Design Challenge: Powering Texas

“Take an energy excursion to better understand the quantitative relationships between water and energy in Texas, and then design your own energy mix for powering the Texas electricity grid.”

Summary 

This lesson provides an opportunity to explore the relationship between water, energy, and the Texas electricity grid. Students are challenged as decision makers to design their own scenario for a future Texas electrical grid, balancing water resources and energy demand. 

Learning Outcomes 

  • Explain how different primary energy sources require different amounts of water to generate electricity in Texas
  • Provide rationale for a specific energy mix design to fuel the Texas power grid
Oklahoma Academic Standards
TEKS Standards
College Board Units and Topics
Next Generation Science Standards