Introduction to Renewable Energy
Provided by: Stanford Understand Energy|Published on: January 9, 2025|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12, AP
Type: Videos
Subjects: Physics, Earth and Space Sciences, Engineering
Authors: Stanford Energy
Location: Earth, North America > United States > California
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This 68-minute video lecture on renewable energy discusses what "renewable" means, the role renewables play in our energy use, and the factors affecting renewable energy project development.
- The website includes reading materials and a fact sheet to support understanding of the lecture.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- Renewable energy is discussed in depth, allowing students to form a sophisticated understanding of this complex topic.
- The lecture video includes time stamps of the different sections, making it easy to use in sections, if desired.
Prerequisites
- Before watching the lecture, there is an essential reading assignment for students to complete.
- Lecture slides used in the video need to be requested in advance if you would like to use them.
Differentiation & Implementation
- The website includes links to a multitude of additional resources that students can explore for extension.
- If watching the video in class, it is recommended to pause the video regularly to allow students time to process and to check for understanding.
- The video can also be used for a flipped classroom approach, leaving more class time for discussion.
- The lecture slides contain many charts and graphs, and it may be helpful to print these for students so that they can annotate while watching and have easy access to them for discussion.
- In a science class, the lecture can be used to as part of a unit on fuels, energy, or human impacts on the environment.
- In a social studies class, the lecture can be used to discuss the economics of renewable energy.
This resource presents excellent fact sheets, reading assignments and a video lecture introducing students to renewable energy. This resource is exceptionally well-cited and includes an extensive list of additional resources. Renewable energy is thoughtfully presented as an important and feasible climate change solution. Energy efficiency is also stressed as a key climate solution. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
