Dominion Energy Wind for Students

This curriculum was developed by The NEED Project in partnership with The Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation for teachers in Virginia. The activities and information introduce students to wind, wind generation, and offshore wind technologies, as well as the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind Project. However, the activities and information are great for students all over the country and beyond. Kit materials are not yet available for purchase. Contact NEED for further information on supplies.

Click the links below to download free Teacher and Student guides from our online shop. Visit our graphics library for Offshore Wind related graphics and diagrams.

Exploring Offshore Wind Energy
(Secondary)

Energy From Offshore Wind
(Intermediate)

Wonders of Offshore Wind
(Elementary)

Offshore Wind
is Energy
(Primary)

The application window has closed for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Please email Mary Spruill at mspruill@need.org with any questions.

Dominion Energy and the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation have partnered with The National Energy Development Project (NEED) for over 3 decades to offer energy education curriculum and training to teachers and students.  In 2015, the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and NEED partnered to bring Virginia schools, museums, and educational institutions the Dominion Energy Solar for Students program that installs photovoltaic installations and provides hands-on solar kits and teacher workshops.  Over the last several years 34 schools and educational institutions across Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have received solar installations.

As the Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW) project advances, the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation and NEED are working together to bring curriculum, teacher training and hands-on kits to Virginia’s schools. In 2022, two schools or educational institutions will be selected to receive a wind installation.  In 2022, two schools or educational institutions will be selected to receive a micro-wind turbine installation that also includes solar and storage.

The installation will be an ARIS Remote Power Unit (RPU) similar to the ones pictured below:

Dominion Energy Wind for Students Program provides:

• An ARIS RPU described as “A renewable off-grid lighting solution with the power, efficiency & reliability to work in a wide range of environments & remote locations. The off-grid RPU is the natural choice for providing reliable, independent lighting on roadways, walkways, parking lots and recreation areas.”
• Renewable and storage technology included:
  • Wind Power
    • Rated power output 300w
    • Rated wind speed 9 m/s (20 mph)
    • Cut in wind speed 2 m/s (4.5 mph)
    • Height of tower: Approximately 30 feet
  • Solar Power
    • 1 or 2 mono or polycrystalline panel
    • 250w per panel
  • Storage
    • (2) 12v batteries for 24v storage
    • Capacity: 150/200/230 amp hour
• An online monitoring tool, to provide real-time data on the system’s activity and the amount of electricity generated.
• An online data display to show teachers, students, parents, and school visitors the output of the system.
• Wind Energy training for classroom teachers and personnel at the school or institution.
• Standards of Learning, State Standards, and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) aligned wind curriculum and hands-on kits that will teach students how wind energy works and how energy, the environment and economics are all part of energy decision making.
• A Celebration to cut the ribbon and showcase the institution’s new installation for the local community.
• Connections to other Wind for Students program participants to share data, partner on projects and expand learning.

For more info on the ARIS system.

Eligibility:

• K-12 public schools or educational non-profit institutions served by Dominion Energy Virginia with STEM (science/technology/engineering/math) programming in following Virginia localities: Virginia Beach, Hampton, Norfolk, Newport News, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Isle of Wight, Gloucester, Poquoson, York County, James City County, Williamsburg, and Surry County.
• Schools and institutions that have full support from their board and leadership for both the installation of the micro-wind turbine installation, as well as curriculum and teacher training. For schools this includes school board, superintendent and school administration.
• Teaching staff who are committed to teaching students about the value of wind energy and exploring energy in class, monitoring the data from the installation, and integrating a deeper understanding of energy into the institution.
• Please note: To be selected to receive a micro-wind turbine installation, an applicant’s site must be evaluated for technical feasibility. Before final selection decisions are made, site visits will take place to evaluate technical feasibility including space of installation area, access to wind resources, soil type, safety, and security.

Click here to view application requirements. Applications due by May 20, 2022. Email mspruill@need.org with any questions.

Please Note:  It is important to have the support and approval from the entire school or institution team, so before submitting the application, please share this information with relevant teams at your school or institution, such as your principal and facilities team.

The application window has closed for the 2021-2022 academic year.
Please email Mary Spruill at mspruill@need.org with any questions.

Press Release (12/20/21)

Dominion Energy Solar for Students

Dominion Energy has partnered with The National Energy Development Project (NEED) for over 3 decades to offer energy education curriculum and training to teachers and students. In 2015, Dominion Energy and NEED partnered to bring Virginia schools, museums and cultural institutions the Dominion Energy Solar for Students program that installed photovoltaic installations and provided hands-on solar kits and teacher workshops for four schools. Over the last four years, an additional fourteen schools and cultural institutions have received photovoltaic systems, teacher training and solar curriculum. NEED is proud to partner with NCi, of Richmond, Virginia, for installation of these photovoltaic systems.

Dominion Energy Solar for Students Program provides:

• 1.2 kilowatt photovoltaic system that converts sunlight into electric power, often referred to as “solar on a stick”
• An online monitoring tool, to provide real-time data on the system’s activity and the amount of electricity generated
• A online data display to show teachers, students, parents, and school visitors the output of the system
• Solar Energy training for classroom teachers and school personnel
• Virginia SOL focused solar curriculum and hands-on kits that will teach students how solar works and how energy, the environment and economics are all part of energy decision making.
• A Solarbration to cut the ribbon and showcase the school’s new installation to the local community
• Connections to other Solar for Students program participants to share data, partner on projects and expand learning

Eligibility:

• K-12 public schools or educational non-profit organizations with STEM (science/technology/engineering/math) programming in the regions of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia where Dominion Energy provides electric service.
• Schools that have full support of school board, superintendent and school administration for both the installation of the photovoltaic system, as well as curriculum and teacher training.
• Teaching staff who are committed to teaching students about the value of solar energy and exploring energy in class, monitoring the data from the installation, and integrating a deeper understanding of energy into the school.
• The school site will be surveyed for eligibility including space of installation area, access to full sunlight, access to electrical interconnection in the school building, safety and security.

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Solar for Students Schools by Year

Click the links to view live solar data being collected by the schools solar array.

Using the NEED Schools Going Solar Curriculum and the entire suite of NEED solar kits, teachers and students learn about solar energy for heating, lighting, and electricity generation.

Photos from some of Dominion’s Programs

More photos from Dominion Programs

Energy in Virginia Curriculum, Kits, and Map

In 2016, NEED received a grant from the Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation to create the Energy in Virginia curriculum and map for sixth grade students across the Commonwealth. This unit, designed in partnership with the Virginia Department of Education brings a deeper look at energy into the science classroom. Participating teachers received an Energy in Virginia kit, curriculum and training at one of three regional workshops.

Energy in Virginia – 6th Grade Curriculum Module

Energy In Virginia Guide (pdf) Energy in Virginia Guide (e-publication)
Virginia Energy Map
Cool Coal and Nifty Natural Gas Story Props
Virginia Energy Round Up Posters
EIA Virginia Energy Data
Dominion Energy Power Facilities
Virginia Energy Bingo
VA Dominion Workshop PowerPoint
Virginia Energy SOL Strands and Concepts

Please email info@need.org with any questions about the Dominion Energy Solar for Students Program.