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Energy & Power Project Ideas

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Showing 1 - 5 of 22 Project Ideas
Burning Biofuels: Comparing Nonrenewable and Renewable Fuels
Burning Biofuels: Comparing Nonrenewable and Renewable Fuels
Difficulty
Time Required Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Readily available
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety You will be working with flammable materials. Wear safety goggles and other safety gear to prevent injury. Adult supervision is required. Perform this science fair project in a well-ventilated area, away from combustible and flammable objects.

Have you considered where the gasoline that your parents put in your car comes from and how long that source will last? The fuel that most vehicles use, gasoline, is a petroleum product. Petroleum is a fossil fuel and is a nonrenewable form of energy, meaning we use it faster than it is able to be reproduced. Burning fossil fuels also produces pollutants that might hurt our environment. Using a kind of fuel from a renewable source would help… Read more
From Trash to Gas: Biomass Energy
From Trash to Gas: Biomass Energy
Difficulty
Time Required Long (2-4 weeks)
Prerequisites This science fair project requires access to a well-ventilated area, away from open flame or electrical sparks.
Material Availability A small quantity of fresh cow manure is required.
Cost Low ($20 - $50)
Safety This science fair project produces a small amount of a flammable gas, so it must be conducted in a well-ventilated area, away from any source of open flame or source of electrical sparks. Use caution and have an adult's help when using the bleach, as it can cause chemical burns.

Have you ever dreamed of a world where you could take the scraps from last night's dinner and toss them into your car's fuel tank and make gas? Well, we're not quite in "Back to the Future" yet, but in this energy science fair project, you'll discover that food scraps, dead plants, sawdust, and other decaying organic matter, called biomass are a rich source of energy. You can get energy out of biomass by burning it, turning it into a liquid, or… Read more
Go Green by Growing Green: How to Extract Energy from Grass
Go Green by Growing Green: How to Extract Energy from Grass
Difficulty
Time Required Very Long (1+ months)
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Readily available
Cost High ($100 - $150)
Safety If making your own flower pots out of cartons, use caution when using the scissors to cut the cartons in half. Adult supervision is recommended.

Mowing the lawn is hard work, especially on a warm day. Not only do you have to mow the grass, but you also have to dispose of the clippings. Some people add the clippings to a compost pile in their yard, which is a great idea. But did you know that some grasses can be used as a source of energy? In this energy science fair project, you will learn more about a type of energy called biomass energy. You will grow different kinds of grasses and see… Read more
Put Your Water to Work: Using Hydropower to Lift a Load
Put Your Water to Work: Using Hydropower to Lift a Load
Difficulty
Time Required Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites A drill is needed unless you use the Science Buddies Kit. The kit comes with pre-drilled parts.
Material Availability Readily available.
Cost Low ($20 - $50)
Safety Unless you are using the Science Buddies Kit (which comes pre-drilled), an adult’s help will be required to drill holes.

Earth is an amazing planet. It has everything that we need: food, shelter, and water. Sure, we need water to drink, but have you thought about using water to create energy? Moving water has a lot of energy and all we need to do is to harness it. Moving water made the Grand Canyon. That took a lot of energy! In this science fair project, you will demonstrate the power of water by converting the kinetic energy in moving water to mechanical energy,… Read more
Shaking Up Some Energy
Shaking Up Some Energy
Difficulty
Time Required Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites None
Material Availability Readily available
Cost Average ($50 - $100)
Safety When working with electricity, take precautions and beware of electric shock.

Have you seen the new Shake N' Light flashlights on TV? How do they get energy to light up the bulb without using batteries? Do this experiment to make your own motion powered generator and find out. Read more
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