The competition engages students across disciplines—engineering, finance, urban planning, sustainability, communications, and more—to reimagine how energy is generated, managed, and used in a district. For the Class of 2023–2024, students will have access to an enhanced training platform to support innovation and learning. Student teams will also have two options for their district use cases: (1) assignment to a district use case defined by competition organizers, or (2) a bring-your-own-district division in which students may self-select their district use case, collecting and using the district’s available data on their own, with data synthesis support from competition organizers. All student teams choosing to bring their own district will compete in a division against other teams bringing their own districts. Additionally, the Solar District Cup Class of 2023–2024 will open a division for one-semester or two-quarter participation in the winter/spring.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Geothermal Collegiate Competition (GCC) invites teams from collegiate institutions to develop real-world geothermal solutions while competing for cash prizes and gaining resume experience in the renewable energy industry. Registration will open in August 2023 for teams of three or more undergraduate and/or graduate students. Start forming your team today! Students of any discipline can participate, and multidisciplinary teams are encouraged. Final competition deliverables will be due in December 2023.

The Ocean Exchange Collegiate Award 2023 of $10,000 USD is given to the solution that advances our understanding of the ocean and that helps minimize our impact on these resources, even while using them for human benefit, resulting in more resilient bodies of water including healthy marine life and coastlines. Collegiate pitches will be conducted Sunday, Oct 22nd and Monday Oct 23.