Renewable Energy
Feldheim

This unit contains four explorations on Renewable Energy. During a visit to Feldheim, students will explore the energy mix of Germany and their community. Then they will dive into three explorations to learn more about wind energy, solar energy, and bioenergy.

Wind Turbines

How can carbon dioxide emission from human activity, such as electricity generation and heating, be reduced in your community?

Unit Overview

Germany has pledged to transform its electricity supply to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050. The goal of using renewable energy is reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Germany’s targets are reduction of GHG by 80-85% of 1990 levels by 2050.

Electricity production accounts for 80% of GHG emissions in Germany. Electricity production also accounts for 40% of energy-related CO2 carbon dioxide) emissions. In Germany, 54% of generated electrical power comes from the burning of fossil fuels, especially brown coal, also known as lignite. By shifting electricity production away from fossil fuels to sustainable energy, Germany could meet its GHG reduction goals.

As part of sustainability planning, the transition includes consideration of economic benefit, energy security, and environmental benefit. The plan to transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy is called the Energiewende.

Germany’s renewable energy portfolio includes wind, solar, biomass, and geothermal. It is expected that in the short term, sustainable energy will be supplemented by nuclear power and fossil fuel power generated using carbon capture and storage technology. The long-term plan is to phase out nuclear and fossil fuel power plants.

During a visit to Feldheim, students will explore how one community in Germany switched from nonrenewable energy resources to 100% renewable energy resources for heating and electricity. The transition to renewable energy, known as the Energiewende (energy transition), is part of Germany’s plan to reduce human activity sources of greenhouse gases with an emphasis on carbon dioxide emissions. Students will learn about Germany’s response to the challenge of reducing sources of greenhouse gas emissions from human activity, by exploring wind energy, solar energy, and bioenergy. Then they will develop a renewable energy action plan for their community, by applying some of Germany’s renewable energy concepts, and present their action plans to community stakeholders.

Introduction to Renewable Energy

This introduction exploration provides background information about the Earth’s atmosphere, greenhouse gases, and sources of greenhouse gases. It discusses Germany's present energy mix, as well as the Energiewende—Germany's strategy to move away from nonrenewable energy sources.
Guiding Question: What is the energy mix of your community?
Activity: Students will compare the energy mix of their community with Germany’s energy mix.

Exploration 1. Wind Energy

Students will watch the video on Feldheim available on YouTube by the Transatlantic Outreach Program to learn about Feldheim. Then they will investigate energy conversions that allow wind turbines to convert wind power into electricity. Students will design a wind turbine for power generation in their community.
Guiding Question: How could wind energy be harnessed to generate electricity for your community?
Activity: Students will design a wind turbine.

Exploration 2. Solar Energy

Students will explore how solar energy can be harnessed to generate electricity. Students will use low voltage solar cells to design their own experiment to support their energy proposal for their community.
Guiding Question: How could solar energy be used to provide electricity in your community?
Activity: Students will work collaboratively in small groups or individually to develop a solar energy proposal for their community.

Exploration 3. Bioenergy

Students will explore how methane is produced through anaerobic decomposition of organic waste. Students will conduct an experiment to observe how methane is produced by fermentation. They will also explore how bioenergy can be used to generate power in their community.
Guiding Question: How can methane gas be produced efficiently from organic waste?
Activity: Students will conduct an experiment to observe how methane is produced by fermentation. They will use the results to support claims about the benefits and limitations of bioenergy in their community.

Explorations

Introduction

Introduction to Renewable Energy

This Introduction provides background information about the Earth’s atmosphere, greenhouse gases, and sources of greenhouse gases. It discusses Germany's present energy mix, as well as the Energiewende—Germany's strategy to move away from nonrenewable energy sources

Exploration 1

Wind Energy

Students will learn about Feldheim, the energy self-sufficient village, in Germany. They will explore wind energy and build their own wind turbines.

© Bernhard Ludewig © Bernhard Ludewig
Exploration 2

Solar Energy

This Introduction provides background information about the Earth’s atmosphere, greenhouse gases, and sources of greenhouse gases. It discusses Germany's present energy mix, as well as the Energiewende—Germany's strategy to move away from nonrenewable energy sources

© Andreas Gücklhorn, Unsplash © Andreas Gücklhorn, Unsplash
Exploration 3

Bioenergy

Students will explore bioenergy and create their own bioenergy experiment.

© Ananth Pai, Unsplash © Ananth Pai, Unsplash