While we welcome projects from any aspect of STEM, this year's special theme is Green Energy. Green energy, known as renewable energy, is the energy derived of natural processes and can be regenerated easily over time. Some of these eco-friendly energy sources include solar energy, wind, geothermal, compressed natural gas, etc. These sources of energy are known as green power, as they tend to be environmentally friendly and use natural processes. The sun is one important source of renewable, green energy, with it being an inexpensive, biological energy for supporting life on earth. However, of all that total energy produced by the sun, only a very minuscule amount of that energy accounts for electricity used worldwide. Instead, fossil fuels are utilized to generate and power electricity as it is more cost efficient and effective.

Phasing out the burning of fossil fuels and substituting it with green power energy sources is one of the main obstacles facing the world, due to the rising need of energy availability with high demand in developing countries as well as population growth worldwide. It has been focused on bringing a solution that uses accessible raw materials at a low cost. Non-renewable fossil fuels have been the primary energy source, which has been a hydrocarbon deposit that is obtained from the remains of fossils. As there is an unlimited amount of fossil fuels, using it to extract energy is known to be the most effective and convenient form energy throughout the years, despite the high carbon dioxide emissions of hydrocarbon consumption that causes consequences for the global environment. Find more at 5th annual Arkansas STEM Festival!