UCD students claim €12,000 prize at EirGrid’s CleanerGrid Competition
Three students from University College Dublin have been announced as winners of the second annual EirGrid CleanerGrid Competition.
With a top prize of €12,000 (€6,000 for the winning student team and €6,000 for the student’s third-level institute), this year’s theme asked students to “Present your vision of what the growing energy sector will need to look like in 2050 to have sustainably achieved net-zero emissions”.
Todhchaí Glas team members Ruairí Collins, Eoin Duffy and Stephen Murphy claimed the top prize for their proposal showing how pumped hydro energy storage could help with managing wind and solar energy variability.
Prizes were also awarded to EcoShift Engineers of University of Galway, who claimed the runner-up prize of €6,000 (€3,000 for the winning student team and €3,000 for the student’s third-level institute), while the third place prize of €2,000 (€1,000 for the winning student and €1,000 for the student’s third level institute) was claimed by The Transmission’s Transition from Dublin City University.
Entrants were asked to show how the grid will need to change to allow for more renewable sources and less conventional generation; including what government policies will need to be in place, how the economy will be affected, how the grid will need to adapt, how technology can help achieve this goal, or any other relevant points they identify in order to create a resilient energy system for the future.
Among the ideas put forward by the five competing teams of finalists from DCU, University of Galway, UCD and Trinity College Dublin included pumped hydro, leveraging our coasts through offshore wind and the use of artificial intelligence in grid enhancement.
EirGrid chief innovation officer Liam Ryan said: “[This] competition is further evidence of the valuable contributions third level students can offer in tackling societal challenges such as decarbonisation, energy affordability and climate action. They are at the forefront of the latest cutting-edge research through our universities, and we can learn so much from them.
“As we work towards delivering the government targets for a decarbonised, sustainable, and strong economy, we recognise the importance of bringing students and young people with us on the journey as we transition to a clean, renewable energy grid.”
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