WHAT IS THE KIDWIND CHALLENGE?
The KidWind Challenge is a practical design competition that leads students to explore wind energy and create innovative solutions. Students gain hands-on STEM skills, develop engineering thinking, and solve real-life problems while supporting Estonia’s green transition.
Student teams design and build small wind turbines and then meet with a panel of judges to present their designs.
The KidWind Challenge is a collaborative effort of teachers, students, engineers, and practitioners, all working together to make wind energy and other renewable energy education accessible in classrooms around the world.
The KidWind Challenge is a collaborative effort of teachers, students, engineers, and practitioners, all working together to make wind energy and other renewable energy education accessible in classrooms around the world.
- AGE GROUPSyounger age group (Grades 6–9)
and
older age group (Grades 10–12) - MENTORAll teams have a professional mentor who supports them throughout the entire process—from theory to construction.
- MATERIALSEach team is provided with one generator, which is used to build a working turbine model.
REGISTRATION
01.08.2026
THEORY LESSONS AND
WIND TURBINE BUILDING
WIND TURBINE BUILDING
SEPTEMBER 2026 - JANUARY 2027
KIDWIND COMPETITION AT TALTECH
JANUARY 2027
COMPETITION SCHEDULE
09:00 – 09:30
09:00 – 09:30
Registration
09:30 – 10:00
09:30 – 10:00
Official opening
10:00 – 13:00
10:00 – 13:00
Competition Block I
(Instant Challenge, Knowledge Test, presentation to the jury, and wind tunnel testing)
(Instant Challenge, Knowledge Test, presentation to the jury, and wind tunnel testing)
13:00 – 14:00
13:00 – 14:00
Lunch break
14:00 – 16:00
14:00 – 16:00
Competition Block II
(presentation to the jury, and wind tunnel testing)
(presentation to the jury, and wind tunnel testing)
16:30 – 17:00
16:30 – 17:00
Award ceremony and event closing
COMPETITION RULES
PRIZES
The best teams in both age group will receive prize money.
1000 €
Tallinn University of Technology Special Prize
The four most outstanding young participants will receive direct admission to the Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics bachelor’s programme at Tallinn University of Technology’s Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics for the 2028/2029 academic year, without having to apply through the regular competition.
The four most outstanding young participants will receive direct admission to the Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics bachelor’s programme at Tallinn University of Technology’s Department of Electrical Power Engineering and Mechatronics for the 2028/2029 academic year, without having to apply through the regular competition.
This special prize is intended only for current 11th-grade students.
- Gift cards for museum visits, youth activity centers, and electronics stores.
- Special prizes for top teams, including technology- and wind-energy-themed gifts.
- All teams that complete the project will receive recognition and a small souvenir.
GOLD SPONSOR
SILVER SPONSOR
BRONZE SPONSOR
FAQ
Students in grades 6–12 are invited to participate. The competition takes place in two age groups: grades 6–9 and grades 10–12. Participation is in teams of 2–4 members.
Participation is free. The competition takes place over one day, so accommodation is not provided.
No. All necessary learning materials are provided in Estonian, and participants are supported by a mentor. The generator is provided by the organizer; the team builds the rest of the wind turbine themselves.
The turbine must clearly show that electricity is generated using only one generator provided by the organizer. Using other generators or other electricity-producing solutions is not allowed.
Blades made in previous years may only be used if the current team consists of the same students who originally made those blades and participated with them the previous year.
The competition takes place at Tallinn University of Technology (Ehitajate tee 5, Tallinn)