Nearly 400 students, comprising 100 teams, will endeavour to design the finest wind turbine or solar-powered structure and demonstrate the most comprehensive knowledge about renewable energy at the 2024 World KidWind Challenge.
Hosted by KidWind, this hands-on engineering competition will take place at the Minneapolis Convention Centre during the Collegiate Wind Competition and the American Clean Power (ACP) Cleanpower 2024 Conference from 5-8 May 2024.
KidWind Worlds will feature two competitions: the World Wind Turbine Challenge and the World Solar Challenge. Teams participating in KidWind Worlds have qualified by achieving top positions in competitions held during this year’s state, regional, and online KidWind Challenges.
Both challenges will comprise three grade-level divisions this year: the 4th-5th grade division, 6th-8th grade division, and the 9th-12th grade division. Teams will bring their small-scale wind turbines and solar structures to compete in their respective grade-level divisions. A panel of expert judges will assess the teams’ performances over two days based on the following criteria:
- Performance: Teams will conduct tests on their wind turbines in three wind tunnels, including the newly introduced Super Tunnel which will modulate from 0-10 m/s over a two-minute testing period. Solar teams will assess their solar structures and devices under a one-metre solar array known as “Solar Blast.”
- Presentation: Teams will present their wind turbine and solar structure designs to a panel of judges to illustrate their process and demonstrate their understanding.
- Clean Energy Quizbowl: Teams will engage in a Quizbowl testing their knowledge of clean energy topics.
- Instant Challenges: Teams will participate in two to three impromptu instant challenges where they must demonstrate their understanding of clean energy while evaluating their design, problem-solving, and analytical skills, as well as teamwork.
Teams with the highest scores in each grade-level division will be hailed as the World KidWind Challenge champions. Additional accolades will be bestowed for the Rookies of the Year, Most Innovative Design, special Judge’s Awards for outstanding presentations, and the annual Spirit of KidWind Award for teams exemplifying generosity, resilience, and grace throughout the competition.
The competition officially commences on Monday, 6 May 2024 at 9 a.m. with the main events scheduled throughout Monday and Tuesday. Winners will be announced on Wednesday, 8 May 2024 at 1:30 p.m.
Throughout the three-day event, students will also have the opportunity to engage with the Blattner Community Trailer, where they can compare their human power against the output of a wind turbine and solar panel in a hands-on kinetic energy demonstration. Additionally, teams will enjoy local activities, including a celebration at Can Can Wonderland on Monday evening and attending a Minnesota Twins game on Tuesday evening.
This year’s World KidWind Challenge has been made possible with the assistance of numerous volunteers and through generous contributions from national sponsors ACP, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Invenergy, and Mortenson. Additional support has been provided by sponsors such as Pattern Energy, EDP Renewables North America, Apex Clean Energy, Vernier Science Education, Trane, RWE, Onward Energy, ENEL, Blattner, and Tuescher.
