KidWind Solar Challenge

Online Solar Challenge

Overview
Submit Your Project
View Projects

Project Overview

The Online Solar Challenge is open to international submissions, and provides the most accessible approach for any student team anywhere, to participate in a KidWind Challenge. Student teams in grades 4th-12th participate in age-level divisions to create a solar powered project on the theme Solar Home. A solar home is a type of structure that considers the environment, the inhabitants, and its functional and aesthetic design. We encourage teams to think creatively and even fantastically about their solar homes. The environment can range from outer space to the arctic, and the inhabitants can be anything from people to butterflies! You can check for confirmation that you submitted your project by looking at the View Projects section of the Online Solar Challenge page.

There are two Solar KidWind Challenge divisions: Solar Home and Solar Smart Home. Students in 4th-12th grade can participate in the Solar Home Division, and only students in 6th-12th grade can participate in the Solar Smart Home division. To upload a solar home, an adult coach is required to provide contact information. A coach can be a parent, educator, or mentor. A coach may supervise multiple teams. Once uploaded, the solar home project may be displayed within the Solar Challenge Gallery on the KidWind website. 

Submissions will be judged by the KidWind team and winners will be selected on a quarterly basis. Winners receive prizes and are invited to participate in the World KidWind Challenge, a large and prestigious in-person event, hosted at a conference center in a different state every year. Projects will be grouped for evaluation based on the following time frames:

  • Projects submitted by November 1st for Quarter 1
  • Projects submitted by February 1st for Quarter 2
  • Projects submitted by April 1st for Quarter 3
  • Projects submitted by August 1st for Quarter 4

Judging Rubric 

  • 50% Resourcefulness, Creative Concept, Thoughtful Design, Skill and Aesthetics, World Connections
  • 50% Functionality, Research, Knowledge, Teamwork, Communication

If your team is chosen as a winner, a KidWind staff member will contact the coach. Winners selected from Quarters 1-3 (August 1st through April 1st) will be invited to a World KidWind Challenge in spring 2026.

How Do I Participate?

  • Download & read the detailed rules.
  • Fill out and upload the appropriate Solar Home requirements:
    • Solar Panel Schematic(s): In the solar panel schematic, include each solar powered circuit’s configuration (parallel/series), and a label to what the terminals connect to. Label each panel’s rated voltage and current, the length, width, and area of each solar panel, and each configurations voltage/current/wattage total. This Schematic is different from the wiring diagram because it only includes the solar panel arrangement, not the rest of the circuit. For example, if the team has up to three circuits that are powered by solar, they will need to provide three solar panel schematics. Find examples here.
    • Wiring Diagram(s): Each circuit requires a separate wiring diagram. Teams must provide a wiring diagram for no more than three circuits. Each wiring diagram must include a symbols key. The wiring diagram should have the symbols labeled for all the electrical parts of a circuit, and every emergency switch clearly labeled as such in the diagram. If using power storage, teams will label how the solar panels are charging the power storage and how the storage is powering the loads on the device. Solar Home Elementary 4th-5th Division can create a hand drawn wiring diagram. Find examples here.
    • Programming code: For Solar Smart Home Division only. Provide the programming code used to program the microcontroller.
    • Materials List: The material list is a document for teams to record all materials used in the solar home, how the materials were used, if the materials are recycled, found, or new, and the costs of materials. If the material is a 3D printed part, teams must explain if the file was found, modified, or created. Budget should identify 3D printed parts as new material cost. Material cost = filament price/filament weight  x  model weight. See Materials in Requirements for more information.

Standards Addressed

The Solar Challenge is a STEAM activity and connects to and is judged by STEAM standards. 

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), International Society for Technology Education Standards (ISTE), National Core Arts Standards (NCAS).

Submit Your Project

Project Submissions

Veronica Brandt

Homeschool, Young Explorer’s Society · Veronica Brandt
Key Metrics

Project Overview

Sammy the Solar Siren will protect our backyards and local ecosystems from the invasive Spotted Lanternfly(SLF). The trap will protect native VA plants and trees, help farms and vineyards, reduce the use of pesticides in food chains and the environment, while also ensuring no other beneficial insect or animal is harmed. The solar panels lure the SLF into the housing using 60hertz frequency while also powering a plunger plate that is activated to push the SLF into a plastic bag for easy disposal.

