The KidWind Challenge is a hands-on competition where student teams design and showcase small-scale wind turbines and solar structures.
The contest aims to excite students about clean energy, its role in combating climate change, and potential career opportunities in the field. It also helps educators better understand clean energy technologies while fostering diversity and inclusion connecting students with meaningful pathways and diverse representations within the clean energy workforce.
Supported by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Wind Energy Technologies Office, KidWind invites students worldwide to create wind energy-related projects. In Southern Baja California, UABCS University in La Paz will host the regional KidWind Challenge for the third consecutive year.
During the event, students design, build, and test wind turbines, gaining hands-on experience with renewable energy technology. Organized by the Diurna México Foundation and supported by Invenergy, Eólica Coromuel, Alumbra Innovations Foundation, the Southern California Council of Science and Technology, and UABCS, this initiative promotes practical learning and skill development in clean energy.
With guidance from trained teachers, participants create wind turbines, implement solar solutions, and engage in renewable energy activities. UABCS Director Dr. Dante Salgado and Ms. Elvia Aispuro, Director of Liaison, Interinstitutional Relations, and Internationalization, praised the initiative for fostering creativity, scientific knowledge, and talent among young students.
Dr. Salgado congratulated the participants for engaging in a challenge that nurtures intellectual growth and professional aspirations. He encouraged them to consider UABCS as a space to develop their academic goals and contribute to a sustainable future.
Franz Keller, Vice President of Development Services for Latin America at Invenergy, thanked UABCS for hosting the event again, emphasizing its role in inspiring youth to pursue science, technology, and sustainable energy solutions.
Engineering professor José Clemente Beltrán, Director of IT and Statistics at the Ministry of Tourism and Economy, closed the press conference by recognizing the event’s social impact. He urged participants to continue their preparations so they can soon turn their innovative ideas into reality.
In past competitions, students have successfully designed and built wind turbines and solar solutions with teacher support. These renewable energy sources generate clean electricity with minimal emissions, reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating climate change. However, their production and installation can affect land use and wildlife habitats.
Despite these challenges, the environmental benefits of wind and solar energy outweigh their drawbacks. Ongoing research is improving efficiency and minimizing negative impacts, making them key to a sustainable energy future. Careful site selection for wind farms and solar arrays can further reduce environmental concerns.
The rapid growth of wind and solar power in recent years underscores their crucial role in reducing carbon emissions and promoting cleaner energy alternatives.