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Geothermal Design Challenge

Foster understanding of geothermal, communicate benefits of geothermal technologies, and overcome non-technical barriers to development.

This challenge is closed

stage:
Won
prize:
Connections, Pride & Experience!

This challenge is closed

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Summary
Timeline
Updates23
Forum3
Teams149
Resources
FAQ
Summary

Overview

 

Challenge Overview

Through the Geothermal Design Challenge™, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) inspires students to develop innovative solutions for geothermal energy application challenges. The competition also helps students develop career skills as they prepare to enter the clean energy workforce. Through engagement with students not traditionally involved with geothermal energy, GTO aims to raise awareness of geothermal resources to communities and the public, thereby broadening the geothermal stakeholder base.

The Fall 2020 student competition focuses on infographic development and data visualization and welcomes a broad spectrum of disciplines. The goal is to foster understanding of geothermal, to communicate the benefits of geothermal energy technologies more broadly, and ultimately to overcome key non-technical barriers to geothermal development. 

 

Learn More

To learn more about the program and the current competition: 

 

The Geothermal Design Challenge is directed and administered by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and is funded by the DOE Geothermal Technologies Office. 


Guidelines

CHALLENGE GUIDELINES

Please review the official rules  for the complete application process and instructions for competing.

If you want to receive updates on the prize or have any questions, please subscribe by using the contact feature on the HeroX platform or message us directly at

 

 

Timeline
Updates23

Challenge Updates

Register for 2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition by 10/7!

Sept. 26, 2024, 12:24 p.m. PDT by GCC Prize Moderator

Registration for DOE's 2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition closes Monday, Oct. 7, 2024,  at 11:59 p.m. ET! All policy and technical track teams must register before this deadline to be able to compete.

Gain experience in renewable energy while competing for thousands in cash prizes -- no previous geothermal experience required! You need three team member names and emails to register, but the team can change over the semester.

Signing up as a team on HeroX is important, but registration requires a separate step. To ensure your team is officially registered, one team member must: 

  • Visit HeroX and select “Solve This Challenge,” then complete the prompts. 
  • Go back to the competition’s HeroX page, select “Begin Entry,” and complete the entire registration form. 

To get started on your project, read the rules and check the timeline for important dates, including the Oct. 28 deadline to submit an optional deliverable for feedback. 

 Questions? Email geo.competition@nrel.gov.


Registration Now Open - 2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition

Aug. 20, 2024, 3:37 p.m. PDT by GCC Prize Moderator

Registration is now open for the 2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition! $10,000 for first place teams in multiple tracks; $6,000 for second place and $2,000 for third.

Register by September 16, 2024, to be paired with an industry mentor. The final date to register is October 7, 2024. 

To register: 

Click "Solve This Challenge" on HeroX 

Team captains must fill out the "2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition Registration Form" (click 'Begin Entry') on behalf of the team to officially register.  

We recommend having all team members make a HeroX account and connect to their team. You can add team members after completing the registration form. 

After registering: 

READ the competition rules! 

Attend the Informational Webinar on September 12, 2024, at 4 p.m. EDT. 

Contact competition organizers at Geo.Competition@nrel.gov with questions. 

Begin your project - you can submit an optional deliverable on October 28, 2024, to receive feedback on your work in progress. 

Final deliverables are due on December 20, 2024. 


2023 GCC Office Hours TOMORROW, July 26

July 25, 2023, 10:35 a.m. PDT by GCC Prize Moderator

Join competition organizers TOMORROW, Wednesday, July 26 for the final Fall 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition Office Hours before competition registration opens on August 1!

Register here for the optional July 26, 1 pm EDT Office Hours to learn more about this year's challenge.

The next opportunity to talk with competition organizers will be at the August 15 Informational Webinar.


GCC Office Hours Today! 6/27/23

June 27, 2023, 8:10 a.m. PDT by GCC Prize Moderator

Join organizers TODAY, June 27 at 2 p.m. EDT for optional, virtual Office Hours for the Geothermal Collegiate Competition (GCC)

Register here and come with questions! A brief overview of the competition will also be provided.

Can't make it in June? Register for the July Office Hours on July 26.


2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition Office Hours - June 27, 2 p.m. EDT

June 23, 2023, 12:37 p.m. PDT by GCC Prize Moderator

Considering competing in the Fall 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition for a chance at $10k? Join organizers Tuesday, June 27 at 2 p.m. EDT for optional, virtual Office Hours.

Register here and come with questions! A brief overview of the competition will also be provided.

Can't make it in June? Join the July Office Hours on July 26.


Forum3
Teams149
winners
Team Carmona Team Carmona
2 team members
Looking for members
Sumit Kumar's team Sumit Kumar's team
1 team member
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Connor Smith's team Connor Smith's team
1 team member
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Elif Özdemir's team Elif Özdemir's team
2 team members
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Alye Perryman's team Alye Perryman's team
4 team members
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Carly Oliver's team Carly Oliver's team
2 team members
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Marina Ring's team Marina Ring's team
3 team members
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Grace R Kirk's team Grace R Kirk's team
3 team members
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LeAnn Liu's team LeAnn Liu's team
3 team members
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Olivia Bird's team Olivia Bird's team
2 team members
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Geo Slugs Geo Slugs
3 team members
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TAMUCC GIS-SO Group TAMUCC GIS-SO Group
3 team members
Looking for members
AVC Environmental AVC Environmental
3 team members
Looking for members
MTU Social Science EEP MTU Social Science EEP
3 team members
Looking for members
Tuskegee Geothermal team Tuskegee Geothermal team
2 team members
Looking for members
Kadon Chan's team Kadon Chan's team
3 team members
Looking for members
Jane Luca's team Jane Luca's team
3 team members
Looking for members
Orenda Orenda
2 team members
Looking for members
Teodora Custodio's team Teodora Custodio's team
1 team member
Looking for members
Montgomery College Team Montgomery College Team
3 team members
Looking for members
Jonathon Howland's team Jonathon Howland's team
3 team members
Looking for members
Ogonna Obinwa's team Ogonna Obinwa's team
2 team members
Looking for members
UND Geothermal Vision UND Geothermal Vision
3 team members
Looking for members
Arash Taleghani's team Arash Taleghani's team
1 team member
Looking for members
Hannah Pauling's team Hannah Pauling's team
2 team members
Looking for members
Resources
FAQ