Cost of Battery Storage Over Time: Algebra 2 and Physics
Provided by: MIT Climate Action Through Education|Published on: January 18, 2025
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Lesson Plans
Subjects: Earth and Space Sciences, Mathematics
Authors: Gary Smith
Region: United States, Global
Languages: English
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- In this lesson, students will graph the change in the cost of battery storage from 1991 to 2018 and determine the economic and climate implications of having cost-effective battery storage for clean energy.
- Students will determine the best curve fit for the data, use the data to make predictions about the cost of battery storage in the future, and understand the economic implications of renewable energy.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The opportunity for place-based connections in the extensions section will help students understand the relevance of the lesson to their local reality.
- In completing the section about the risks of and solutions for climate change, students will see the importance of scaleable battery storage.
Prerequisites
- Students should know how to use base-10 logs.
- Students should understand how to determine the best graph for a dataset and how to use that graph to interpret the data.
Differentiation & Implementation
- After reading the information on the Energy Saver website, students can complete an Energy Efficiency Audit.
- Teachers can split students into groups, having each group listen to a different podcast episode in the background section and presenting a brief summary of the key details for the rest of the class.
- In a similar lesson, Cost of Solar Over Time, students can explore the evolution of solar power technology.
This data-rich resource from MIT's Climate Action through Education (CATE) initiative provides teachers with a lesson plan to explore the cost of battery storage. The lesson plan includes teacher notes, resources, materials, and the technology needed. Links within the plan provide additional information, data, maps, graphs, and links to even more related information. All links work and the references and source material utilized for this lesson plan are from reliable organizations and present up-to-date information. This activity is a valuable resource for educators seeking to enhance climate-related learning experiences in the classroom.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
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