An interactive approach to renewable energy research and education

The United States is currently pursuing renewable energy research and education initiatives. To contribute to both of these objectives, an interactive environment that provides educational opportunities related to wind energy for students in K-12, college, and the community was created. The efforts are based on an 80 ft tall 20kW wind turbine that was installed at the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology (SDSMT) in 2009. This research facility is currently recording real-time wind data that is not easily accessed or understood by the public community due to the absence of an ease-of-communication environment. To increase the educational outreach of the wind turbine facility, an interactive computer kiosk in the student center at SDSMT was designed and utilized. The functionality of the kiosk includes: 1) a 24/7 searchable real-time database; 2) a 3D visual model of the wind turbine and research facility; and 3) a user-created energy consumption “sandbox”. The results of the study will be used to provide recommendations for future research and education endeavors of renewable energy in general and wind-energy in particular.