Exciting opportunity: Apply now for the Marine Energy Collegiate Competition with US DOE

Apply for the Marine Energy Collegiate Competition by the US⁢ Department of Energy

March 26, 2024, authored by Zerina ‌Maksumic

The Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) is now accepting applications for its‍ sixth edition, organized by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Water ⁤Power Technologies ‌Office (WPTO).

Illustration (Courtesy of Curtis Rusch; US Department‌ of Energy)

In the upcoming 2025 MECC, teams will have the exciting opportunity to showcase how they can integrate marine energy technologies with blue economy applications ranging‍ from ocean-powered autonomous vehicles to aquaculture⁤ and desalination. The competition comprises four main challenges:

The Business Plan Challenge requires teams to identify a ⁢viable blue economy market and select the optimal marine energy device to meet the market’s demands.
The Technical ⁢Design Challenge tasks teams with designing a marine energy-powered device customized for consumers within their chosen market segment.
The Build and Test Challenge involves teams constructing and testing a⁤ scaled prototype of their innovative concept.
The Community Connections Challenge ⁢focuses on engaging with industry professionals ⁤in the marine energy sector and a community of the team’s choice.

Participating‍ teams that complete all MECC challenges will have the chance to win up to $20,000 in total cash prizes and compete for a portion of the $20,000⁤ grand prize fund.

The competition is open to both undergraduate and graduate students ⁤from ‍diverse educational institutions, including ⁢colleges, universities, community colleges, and trade schools. International students are welcome to apply, but they will not be eligible for prizes. No prior research or engineering work⁣ is required to enter the competition.

Each team will be paired⁢ with a mentor from the marine energy industry to provide valuable guidance, insights, and⁤ advice. This mentorship ‌program ⁣aims to establish strong connections between⁣ students and industry professionals, ‍offering them real-world ⁤expertise and career development support.

To apply for the competition, teams must submit details about their educational goals, team composition, and plans for promoting team diversity, as ⁣outlined in⁢ the official MECC rules. The deadline for applications is May 6, 2024.

For more information and to apply, visit the MECC website.