| New innovations
The University of New Hampshire won the Marine Energy Collegiate Competition for 2024
With the total available marine energy resources in the US equating to almost to 60% of total power generation, even if only a small portion of this technical resource potential is captured, marine energy technologies would make significant contributions to the country’s energy needs. A strong workforce will be needed to ensure the country can leverage its marine energy potential, and the MECC is playing an instrumental role in introducing students to the different career paths – such as engineers, environmental scientists, business development experts, project managers, and communications and engagement specialists – needed to support the industry. As part of this year’s competition, teams completed
four required challenges, which focused on market analysis, technical design, prototype testing, and community engagement. The 17 competing teams presented the results of their work at the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust’s Ocean Renewable Energy Conference in Portland, Oregon, which was held from May 20–23, 2024. After reviewing the presentations, reports, and posters, the competition’s expert judges selected the overall winners. They also selected the following individual category winners: Best Poster: Purdue University Business Plan Challenge Winner: University of New Hampshire Technical Design Challenge Winner: University of New Hampshire Build and Test Challenge Winner: Oregon State University
Community Connections Challenge Winner: Purdue University Rookie of the Year Award: Rutgers University. Looking ahead to the 2025 competitions, 36 teams have been selected to participate in both the HCC and MECC, the largest cohort to date.
“Our Hydropower and Marine Energy Collegiate Competitions call on the next generation to help these resources fulfil their potential in the clean energy transition,” said Matthew Grosso, Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) acting director. “We look forward to seeing the creative and innovative water power concepts these students develop throughout the year.” During the 2025 HCC, teams will develop solutions to convert non-powered dams to hydroelectric dams that can produce between 100kilowatts and 10 megawatts of power or assess the feasibility of a potential closed-loop pumped storage hydropower site that can provide between 8 and 24 hours of energy storage. Each team will be assigned a hydropower industry mentor. Teams will be required to complete three challenges and may choose to participate in two optional challenges.
In the 2025 MECC, teams have been asked
to integrate marine energy with blue economy applications such as ocean exploration, aquaculture, and desalination. After identifying a promising blue economy
market, teams will design a marine energy-powered device to serve that market. Each team will be assigned a marine energy mentor and compete in four challenges.
For more information:
https://americanmadechallenges. org/challenges/hydropower- collegiate-competition
https://americanmadechallenges. org/challenges/marine-energy- collegiate-competition
Above: The Marine Energy Collegiate Competition challenges teams to develop solutions to help power sectors in the blue economy
Who can participate in HCC and MECC?
Both US and non-US institutions are welcome to apply and participate, although non-US institutions are not eligible to receive cash prize funding. Teams may consist of a combination of post-secondary, undergraduate, and graduate students, but must be at least 50% postsecondary and/or undergraduates.
www.waterpowermagazine.com | July 2024 | 19
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