Board Games & Exercises
A collection of open-source and retail board games and exercises for use in energy teaching.
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Featured
Watts the Deal?
An open source board game developed by the UCL Energy Institute to explore the practicality of peer-to-peer energy trading. Very flexible design, and thought provoking! An online version is also now available.
ElectroTrumps
An open source Top Trumps game that provokes discussion around what connects foundational experiments in the history of electricity – like those carried out by Faraday, Edison, Swan and Tesla - with contemporary experiments with smart, digital systems or low-tech renewable mini-grids.
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Accompanying working paper:
Cross, J. & Abrams, S. (Unknown Date) An Energy Experiment: Tests, Trials and ElectroTrumps
The Full List
Alaska Pipeline: The Energy Crisis Game
Retail (Vintage)
This game involves an old lady and her attempt to prevent the pipeline from being built. During her campaign, the public goes through an energy crisis and the oil companies leave Alaska. Another character in the game is called the professor, and it’s his job to answer objections to the pipeline. The objective of this game is to refute the attacks on the pipeline then get the permit to build it.
ElectroTrumps
Open Source
A Top Trumps game designed to provoke discussion around what connects foundational experiments in the history of electricity – like those carried out by Faraday, Edison, Swan and Tesla - to contemporary experiments with smart, digital systems or low-tech renewable mini-grids.
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Accompanying working paper:
Cross, J. & Abrams, S. (Unknown Date) An Energy Experiment: Tests, Trials and ElectroTrumps
Energie-Spar-Speil
Retail
Energie-Spar-Spiel, or ‘The Energy Saving Game’ is a simple roll-and-move game made in Germany. Includes English instructions.
Energy City
Retail
A game about lighting cities and saving energy.
Energy Quest
Retail (Vintage)
In Energy Quest, each player is the president of an energy corporation, developing energy sources to sell the output. Two basic types of property are on the board: raw materials (coal, oil, etc.) and power sites, where energy can be produced (electric stations and the like). World Oil Price will rise steadily if unpredictably as the game progresses, making some propositions profitable in the later stages.
Game of Energy
Retail
Compete with other players to win the energy contract! We have yet to play this yet, but it has reviewed well!
Manhattan Project: Energy Empire
Retail
A worker placement board game. In Manhattan Project: Energy Empire, players take on the role of a nation in the latter part of the 20th century. Players build up their nation's industry, commerce and government by acquiring resources, building structures and developing energy sources. With the ever-increasing price of oil other sources of energy is essential; solar, geothermal and nuclear. Global impacts and situations are the major threat in Energy Empire.
Power Grid
Retail
A nerdy classic. Bid, network and manage resources in a race to supply the most cities with power! Takes a while to set up, but good for a rough introduction to managing energy networks.
The Energy Crisis Game
Retail (Vintage)
The Energy Crisis Game is an instructive introduction to the complexities of energy management. Get involved in the challenge of planning a nation's energy reserves.
Watts the Deal?
Open Source
A board game developed by the UCL Energy Institute to explore the practicality of peer-to-peer energy trading. Very flexible design, thought provoking, and open access! An online version is also now available.