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Educational Programs at DOE and NREL:

Educational Programs at DOE and NREL:. Attracting the next generation to careers in renewable energy technologies through student competitions Cécile Warner, NREL Richard King, DOE November 30, 2000 Electric Energy Systems and Sustainability Workshop. Outline. Rationale

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Educational Programs at DOE and NREL:

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  1. Educational Programs at DOE and NREL: Attracting the next generation to careers in renewable energy technologies through student competitions Cécile Warner, NREL Richard King, DOE November 30, 2000 Electric Energy Systems and Sustainability Workshop

  2. Outline • Rationale • Role of DOE and NREL • Competition at the high school level • Collegiate competition - Sunrayce • Sunrayce success stories • A new challenge

  3. Rationale • Robust high-tech job market exists • We need to attract best and brightest • Exposure to renewables is key • Student competitions provide • Motive • Opportunity

  4. Role of DOE and NREL • Long history of government - academic programs • DOE commitment within PV program • Partnerships with laboratory, industry and professional organizations • Link graduates with career paths in renewables

  5. Competition at the High School level • PV design competition held in conjunction with IEEE PV Specialists Conference every 18mos. • Showcases PV as a technology and a career • Demonstrates practical applications • Science fair format familiar to students • Provides opportunity to meet the experts • Typical project takes ~2-6 months • Getting students involved: science teachers and/or mentors are critical to success

  6. Collegiate Competitions • Bring focus to specific technologies • Provide hands-on opportunities to address real-world problems • Stimulate curriculum evolution • Encourage students to promote renewables

  7. Sunrayce (1990, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999) • DOE primary sponsor since 1993 • Cross-country races have provided national technology exposure • ~2-year cycle with ~1-week race “Race for the Future”

  8. Sunrayce--typical scene

  9. Sunrayce chronology • DOE/NREL released an RFP to colleges inviting entries, 2 yrs. prior to each event • RFP Selection Criteria: • Design • Organization, teaming, fundraising • Academic focus • 30-40 teams were selected to participate • Each team spent nearly 2 years learning, designing, fundraising, fabricating, modeling, testing, & qualifying before the race began.

  10. Sunrayce sunsets... ...to become the American Solar Challenge

  11. Sunrayce Success Stories • More than 100 colleges and universities across North America have participated in at least one Sunrayce. • New renewable energy curricula have been developed • Thousands of students participated • Many are now in the automotive industry • All understand the challenge and promise of PV • Solar-powered cars are part of our society • Racing the Sun - a Hollywood movie featuring engineering students as heroes • Mattel’s Hot Wheels modeled after a California team • New, successful businesses have been launched

  12. Solar Decathlon • New, 10-event competition in 2002 • Targets renewables in housing, design, and transportation • RFP released Oct. 2000, proposals due Feb. 2001 http://www.solardecathlon.net

  13. Solar Decathlon • Only renewable energy is allowed to power the 10 contests • Entries will be judged on design as well as performance • The event will be held on the Mall in Washington, DC • The solar decathon challenges engineering and architecture students to collaborate

  14. Design and Livability Graphics and Communication Design Presentation and Simulation The Comfort Zone Refrigeration Hot Water Daily Tasks Lighting Home Business Getting Around The 10 contests:

  15. Proposal Evaluation Criteria • 50% Technical Innovation and Content • 20% Organization and Project Planning • 15% Curriculum Integration • 15% Fund Raising and Team Support

  16. Solar Decathlon on the Mall

  17. Solar Decathlon Plan View

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