NOVA Energy Lab

Design your city's renewable energy grid with NOVA Energy Lab! Explore solar, wind, and more.

Open up the NOVA Energy Lab link and read through the background information so that you have a better understanding of what you will be doing. We will start by watching a few videos to get a better grasp on the energy that we use and where it comes from. Watch the video, Growing Appetites, Limited Resources. Which two issues have increased the need for alternatives to fossil fuels? Oxygen and dwindling resources Increasing demand and carbon monoxide Dwindling resources and carbon dioxide Increasing demand and water shortages Watch the video, Energy Defined. When we use electricity to power out electronics, what other two, less useful, forms of energy often result? Light and heat Carbon dioxide and water kinetic and rotational Heat and carbon Watch the video, Putting Energy to Use. Which three activities consume the most fuel in modern societies? Cooking, air conditioning, transportation Construction, lighting, entertainment Manufacturing, transportation, entertainment Heating, transportation, electricity generation Submit your responses for the section on how we use energy on the NOVA site. Now let's look at some alternatives. Watch the video, A Never-Ending Supply. Which two renewable technologies do not rely on energy from the Sun? Wind and hydroelectric Geothermal and hydroelectric Geothermal and tidal Biomass and wind Watch the video, Solar Power. Identify three technological challenges that limit the use of solar power in the U.S. Weight, cost, toxicity Aesthetics, Toxicity, efficiency Storage, weight, fragility Cost, storage, efficiency Watch the video, Wind Power.Which characteristic, device, or substance do wind turbines have in common with traditional power plants? Greenhouse gas emissions Able to produce power at any time An electrical generator Fuel Submit your responses for the section over Finding Alternatives. Let's look at how to better store and move energy.Watch the video, Solving the Storage Problem. Which issues would better energy storage technologies help solve? Inconsistent energy demand Inconsistent power production Weather's influence on energy use and production The need to keep inefficient plants on standby All of the above Watch the video, Toward a Smarter Grid.Which circumstances would a smarter power grid help resolve? High demand, low production Extreme heat, low wind Low demand, high production Power failures All of the above Now that you have more background on the energy usage in the U.S., it's time to try a challenge! Your task is to design a renewable energy power grid for different cities around the U.S. Remember that being in a different geographic location may mean choosing different ways to produce power, along with the cost to operate each system. You should make sure that your plan passes the test so that it will be considered within budget and operable! Begin with Tucson, AZ. Remember that your goal is to get a two-week output of at least 13,500 MWh (even more is better!). What was your two-week output?What was the cost per ton of CO2? Now try Boulder, CO. Remember that your goal is to get 2,625 MWh per two-week period of energy produced. What was your two-week output?What was the cost per ton of CO2? Choose one other challenge to complete. You may choose whichever of the remaining three cities that you would like! What was your two-week output?What was the cost per ton of CO2?