Project Images
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Veronica Brandt

Homeschool, Young Explorer’s Society · Veronica Brandt
Key Metrics

Project Overview

Sammy the Solar Siren will protect our backyards and local ecosystems from the invasive Spotted Lanternfly(SLF). The trap will protect native VA plants and trees, help farms and vineyards, reduce the use of pesticides in food chains and the environment, while also ensuring no other beneficial insect or animal is harmed. The solar panels lure the SLF into the housing using 60hertz frequency while also powering a plunger plate that is activated to push the SLF into a plastic bag for easy disposal.

Project Images
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Solar Systems

Homeschool, Young Explorer’s Society · Veronica Brandt
Key Metrics

Project Overview

Sammy the Solar Siren will protect our backyards and local ecosystems from the invasive Spotted Lanternfly(SLF). The trap will protect native VA plants and trees, help farms and vineyards, reduce the use of pesticides in food chains and the environment, while also ensuring no other beneficial insect or animal is harmed. The solar panels lure the SLF into the housing using 60hertz frequency while also powering a plunger plate that is activated to push the SLF into a plastic bag for easy disposal.

Project Images
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Lincoln Log Boys

The Londonderry School · Colin Wilson
Key Metrics
Rated Voltage of One Panel
Rated Amperage of One Panel
Rated Power of One Panel

Project Overview

Our house is a log cabin that is made out of Lincoln logs. The solar panels power five LEDs, four white LEDs, one red led and a motor that serves as a fan. Our log cabin is next to a luscious waterfall that has a bin of water at the top the pump pumps that water from the bottom to the top which drains onto a water wheel that mills flour then the water goes into the lower bin.

Project Images
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WATTS UP!

The Londonderry School · Brian Hope
Key Metrics
Rated Voltage of One Panel
Rated Amperage of One Panel
Rated Power of One Panel

Project Overview

Our project is a solar-powered homestead designed with two distinct sections.
At the forefront lies a horse stable, thoughtfully equipped with lighting and ventilation for comfort and functionality.
To the rear, an agricultural field integrates agrivoltaics—also referred to as Dual-Use Solar—merging renewable energy production with sustainable farming practices.

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Coach Krysta

Cordova Jr./Sr. High School/CSD · Krysta Williams
Key Metrics
Rated Voltage of One Panel
Rated Amperage of One Panel
Rated Power of One Panel

Project Overview

Simple circuit; the solar cell powers the led. Love the color changing LEDs!

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Heart & Sol

Chesapeake Math & IT Academy South · Christopher Rooda
Key Metrics
Rated Voltage of One Panel
Rated Amperage of One Panel
Rated Power of One Panel

Project Overview

Our Solar Cabin project is comprised into two different areas; The cabin itself, where we use solar panels to automatically turn on lights, and open and close the door.

Project Images
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Teacher Project

Cordova Jr./Sr. High School · Krysta Williams
Key Metrics
Rated Voltage of One Panel
Rated Amperage of One Panel
Rated Power of One Panel

Project Overview

Just a quick circuit to get familiar with submission forms 🙂

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Teacher Practice

HV Coffman Cove · Mackenzie Slayton
Key Metrics
Rated Voltage of One Panel
Rated Amperage of One Panel
Rated Power of One Panel

Project Overview

This is just a quick submission for the solar, my students are super excited to start their builds and work with the solar challenge!

Thank you

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Solar Knights

Las Lomas High School · Suzanne Morse
Key Metrics

Project Overview

A solar home suitable to live in the desert. Primarily made to aid scientists in their research and power their equipment, like a temperature sensor. Uses solar power during the day and uses the rechargeable battery to jump start the solar tracker since it won’t have solar power before sunrise.

Project Images
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The Explorers

Sandy Hook Elementary School · Remy Pangle
Key Metrics
Rated Voltage of One Panel
Rated Amperage of One Panel
Rated Power of One Panel

Project Overview

We made a bird bath house. It has a fan and a water pump powered by solar panels. The fan will keep the birds cool and the pump will keep the water circulating to keep it clean.

Project Images
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