Energized Youth Compete in CSI Student Challenge

On a recent Saturday in late March, over eighty 4^th-12^th graders and their mentors and guardians gathered at the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) to compete in the annual North Carolina Renewable Energy Challenge. Sponsored by the KidWind Project, the NC Renewable Ocean Energy Program, and Avangrid Renewables, the day-long competition challenges student teams to design, engineer, build, and test an alternative energy device. The main goal of the event is to increase student interest in green technologies, promote innovation, and foster skills that better prepare students for the growing renewable energy industry.

The 2025 event included wind and ocean current turbine categories with upper elementary and middle school (grades 4-8) and high school (grades 9-12) divisions for each.

The students had their work cut out for themselves leading up to the event. Before the event, each team decided the category in which they would compete; researched the various facets of renewable energy; and finally, they designed and built a small, functional turbine. For many teams, their preparations also included making presentation materials to wow the event judges.

On competition day, the teams arrived with devices in hand and knowledge in mind. They moved throughout the building amongst stations managed by almost forty volunteers from CSI and the greater Outer Banks community. On a tight, rotating schedule, the teams tested their devices, hoping to produce the highest energy output for their age division and category. They also participated in smaller, quicker “Instant Challenges” to show off their engineering skills and talked with field experts who served as judges to review each team’s devices and lessons learned.

For every element of the event in which the teams participated, they received points that counted toward their final competition score. To cap off the event, while scores were tallied, the teams enjoyed a pizza lunch provided by Kitty Hawk Wind. Dr. Matt Bryant- a professor in the Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering department at NC State and researcher affiliated with the NC Renewable Ocean Energy Program- addressed the crowd in a keynote address, highlighting exciting, ongoing research in his lab.

Dr. Matt Bryany delivers the keynote address, highlighting how he and his lab are contributing to Blue Economy efforts.

Scores Announced with High Anticipation

The day featured a great showing from across the state with teams representing Dare, Currituck, Elizabeth City/ Pasquotank, Cumberland, Beaufort, and Forsyth counties. One family even drove from South Carolina to participate in the event. While each team put their best foot forward, only two teams from each age division and category could truly blow away the competition. Awards and recognition were given to the following teams:

High School Wind

1^st Place: Narwhals of the Air (First Flight High School, Dare County)

2^nd Place: Pam Pack (Washington High School, Beaufort County)

Pam Pack

High School Ocean Currents

1^st Place: Shells are Sharp (First Flight High School, Dare County)

2^nd Place: Narwhals of the Sea (First Flight High School)

Winning studies from First Flight Middle & High Schools.

One of the six Ocean Current turbines developed and tested by students during the NC Renewable Energy Challenge.

CSI would like to thank all Challenge teams and coaches who traveled to compete and made the day so worthwhile; and special thanks to event volunteers who each helped the day run smoothly, KidWind Project and the NC Renewable Ocean Energy Program for sponsoring the event, and Kitty Hawk Wind for providing lunch for participants.

2025 NC Renewable Energy Challenge Highlight Video