Science of the Electric Grid – Computation

Summary

Students take on the role of an engineer calculating whether a rural village’s solar microgrid can meet its daily electricity needs. Using two core formulas, they work through total power output, daily energy production, and a scaling problem that requires them to determine how many additional panels are needed when demand grows. A good fit for high school math integration in Earth science, APES, or an energy unit where quantitative reasoning is a learning goal.