World KidWind Challenge 2025
What is the World KidWind Challenge?
Each year the top performing teams from the In-Person and Online wind turbine and solar home challenges are invited to compete for a variety of awards. This large and prestigious in-person event is held in conjunction with the American Clean Power Association’s CLEANPOWER Conference tradeshow and alongside the Collegiate Wind Competition. The location changes each year! This year’s event will be in Phoenix, AZ.
Student teams travel to Worlds to participate in several competition elements, attend fun events with teams from other states, and explore opportunities to continue their passion for clean energy by engaging with Collegiate Wind Competition projects & CLEANPOWER Conference booths.
Types of Challenges
Wind Challenge
The World Wind Turbine Challenge has three grade-level divisions: (1) 4-5th Grade Division; (2) 6-8th Grade Division; (3) 9-12th Grade Division. Turbines within these divisions will be divided into the following categories: KidWind Generator, Homebuilt Generator, Open Generator (non-KidWind, pre-made generator). This year, 4-5th Grade Division teams MUST compete in the KidWind Generator Division.
Solar Challenge
The World Solar Challenge will have three grade-level divisions: (1) 4-5th Grade Division; (2) 6-8th Grade Division; (3) 9-12th Grade Division. Teams in the 4-5th Grade and 6-8th Grade Divisions are encouraged to participate in the Solar Home Division, using simple circuits. Teams in the 9-12th Grade Division must participate in the Solar Smart Home Division incorporating programmable microcontrollers.
Worlds Competition Elements
Wind Turbine Testing
➜ Student teams prepare and place their wind turbines in a wind tunnel, to be evaluated on the total energy produced over a 30 second trial period, measured in Joules.
Solar Testing
➜ Student teams prepare and place their solar home devices in a solar array to demonstrate how the different aspects of the device perform
Judging Session
➜ Student teams present their project to a panel of judges and answer judges’ questions, discussing and defending their design choices and demonstrating what they learned.
Instant Challenges
➜ Student teams participate in an on-the-spot test of knowledge, skills, problem-solving, and teamwork without prior preparation.
Quizbowl
➜ Student teams test their knowledge of clean energy as a team in a timed quiz.