Renewable Energy Project
Exploring solar and wind power generation
Build a small-scale hybrid renewable energy generator
Small photovoltaic panels to capture solar energy
Miniature wind turbine to harness wind energy
About the Project
For this year's science fair, I'm working on a renewable energy project that demonstrates how solar and wind power can work together to provide a more consistent energy supply. The project involves building a small-scale model that combines both energy sources and shows how they can complement each other.
I started this project on March 5th, 2025, and I'm currently in the research and design phase. The science fair will be held in May, so I have about two months to complete the project.
Project Components
Solar Power System
The solar component will consist of:
- Small photovoltaic panels
- Charge controller to regulate the power
- Battery storage system
- Voltage meter to measure output
Wind Power System
The wind component will include:
- Miniature wind turbine with optimized blade design
- Small DC motor as a generator
- Separate battery storage
- Voltage meter to measure output
Combined System
The two systems will be connected to:
- A shared power management circuit
- LED lights to demonstrate power usage
- A small display showing real-time power generation
- A data logger to record energy production over time
Research Questions
Through this project, I aim to answer several questions:
- How do weather conditions affect the output of each energy source?
- When is each energy source most efficient?
- How can the two sources work together to provide consistent power?
- What are the advantages and limitations of each energy source?
- How could this model be scaled up for real-world applications?
Current Progress
So far, I have:
- Completed background research on renewable energy systems
- Designed the initial layout for both power systems
- Ordered the necessary components (solar panels, DC motor, etc.)
- Started building the base structure for the model
- Created a data collection plan to measure and compare energy output
Next Steps
In the coming weeks, I plan to:
- Assemble the solar panel system
- Build and test the wind turbine
- Create the power management circuit
- Set up the data logging system
- Begin collecting data under various conditions
- Analyze the results and prepare my presentation
I'm excited about this project because it combines my interests in science, engineering, and environmental sustainability. I believe renewable energy will play a crucial role in our future, and I want to understand how these technologies work together.
Check back for updates as the project progresses!