include data collected from the spreadsheet calculator provided, displayed
in an organized fashion such as tables or graphs.

Each proposal will be presented to a “committee” that will evaluate and vote on the proposals
submitted.

Proposal format:
Set of slides that should include the following:
 • Statement of the problem that is being addressed.
• Constraints and criteria for the project
• Explanation for site selection and a summary of the energy generation methods chosen
• Proposal details including final cost, area used, breakdown of energy sources
• Environmental impact research for all energy sources used
• Possible solutions for negative environmental issues created by your proposal
• Sources cited

The presentation should be engaging and visually appealing. Images, tables, graphs, and
models for your proposal should be used.

Keep in mind that you are trying to convince a committee that they should select your proposal
over all the other ones being presented. It should appeal to the committee while making sure to
meet all the required criteria. Ensure that it has a professional look, like something that would be
produced by an engineer.
Grading Rubric

Criteria Grading Scale

Basic Information
Title, names of group members,
sources cited are all included.
3 1
Satisfactory Needs Improvement

Project Proposal
Proposal addresses the main
issue of the assignment. 4 3 2 1
Mentions why the proposal is
Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs Improvement
being created and what the goal
is.

Criteria and Constraints

Criteria and constraints are
included in the project proposal.
4 3 2 1
Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs Improvement

Solution Summary
Gives an explanation for why
the site was chosen. Mentions 4 3 2 1
some of the reasons particular
Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs Improvement
energy was included.

Solution Details
Calculator was used correctly.
No constraints were broken. 10 8 6 4 2
Land use and costs are Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs Improvement Unacceptable
minimized.

Environmental Impact
Each energy source is addressed
and negative impact is offered a
10 8 6 4 2
Excellent Good Satisfactory Needs Improvement Unacceptable
solution.