Innovation Challenge

Challenge is Active. This challenge is part of the Junior Academy and not open for general application.

Energy Infrastructure: Solar Power

Retrofitting current infrastructure, building new solar-ready infrastructure, and/or replacing aging power grids originally built to rely on fossil fuels.
Technology that allows for the efficient and reliable distribution of solar power from areas and times of high solar input to areas and times of high electricity demand.

What innovative solution could you design to make the shift from traditional energy sources to renewable solar energy a reality?

Challenge

Consider the following when designing your solution:

What level will you focus your solution on? Individual households or buildings? City infrastructure? Regional power grids? Agriculture? Nomadic communities?
What geographical or governmental region will you focus your solution on? What are the most urgent energy challenges in this region? How can your solution be scaled to other regions?
What are the supply, demand, distribution needs, and storage capabilities of electricity for your specific territory or geographical location?
What might be the cost of your solution? Will it be affordable for your focus audience?
How might retrofitting be part of your solution?
How could Artificial Intelligence (AI) be incorporated into your solution? Identifying ideal locations for retrofitting existing infrastructure? Managing energy flow? Managing energy use and storage? Through machine learning? Diagnosing and/or responding to system or grid fluctuations? Something else?
How can you use available data and research to inform or test your solution?
How will you prototype your solution?
Could your solution be expanded to other renewable energy sources such as wind or geothermal?

Success Evaluation Criteria

Solutions will be judged based on the following criteria:

Innovation and Design Thinking: Is the design and approach unique and/or innovative? Does the design show a high degree of originality and imagination?
Scientific Quality: Are the appropriate references and analytical methods used and are the insights derived correctly?
Presentation Quality: Is this concept concisely and clearly explained? Are the findings/recommendations communicated clearly and persuasively?
Commercial Viability/Potential: Does the solution have the potential to make a difference?
Sustainability: What is the social impact on local communities? How does the solution incorporate positive environmental or social objectives? Is the solution in line with a sustainable or justice focused future?
Teamwork and collaboration: Was the experience a collaborative endeavor? Was the knowledge gained from the experience reflected upon and tied back to a civic engagement mindset? (From Personal Reflections)