Introduction
Mankind faces an unhealthy trinity in,
- Environment – global warming, extreme weather, pollution
- Energy -demand continues to rise and rise
- Economy - is affected directly by high energy costs and Environmental damage.
In response a momentous energy revolution is happening. New hydrogen and fuel cells technologies are developing to
take over from combustion of fossil hydrocarbons.
The hydrogen economy beckons
With it comes a need for more technicians, engineers and scientists who are at school today. Our children will grow up in a hydrogen and fuel cell world. The challenge opens up this world to them, some, we hope, will make it their career. To introduce our children to this technology we bring your school/team the Hydrogen and fuel cell challenge
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Hydrogen and fuel cell challenge
The challenge
- Make the best fuel cell powered model
- We provide school teams a fuel cell construction kit
- Team makes a model of anything, made from anything
- Model uses fuel cell in some way, any way
The kit comprises
- Electrolyser and water/gas separator
- Two storage tanks (60cc each)
- 2 double cell fuel cells (1.2V, 1W each, H2/air)
- 3W solar cell
- Media/Information pack and instructions
- Your Team/school keeps the kit
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Challenge Details
Who competes
- Target secondary school 2nd year to 4th year
- Older or younger can participate (18 max)
- Teams can come from schools , science clubs, churches, football or sporting clubs, scouts, girl guides local neighbours
Competition Categories
- Most futuristic
- Most practical
- Most bizarre
- Most innovative
- Enter as many teams wanted
- Enter as many categories desired
Model Criteria -None bar safety
- You can use any existing objects/model/toy how you use the power is up to you
- You can invent entirely new objects
- Materials to be used, anything (Lego, Mechano, techno Lego, papier-mâché other things we never heard of)
It does not matter what the model looks like. It does not have to be practical. It does not have to be useful. It is entirely up to the teams. Concentrate on the model rather than the engineering of the
fuel cell unless you want to.
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Can teams get help
- Yes, siGEN will have a help line
- Mentors/support is encouraged from anyone teachers, parents, scientists, companies, anyone - even NASA
- It is not cheating to get the best engineering support you can. This can show team resourcefulness.
- The model is judged not the engineering
Competition rules
- There are no rules other than safety
- Poor taste and weapons may not score well
- There are no guidelines nor required elements in your models except must run for 90 seconds
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Costs
- Each school get 1 kit free of charge
- Additional entry will cost £250
- We have some sponsors for extra kits
- Sponsors are sought to purchase additional kits
Prizes
- AREG Shield for overall Winner
- 1st in each category
- Runners up in each category
- Engineering commendation
Competition Timing
- Kits will be delivered during September
- Submit to siGEN a 1 page summary of project with pictures by 24 th Nov
- Shortlist selected by 4PM 25 th November
- Date of Final to be confirmed at RGU in December.
Final Judging
- At RGU Garthdee Business School
- Short listed models on display (working) at finals.
Short listed models to be displayed (if desired)
- Prominent public area during Christmas
- All Energy exhibition and conference 2006
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Further Information
For information pack contact
siGEN on the details below. or visit their website at :
www.sigen.co.uk.

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