MAY 10, 2023
DOE Also Announces 30 Teams Selected for the 2024 Competitions
2023 Hydropower and Marine Energy Collegiate Competition Competitors (Image Credit: Department of Energy)
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced the winners of the 2023 Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) and Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC). Endicott College and University of New Hampshire were the overall winners of the inaugural HCC and the fourth annual MECC, respectively. DOE also announced the teams selected to participate in the 2024 HCC and MECC.
“I congratulate the winners of the 2023 Hydropower and Marine Energy Collegiate Competitions for demonstrating new possibilities for how we can use hydropower and marine energy to help meet our climate and clean energy goals,” said Alejandro Moreno, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “I am excited to see these talented students utilize the real-world experiences and connections they gained through these competitions and hope to see them continue to support our clean energy transition.”
Hydropower and marine energy resources are key to meeting the Biden administration’s goals of a carbon-free electricity sector by 2035 and a net-zero-emissions economy by 2050. These types of power depend on the movement and flow of water and are, therefore, predictable and consistently available. This makes them reliable and well-suited to help balance an electricity grid with higher levels of variable renewable energy like wind and solar.
To help reach those goals, the hydropower and marine energy industries will need a new generation of qualified workers to fill many different roles, including engineers, financial analysts, project managers, and communications and marketing specialists. The HCC and MECC help undergraduate and graduate students prepare for jobs in hydropower, marine energy, and related industries by challenging them to develop unique solutions to advance these technologies.
Both the 2023 HCC and MECC culminated in a final event during Waterpower Week 2023 in Washington, D.C. The hydropower teams pitched their case studies and the marine energy teams pitched their business plans and detailed technology designs to panels of judges. All teams also presented their approaches to creating connections among the industry and their local communities.
2023 Hydropower Collegiate Competition Winners
The 10 student-led teams analyzed a case study on how hydropower fits into a future power grid supported by 100% renewable energy and the associated opportunities and challenges of incorporating the hydropower fleet into this clean energy vision. They also provided solutions that can help hydropower fully support a clean energy grid.
The winners of the 2023 HCC are:
- First place: Endicott College
- Second place: Yale University
- Third place: Northern Arizona University
Individual category winners are:
- Best Poster: Texas Tech University
- Case Study Contest: Endicott College
- Connection Creation Contest: Yale University
2023 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition Winners
The 19 student-led teams developed designs and business plans to power blue economy activities using a range of marine energy technologies. Eighteen competitors also tested prototypes of their designs in test-tanks across the country.
The winners of the 2023 MECC are:
- First place: University of New Hampshire
- Second place: California Polytechnic State University
- Third place: Purdue University
Individual category winners are:
- Best Poster: University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- Build and Test Challenge: University of Michigan partnered with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Best Report: Cornell University
- Best Pitch: University of New Hampshire
- Connection Creation Contest: Manhattan College
- Rookie of the Year Award: California Polytechnic State University
2024 Hydropower and Marine Energy Collegiate Competitions Competitors
DOE also announced the teams selected to compete in the 2024 HCC and MECC. The 2024 HCC asks teams to suggest solutions for adding power-generating infrastructure to existing non-powered dams, and the 2024 MECC continues to ask teams to develop solutions for ways marine energy can help power the blue economy.
Ten teams were selected for the second annual HCC.
- California Polytechnic State University
- California State University, Fresno
- Columbia University
- Johns Hopkins University
- Northern Arizona University
- Texas Tech University
- University of Houston
- University of Michigan
- University of North Florida
- University of Wisconsin-Platteville
Twenty teams were selected for the fifth annual MECC.
- Arizona State University
- California Polytechnic State University
- California State University, Fresno
- California State University, San Marcos
- Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
- Illinois Institute of Technology
- Manhattan College
- Michigan Technological University
- Northeastern University
- Oakland University
- Oregon State University
- Purdue University
- Rutgers University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- University of California, Riverside
- University of Massachusetts Dartmouth
- University of New Hampshire
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of Houston
- Webb Institute
The two competitions have so far engaged a combined total of 15 minority-serving institutions, including Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, historically Black colleges and universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, and tribal colleges and universities, as well as 13 international schools.
DOE’s Water Power Technologies Office funds both competitions. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) administers the MECC, and NREL and the Hydropower Foundationadminister the HCC.
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“The reason I joined MECC is simple; I love water-related sciences, and though I may not be the most informed in marine energy/technology, I am very excited to learn more and meet professionals of the field -plus I will be joining an amazing team! In addition to my passion towards water and hydrology, I am keen on making professional connections as well as academic, and being a part of this competition will help me expand my network.”
“As a student of entrepreneurship, impactful innovation excites me. When presented with the opportunity to work with the team of engineering students on marine energy solutions, I saw an opportunity to put my business knowledge to use while learning about a new space and how it will serve the future generations.”
“The progression of technology has always persuaded me to learn more. Joining the MECC team will allow me to gain experience and work with future engineers. In our meeting, you guys explained the group’s technology; being at the forefront of this innovation is an exciting experience and allows me to bring value to its community.”
“I’ve always been interested in renewable energy sources and devices. The Marine Energy Collegiate Competition provides a unique opportunity to work with a group of like-minded students in order to gain more insight about the field of marine renewable energy devices.”
