Introduction
Gippsland is currently in the middle of a transition away from the traditional forms of energy generation which have been a staple of the region for over 100 years. While coal power generation is still an important employer in the region, these stations are slated to close over the next 15-20 years. There is also worldwide pressure to reduce CO2 emissions and move towards renewable energy sources. The Victorian government has set a target of 25% renewable energy production by 2020, increasing to 40% by 2025. Excitingly, there are a range of new industries proposed for the Gippsland region including OSMI wind farms, solar farms, Star of the South offshore wind turbines, and the Latrobe Valley Battery Energy Storage System. A range of hydrogen-based ideas are also currently under development. Building students’ understanding of these technologies has never been more important.

Program Summary
In this program, students will investigate the advantages and disadvantages of generating energy from renewable sources and some of the different ways that this can be achieved. They will experiment with solar and wind energy generation, as well as investigate energy storage as a way to combat one of the major challenges of renewable energy, intermittency. They will produce hydrogen from electrolysis and use of a fuel cell to produce electricity from the hydrogen. Students will conclude they day by using their learning to design, build and test a model city with a focus on liveability, powering their project using renewable energy.

Taking part in this program, students will collaboratively:

• Conduct experiments to understand different types of renewable energy
• Build their understanding of the types of energy transfer in renewable energy systems
• Design, built, and test a prototype

Career Links:
Artisans: Machinery operators, electricians, carpenters
Designers: Architects, product testers, draftspersons
Engineers: Civil, construction, electrical