Our grade 9 students recently participated in an interactive simulation called The Alberta Power Game shared by Robin Owens, a retired geophysicist who has been partnering with our school for our A+ for Energy Grant.

The Alberta Power Game lesson begins with introducing the students to Alberta’s power grid and the different sources of energy production, as well as the demand on the grid. Students use the excel spreadsheets to manipulate different variables to meet the challenges of providing energy to the province, while considering regulations and climate action goals.

Students began by adjusting the outputs from coal, natural gas and sustainable sources of energy to meet the current demands of the province. Additional challenges were added, where students had to meet increased demand or changes in regulations including the potential supply and demand combinations that may enable Alberta to ..“reach a net-zero electricity system by 2035 while also considering potential implications to reliability, the market, and supply and transmission costs.” Students were also exposed to the concepts of intermittent electrical production and reliable baseload power for the grid.

Mr. Owens will be returning to STEMIA Junior High soon to work with the grade 7 students as they learn about oil and gas exploration in science and the associated occupations that may be of future interest.