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Energy Source Comparison Dashboard

Run the Energy Source Comparison Dashboard MicroSim Fullscreen

About This MicroSim

This MicroSim presents an interactive radar chart that compares eight energy sources -- coal, natural gas, nuclear, solar PV, wind, hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass -- across six key dimensions: Energy Return on Investment (EROI), CO2 emissions, land use efficiency, reliability/capacity factor, cost per kilowatt-hour, and scalability.

The radar chart format makes it immediately visible that no single energy source "wins" on every dimension. Fossil fuels may score well on reliability but poorly on emissions, while renewables may excel at low carbon output but face challenges with land use or intermittency. This trade-off structure is fundamental to understanding energy policy and sustainability decision-making.

Students can select two or three energy sources to highlight for direct comparison, making it easy to evaluate specific trade-offs. A data table below the chart shows the actual numerical values behind the visualization, reinforcing data literacy skills.

How to Use

  1. Examine the default view -- all eight energy sources are plotted on the radar chart, each with a distinct color.
  2. Use the dropdown selector to highlight 2-3 energy sources for direct comparison.
  3. Hover over data points to see exact values for each dimension.
  4. Read the data table below the chart to compare numerical values across sources.
  5. Note the color coding -- fossil fuels appear in amber tones, nuclear in purple, and renewables in green shades.
  6. Discuss trade-offs -- identify which sources score highest and lowest on each dimension.

Iframe Embed Code

You can add this MicroSim to any web page by adding this to your HTML:

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<iframe src="https://dmccreary.github.io/ecology/sims/energy-comparison-dashboard/main.html"
        height="707px"
        width="100%"
        scrolling="no"></iframe>

Lesson Plan

Grade Level

9-12 (High School Environmental Science)

Duration

45 minutes

Learning Objectives

  1. Compare energy sources across multiple criteria to evaluate trade-offs.
  2. Interpret radar charts as a tool for multi-dimensional data comparison.
  3. Explain why no single energy source is optimal across all dimensions.

Prerequisites

  • Basic understanding of energy types (renewable vs. nonrenewable)
  • Familiarity with concepts of CO2 emissions and climate change
  • Ability to read charts and graphs

Standards Alignment

  • NGSS HS-ESS3-2: Evaluate competing design solutions for developing, managing, and utilizing energy resources.
  • NGSS HS-ESS3-4: Evaluate or refine a technological solution that reduces impacts of human activities on natural systems.

Activities

  1. Engage (5 min): Ask students: "If you were designing the energy system for a new city, which energy source would you choose and why?" Record initial responses. Introduce the idea that multiple criteria matter.

  2. Explore (15 min): Students use the dashboard to compare pairs of energy sources. They complete a worksheet with prompts: "Compare solar vs. coal on all 6 dimensions," "Which renewable source has the best overall profile?", "Which fossil fuel scores closest to renewables on emissions?"

  3. Explain (15 min): Class discussion on trade-offs in energy policy. Introduce EROI as a concept. Discuss why capacity factor matters for grid reliability. Explore why cost alone does not determine the best energy source when environmental externalities are considered.

  4. Extend (10 min): Students write a recommendation memo (1 paragraph) proposing an energy mix for a fictional city, citing specific data from the dashboard to justify their choices.

Assessment Questions

  1. Which energy source has the highest EROI, and what does that mean for its long-term viability?
  2. Why might a country choose natural gas over wind power despite wind having lower CO2 emissions?
  3. If you could only use two criteria to evaluate energy sources, which two would you choose and why?

References

  1. Smil, V. (2015). Power Density: A Key to Understanding Energy Sources and Uses. MIT Press.
  2. Lazard (2023). Lazard's Levelized Cost of Energy Analysis -- Version 16.0.
  3. IPCC (2022). Climate Change 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change. Chapter 6: Energy Systems.