EIT InnoEnergy Lumen learning module

Lumen Minecraft module to teach renewable energy to housebound students for Earth Day

In celebration of Earth Day, EIT InnoEnergy will make Lumen’s interactive challenges on sustainable energy free to play via Minecraft: Education Edition.

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Together with Minecraft and Blockworks, EIT InnoEnergy has made Lumen, a game-based learning module that teaches youth about sustainable energy, available via Minecraft: Education Edition to celebrate Earth Day 2020. The announcement comes as more than 1.5 billion students are affected by school closures worldwide due to COVID-19. The need for challenging, engaging digital learning experiences has never been more important.

The module, initially developed for 9 to 15-year-olds by EIT InnoEnergy in partnership with KU Leuven and Minecraft creator Blockworks, teaches children about the fundamental concepts of energy, which can then be applied to build a sustainably powered Minecraft city. The module includes immersive worlds created by the Minecraft master builders at Blockworks, as well as lessons in sustainable energy.

Lumen City Challenge & Lumen Power Challenge

Lumen City Challenge and Lumen Power Challenge encourage students to explore different energy sources including wind, solar, hydroelectric, storage, nuclear and coal-fired power. The module also teaches students how to connect and balance supply and demand together to make a grid while also managing cost, revenue, pollution and the happiness of their citizens. One of the most intricate designs to date is a sustainable microgrid to power an island or a smart city. Mimicking real-life, coal-fired generation creates pollution which affects the city’s citizen’s health, helping to teach children about air quality and what they can do to influence it by reducing their own energy demand.

I really like the game because I want to live in a green and clean world. I like to play with different skins and to place green energy generators around my world. I learnt what happens to air pollution when I build fossil fuel stations, like a coal power station. I see that my city rating remains low and I earn less money with taxes when I build with coal power.

Ten-year-old Josephine, the Netherlands, who has learned how to generate sustainable energy through Lumen

Original game developer Johan Driesen said: 'Some years ago, I was looking for a computer game to teach kids about energy and climate. When I saw my daughter building great worlds in Minecraft, I knew this was the creative, open environment I was looking for, we just needed to add energy building blocks. That’s how Lumen started.'

What better way to engage young citizens in the energy transition, and teach about different types of generation, than through one of their favourite games. We truly believe that the inclusion of Lumen on Minecraft: Education Edition will help shape the next generation of energy engineers.

Frank Gielen, EIT InnoEnergy Education Director 

Minecraft Director of Learning Programs, Adam Tratt said: 'The combination of fun in-game energy challenges and relevant learning content makes us especially excited to bring this amazing set of Minecraft worlds to classrooms and homes around the world for Earth Day.'