North Carolina Renewable Energy Challenge
2027 NC Renewable Energy Challenge:
March 20, 2027
With funding from the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program and in partnership with KidWind and Jennette’s Pier, the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI) hosts the day-long North Carolina Renewable Energy Challenge annually on the ECU Outer Banks Campus in Wanchese. Competing students must engineer an alternative energy device and compete against each other to create the most efficient design. The challenge strives to increase student interest in green technology and promote innovation, and it fosters 21st-century skills that better prepare students for the growing renewable energy industry.
The 2027 event will include wind and underwater turbine competitions with upper elementary & middle (grades 4-8), and high school (grades 9-12) divisions for each. The competition aims to increase engineering solutions for the alternative energies available in North Carolina. Funding is available for basic competition materials and for travel to CSI. If teams wish to have funding for either, please contact Parker Murphy and John McCord.
The winning teams will receive cash prizes, and the top team(s) in each wind division will be invited to the World KidWind competition held in Kansas City, KS, on May 16-19, 2027.
For divisions with eight teams or fewer, one invitation will be extended. For divisions with more than eight teams competing, two invitations will be given. Furthermore, in an effort to align with KidWind Worlds regulations this year, all registered teams may have no more than five members.
Please note, registration will close at 11:59 p.m. on February 26, 2027, or when the event reaches capacity, whichever occurs first.
Additional Information & Rulebooks
Virtual info sessions
Virtual info sessions for interested coaches, parents, and students will be held on November 23, 2026, and on January 20, 2027, both at 4 PM. Individuals need only attend one session, as the content will be the same at both. Pre-registration is required.
Team Trial Days
New in 2027, optional team trial days will occur at CSI on February 12, February 26, and March 12, 2027!
Please contact Parker Murphy and John McCord to schedule a testing window on one of these days for your team. Trial days are a great opportunity for your team to better understand the Challenge’s wind tunnel or current flume and test their prototypes ahead of the Challenge on March 20. Trial days are only meant to further encourage team success. They are not mandatory and will not have any bearing on Challenge day scoring. Event organizers will be present to run the tunnel and flume. They will not provide feedback to teams on how to improve devices.
Rulebooks
An updated rulebook for 2027 Ocean Energy is forthcoming. Please check back soon for updated details, and in the meantime, refer to the 2026 rulebook for a basic understanding of this Challenge component.
KidWind Resources
Upcoming KidWind Virtual Teacher Workshops
Solar Energy 101: November 21, 11 AM- 2 PM EST
Offshore Wind 101: December 12, 11 AM- 2 PM EST
The ECU Outer Banks campus is home to the Coastal Studies Institute.
Based at the Coastal Studies Institute (CSI), the North Carolina Renewable Ocean Energy Program (NCROEP) advances inter-disciplinary marine energy solutions across UNC System partner colleges of engineering at NC State University, UNC Charlotte, and NC A&T University. Click on the links below for more information.
