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Sustainability Lesson Clearinghouse

Biomass: Potato Power

Lesson Description:
Students assemble a potato battery that will power a digital clock. This shows the connection between renewable energy from biomass and its application.
Lesson Type:
  • Experiment
  • Group Work

Sustainability Topic:
  • Energy

GEF Program Category:
  • Green Energy Challenge

Time Needed:
30-40 minutes
Materials Needed:
  • A potato
  • A paper plate 
  • Two pennies
  • Two galvanized nails
  • Three 8 inch insulated copper wire, with 2 inches of the insulation removed from the ends
  • A digital clock (with places for wire attachment)

School or Group:
The Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory and Bp America Inc.
Contact Email:
service@greeneducationfoundation.org
Lesson Documents:
application/pdf biomass_potato.pdf
Located in: Creativity

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