Energy & Power Project Ideas (39 results)

Here's how.

Whether you are working, studying, or being entertained, much of our daily routines rely on being plugged-in. You probably don't spend a lot of time thinking about where all that power comes from, but someone has to! Figuring out the best ways to produce energy is a big job that is growing along with the world's population. Energy can also be a hot topic with argements about whether to invest in fossil fuels or clean renewable energies like solar, wind, water and geothermal. Take a first-hand look at some of the problems and challenges scientists and engineers are tackling as they look at making and storing energy in our collection of energy science and engineering projects.

A Battery That Makes Cents

Science Fair Project Idea

Batteries are expensive, but you can make one for exactly 24 cents! In this experiment, you will make your own voltaic pile using pennies and nickels. How many coins in the pile will make the most electricity? Read more

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Time Required	Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites	To do this project, you will need an adult to help you use a multimeter. Science Buddies has a reference, [# ProjectGuide Name="Advanced.ElectronicsPrimerMultimeter" Value="HtmlAnchor" #], that will teach you how to use one.
Material Availability	Readily available
Cost	Very Low (under $20)
Safety	No issues

Crank Up the Music!

Science Fair Project Idea

Ever been at the beach, taking in the sun and surf, listening to the Beach Boys play on your radio when suddenly it runs out of batteries right in the middle of California Girls? Okay, maybe this only happens to grey haired parents. You being younger and smarter use a hand-powered crank radio to listen to the latest pop tunes on Radio Disney. If batteries and Beach Boys are too old-school for you, then this may be the perfect experiment. Read more

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Time Required	Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites	None
Material Availability	Readily available
Cost	Very Low (under $20)
Safety	No issues

Are You in Hot Water? Use the Sun's Energy to Heat Your Own Water

Science Fair Project Idea

Isn't it nice to take a nice, hot shower or bath after a long day of playing outside? But have you really thought about how the hot water in your shower or bath gets hot? Sure, the water heater in your house gets it hot, but what makes the water heater work? Water heaters are powered by natural gas or electricity. But are there any other ways to heat water? What about using the Sun? In this science fair project, you'll give it a try by capturing energy from the Sun to heat water. Read more

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Time Required	Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites	None
Material Availability	Readily available
Cost	Average ($40 - $80)
Safety	Adult supervision is recommended when using scissors.

Spinning Your Wheels: Pinwheel Sensitivity

Science Fair Project Idea

So you've just heard the "Happy Birthday" song and now it's time to blow out the candles. If you are sitting far away from the candles, you know you'll have to blow harder to get them all out than if you were sitting closer. In this science fair project, you'll blow on different kinds of pinwheels with a blow-dryer and see how far away you can get before they stop spinning. This will give you clues about how sensitive the pinwheels are to wind, and why. So come spin your wheels and get… Read more

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Time Required	Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites	None
Material Availability	Readily available
Cost	Very Low (under $20)
Safety	Adult supervision is required when using the blow-dryer.

Want to Warm Up or Cool Down? Go Underground!

Science Fair Project Idea

Have you ever been so cold sitting in your house in the winter that you feel like icicles could grow off your nose, and your feet could turn into blocks of ice? Or have you ever been so hot in your house in the summer that sweat just drips off you? Making yourself comfortable can mean turning on the heater or the air conditioner, but that costs money. Being cozy or cool does not have to cost a lot of money if you use a geothermal heat pump. In this project, you will build a model geothermal… Read more

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Time Required	Average (6-10 days)
Prerequisites	None
Material Availability	To make a geothermal heat pump, you will need a pond pump. See the Materials list for details.
Cost	High ($100 - $150)
Safety	Exercise caution when working with electrical equipment and water. Adult supervision is required.

Burning Biofuels: Comparing Nonrenewable and Renewable Fuels

Science Fair Project Idea

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 save Earth's natural resources and cut down on… Read more

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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.

From Trash to Gas: Biomass Energy

Science Fair Project Idea

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 by turning it into a gas called biogas. You've… Read more

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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.

Go Green by Growing Green: How to Extract Energy from Grass

Science Fair Project Idea

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 which type of grass gives you the most biomass,… Read more

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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.

Potato Battery: How to Turn Produce into Veggie Power!

Science Fair Project Idea

Imagine telling your friends about your latest science project: using a battery to make a light turn on. You might get some blank stares...sounds a little boring and basic, right? Now tell them you will do it with a potato! Yes, you can actually use fruits and vegetables as part of an electric power source! Batteries power many things around you, including cell phones, wireless video game controllers, and smoke detectors. In this science project, you will learn about the basics of battery… Read more

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Time Required	Very Short (≤ 1 day)
Prerequisites	None
Material Availability	A kit is available for this project from our partner .
Cost	Average ($40 - $80)
Safety	Do not eat the potatoes after they have been used as batteries.

Put Your Water to Work: Using Hydropower to Lift a Load

Science Fair Project Idea

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, which will lift a small weight. Read more

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Time Required	Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
Material Availability	A drill is needed.
Cost	Low ($20 - $50)
Safety	An adult's help will be required to drill holes.