A Decarbonized Electric Power Sector
Articles/Websites
Grades11, 12, APPhysics, Engineering
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Provided by Stanford Understand Energy
What it is
- This resource includes graphs, quick facts, and a video lecture discussing the goals and implications associated with decarbonizing the electric grid.
- Students will look at several different distributions of energy sources throughout the electric grid, discuss the economic, political, and behavioral aspects of decarbonization, and learn about the difficulties for policy-makers in trying to balance equity with the goals of decarbonization.
- Students will also evaluate California policies on the matter of decarbonization, electrification, and energy efficiency.
Teaching tips
Positives
- The resource provides a variety of additional videos and articles to provide students with background knowledge about the electric grid, the different sources of renewable and non-renewable energy, and the intricacies of decarbonizing while also increasing electrification.
Prerequisites
- Before watching the lecture, there is a video and an article under the Essential heading that students should watch and read.
- Students should already have a basic understanding of how clean energy works environmental impact from burning fossil fuels for energy.
Differentiation & Implementation
- In a flipped classroom, students can watch the lecture as homework and discuss what they learned the next day in class.
- Students can analyze the graphs provided to determine the best solution for a stable grid.
- After discussing the proposal to change human behavior to accommodate the higher levels of solar energy in the middle of the day, students can create infographics or public service announcements advising others on how to make this change.
- Students in civics classes can discuss and debate the California policies to encourage electrification and energy efficiency.
From the scientist review
This resource from Stanford Energy provides teachers with a lecture from a Stanford professor to teach students about decarbonizing electricity. Additional links are provided within the lecture that include additional information for students and teachers. The references utilized for this lesson plan are from credible institutions and present up to date information. This site could be valuable resource for educators seeking to enhance climate-related learning experiences, concerning the decarbonization in the classroom.
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Hosted on understand-energy.stanford.edu
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