“I joined MECC because of the great opportunity I saw to be innovative and explore different parts of engineering. As a Computer Engineering major, I have never been close to exploring marine energy or the different mechanics in which that energy could be harvested.”
“I joined the MECC team at the University of Houston because I am interested in the blue economy and renewable marine energy. I believe that these areas have the potential to make a significant positive impact on the environment and on the economy, and I wanted to be a part of a team that is working to promote and develop these technologies. Additionally, the competition being sponsored by the Department of Energy adds a level of legitimacy and importance to the work that we are doing, and I am excited to be a part of something that has the potential to make a difference on a national level.”
“The immense opportunities available at UH have allowed me to focus my time in many other areas of interest, aside from my studies. The MECC team provides students the chance to collaborate and innovate new ideas in the emerging blue economy. For me, being a part of this team means I can expand on my engineering knowledge and connect with like-minded peers.”
JUNE 1, 2022
First Hydropower Collegiate Competition and 2023 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition Competitors Also Announced
The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the winners of the 2022 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC). Webb Institute emerged as the overall winner in this third annual competition. Alongside the 2022 MECC winners, DOE also announced the new wave of students who will compete in the inaugural Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) and 2023 MECC.
“We congratulate the winners, alongside all the 2022 Marine Energy Collegiate competitors for demonstrating new possibilities for how we can use marine energy to meet our climate goals,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Kelly Speakes-Backman. “I’m also excited to see what’s in store for the 2023 Marine Energy and Hydropower Collegiate Competition teams as they gain real-world experience and make connections through these competitions as they begin their careers. We hope to see many of these talented students join the hydropower or marine energy industries in the years ahead.”
The MECC calls on multidisciplinary teams of undergraduate and graduate students to propose new ideas for marine energy to capture the power of the ocean. Marine energy has the potential to provide clean energy to remote and island communities and for blue economy applications such as ocean observation technology or desalination systems.
The HCC will provide a platform for students to develop unique solutions to complex challenges related to hydropower’s ability to enable a decarbonized electricity grid. Hydropower already plays an important role in the U.S. power system, providing 37% of total renewable electricity generation and 93% of grid-scale energy storage, and the industry still has untapped potential. However more than a quarter of current workers in the hydropower industry will reach retirement age in the next decade, so achieving these significant growth opportunities will require a focus on expanding this workforce.
2022 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition Winners
The 17 student-led competing teams developed designs and business plans to power blue economy activities using a diverse range of marine-energy technologies. Fourteen of the competitors also tested their designs in tanks of all sizes and capabilities across the country, and one team even tested their prototype in a lake.
The following teams were selected as winners of the 2022 MECC:
- First-place winner: Webb Institute
- Second-place winner: Oregon State University
- Third-place winner: University of New Hampshire
Individual category winners included the following:
- Best Community Outreach: Webb Institute
- Best Build and Test: Virginia Tech, partnering with University of Maine
- Individual product category winners:
- Best Business Plan: University of Washington
- Best Pitch: Michigan Technological University
- Best Poster: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro
- Best Technical Report: University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
- Out of the Tank Award: Virginia Tech, partnering with Stevens Institute of Technology
The 2022 MECC culminated in a written report submission, poster, and virtual week-long final event where the teams pitched their market assessments and detailed technology designs, networked with the marine energy industry, and celebrated their accomplishments.
Announcing the 2023 Hydropower and Marine Energy Collegiate Competitions Competitors
In the HCC’s first year, multidisciplinary teams will gain direct hydropower industry experience, valuable exposure to potential career pathways, and greater understanding of hydropower’s role in a clean energy future.
The 2023 HCC cohort comprises 11 teams of students representing various regions of the United States.
- Columbia University
- Cornell University
- Endicott College
- Northern Arizona University
- Pennsylvania State University
- Texas Tech University
- University of California Riverside
- University of Houston
- University of Virginia
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
- Yale University
Next year’s MECC will continue to challenge competitors to leverage the ocean in addressing power needs for a chosen sector of the blue economy. The 2023 MECC cohort includes 19 teams of students.
- California Polytechnic State University
- California State University Fresno (partnering with University of California Merced)
- California State University San Marcos
- Cornell University
- Manhattan College
- Michigan Technological University
- North Carolina A&T State University (partnering with University of North Carolina Wilmington)
- Oakland University
- Oregon State University
- Purdue University
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Texas A&M University
- University of California Riverside
- University of Houston
- University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
- University of Michigan (partnering with Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University)
- University of New Hampshire
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (partnering with Instituto Superior Técnico)
- Webb Institute
In total, the 2023 HCC and MECC will engage seven minority-serving institutions, including Hispanic-serving institutions, an Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-serving institution, and a historically Black university.
EERE’s Water Power Technologies Office funds both competitions. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) administers the MECC, and both NREL and the Hydropower Foundation administer the HCC.
Follow the 2023 HCC and MECC teams over the next year as they contribute to the clean energy transition. You can also sign up for email alerts to keep up with the latest on HCC, MECC, and other water power news.
Learn more about science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) careers and workforce development opportunities on the Hydropower STEM Portal and Marine Energy STEM Portal.