Teaching sequence

Work through this resource material in the following sequence:

10 minutes

Tune In: Queensland's renewable energy revolution

20 minutes

Find Out: Deep dive into Queensland's renewable energy projects

25 minutes

Take Action: Designing local energy solutions

5 minutes

Reflection

Learning intentions and success criteria

Students will:

understand Queensland’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZ)
learn about the role of REZs and how specific Queensland renewable energy projects contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change on the Earth’s spheres
learn about the types of career opportunities that exist in the clean energy sector
analyse clean energy case studies in Queensland to inspire and inform their own renewable energy project plan and design for their local community and school.

Students can:

describe the meaning of Queensland’s Renewable Energy Zones (REZ)
outline the role of REZs and how specific Queensland renewable energy projects contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change on the Earth’s spheres
outline the types of career opportunities that exist in the clean energy sector
plan and design their own renewable energy project by drawing on what they have learnt about clean energy case studies in Queensland.

Tune In: Queensland's renewable energy revolution

Step 1

Start by reading the following statement to your students and ask students to predict how renewable energy projects are changing our world.

Queensland is leading the way in Australia's renewable energy revolution.

Step 2

If you completed the previous lesson in this unit, Influencing Earth’s Spheres with Renewable Energy, you might like to recap the impacts of climate change on the Earth’s spheres (geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere) and encourage students to think about how Renewable Energy Zones will contribute to mitigating the impacts of climate change. If you haven’t completed this lesson, refer to the Teacher Content Information for some guidance on discussing this with your students.

Display this map, which details various Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) across Queensland, as an example of how Queensland is leading the way (hpw.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/49241/rez-roadmap-a3-poster.pdf).

Explain to your students that a Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) is a geographic area that is capable of producing renewable energy in large quantities. Factors that determine these zones include

renewable energy resources (steady winds, lots of sunshine, flowing water etc.)
close access to the transmission network
energy storage options (batteries, pumped hydro, etc).

The Queensland Government’s REZ Roadmap identifies 12 potential REZs across the Southern, Central, and North and Far North Queensland regions. The indicative location, size and timing of these REZs are based on several factors including renewable energy companies' interest, analysis of available network capacity, renewable resources and land uses (including environmental considerations).

Step 3

Watch the following video, which highlights one specific renewable energy project in Queensland, the MacIntyre Wind Precinct in South-West Queensland.

MacIntyre Wind Precinct Project Update August 2023 - Powerlink Queensland (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLg6l5BW608)

After watching the clip run a think-pair-share for students around the following questions (also available on the Student Worksheet).

What do you think are the most significant benefits of these types of renewable energy projects?
How might this project impact the environment and local communities in Queensland?
What types of jobs do you think are involved in creating and maintaining a project like this?

NOTE: If you have completed the previous lesson, you could also invite students to identify how the use of wind-generated energy can lessen the effect of climate change on the Earth’s spheres.

Find Out: Deep dive into Queensland's renewable energy projects

Step 1

Encourage your students' interest and curiosity in renewable energy by taking a closer look at some of the incredible projects happening in Queensland. Start by sharing some information about these key renewable energy projects using the Visual Explainer.

Step 2

Divide students into small groups and assign each group one of the renewable energy projects listed below. Ask students to answer the questions below (also available on their Student Worksheet) as a guide for their research.

Dulacca Wind Farm (https://www.dulaccawindfarm.com.au)
Hughenden Solar Farm (https://www.baywa-re.com.au/en/cases-in-australia/hughenden)
MacIntyre Wind Farm (https://www.acciona.com.au/macintyre/?_adin=11734293023)
Wambo Wind Farm (https://wambowindfarm.com.au/#hero)
Kidston Hydro Project (https://genexpower.com.au/250mw-kidston-pumped-storage-hydro-project/)

Questions:

How does this project help mitigate the effects of climate change?
What strategies are used to reduce emissions?
How is the impact on the environment minimised?
What roles and careers are involved in this project? (They can explore the Future Energy Jobs Guide for ideas!)

Step 3

After researching their project and answering the questions, each group will present their findings to the class in a brief 2-3 minute presentation. This will not only help them practise their presentation skills but also allow them to learn about different renewable energy projects from their peers.

Take Action: Designing local energy solutions

Step 1

Inform the class that now it’s their turn to become energy planners! Their task is to design a renewable energy solution tailored to their local community or school that helps to fight climate change and reduce environmental impact – just like the projects they've learned about. This will allow them to apply what they've learnt about renewable energy by challenging them to design a project that could benefit their local area. This activity is not only a creative exercise but also a chance for them to think critically about real-world solutions for climate change.

Step 2

Divide your students into small groups. Each group will be responsible for thinking of a renewable energy project idea for their community or school.

Provide groups with the tools they need to brainstorm, including the Planning Posters, markers and access to undertake online research if possible. Guide groups with their brainstorming by encouraging them to think about these key aspects and features of their project:

The type of renewable energy: Is it solar, wind, hydro or maybe a combination?
Location and layout: Where is the project located, and how would it be set up?
Environmental benefits: How will the project reduce emissions and protect local habitats?
Community engagement: How will the community or school benefit from this project, and how can they get involved?
Economic considerations: What are the startup costs? How will this project benefit the local area economically?
Challenges and solutions: What obstacles might creating this project face, and how can they be overcome?

Step 3

After brainstorming, ask each group to take their idea a step further by developing a more detailed plan. Their plan should include:

a written description of their renewable energy project
A visual representation: This could be a diagram, a map or even a small-scale model showing what their project would look like
implementation steps: This could include an outline of the steps needed to bring the project to life, a timeline and the stakeholders who would be involved
impact analysis: This should explain how their project will positively impact the environment and community.

Remind students to look back at the case studies you discussed earlier for inspiration, noting how those projects were successfully planned and executed.

Extension opportunity: encourage students to think about the careers and jobs that will be needed in their local community to bring this project to fruition. What jobs will there be? Who will do these jobs? How can a diverse workforce be ensured? Students might like to use the Future Energy Jobs Guide and this webpage highlighting the potential of a diverse workforce to guide their research.

Step 4

Once groups have completed their plans, invite them to present their renewable energy project ideas to the class in a 2-3 minute presentation. Their presentation should include a written description, a visual representation, implementation steps and an analysis of the project's impact. This is a fantastic opportunity for students to showcase their creativity and problem-solving skills, as well as share and communicate their ideas with their peers.

Reflection

Ask students to reflect on their work:

How has designing a renewable energy project for your community or school changed your understanding of the impact of renewable energy on climate change and the environment?
What challenges did you encounter while creating your plan and how did you address them to create a feasible and impactful project?

Shaping Climate Action and Careers

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Shaping Climate Action and Careers

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