Leer en español.
The U.S. Department of Energy today announced the winners of the 2024Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC).TheUniversity of New Hampshire was the overall winner, repeating its win from the 2023 competition.Purdue University took second place, andOakland University and Oregon State University tied in third place. Marine energy technologies harness the power of waves, tides, and ocean and river currents. The annual MECC, now in its fifth year, challenges multidisciplinary collegiate teams to develop solutions that can help power sectors in theblue economy, like aquaculture or ocean observation. Students gain hands-on experience by identifying markets for marine energy technologies and designing their own device.
The University of New Hampshire was the overall winner of the U.S. Department of Energy's 2024 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition.
Photo from Taylor Mankle, National Renewable Energy Laboratory
"Marineenergy resources are abundant, predictable and have immense potential to provide clean energy to our grid and the offshore economy,” said Jeff Marootian, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “The students participating in this competition are paving the way for this burgeoning new industry, and we look forward to their future achievements.”
The total available marine energy resource in the United States is equivalent tonearly 60% of U.S. power generation.Even if only a small portion of this technical resource potential is captured, marine energy technologies would make significant contributions to the nation’s energy needs.However, a strong workforce will be needed to ensure the country can leverage marine energy’s potential. The MECC introduces students to the different career paths—such as engineers, environmental scientists, business development experts, project managers, and communications and engagement specialists—needed to support the industry.
As part of this year’s competition, teams completed four required challenges, which focused on market analysis, technical design, prototype testing, and community engagement. The17 competing teamspresented the results of their work atthePacific Ocean Energy Trust’s Ocean Renewable Energy Conference in Portland, Oregon, which was held from May 20–23, 2024. After reviewing the presentations, reports, and posters, the competition’s expert judges selected the first, second, and third place winners. Theyalso selected the following individual category winners:
- Best Poster:Purdue University
- Business Plan Challenge Winner: University of New Hampshire
- Technical Design Challenge Winner: University of New Hampshire
- Build and Test Challenge Winner: Oregon State University
- Community Connections Challenge Winner: Purdue University
- Rookie of the Year Award: Rutgers University.
The MECC is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy’sWater Power Technologies Officeand administered by theNational Renewable Energy Laboratory.
Prize and Competition News
VIEW ALL
Water Power Technologies Office Selects Teams for 2025 Hydropower and Marine Energy Collegiate Competitions
Thirty-six student-led teams will participate in these competitions, which engage and educate students about real-world challenges facing the hydropower and marine energy sectors and career opportunities in water power.
Learn More
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Winners of 2024 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition
The University of New Hampshire won the 5th annual Marine Energy Collegiate Competition.
Learn More
Biden-Harris Administration Celebrates Progress in Domestic Floating Offshore Wind
The Departments of Energy, Interior, Commerce, and Transportation today released a report summarizing their progress toward the goals of the Floating Offshore Wind Shot™, an initiative to drive U.S. leadership in design, deployment, and manufacturing.
Learn More
DOE Announces Winners of 11th Annual Collegiate Wind Competition
California State University Maritime Academy claimed first place out of 12 student teams in the 11th annual Collegiate Wind Competition final event in Minneapolis in May 2024.
Learn More
U.S. Department of Energy Announces Winners of Second Annual Hydropower Collegiate Competition
Northern Arizona University was the overall winner of the 2024 Hydropower Collegiate Competition.
Learn More
DOE Announces Solar Decathlon 2024 Design Challenge Winners
Today the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Decathlon® , DOE’s longest-running student competition, announced the winners of the 2024 Design Challenge.
Learn More
U.S. Department of Energy Announces First Round of Community Energy Innovation Prize Winners for the Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks
The U.S. Department of Energy has announced 23 teams have won the CONCEPT Phase of the American-Made Community Energy Innovation Prize in the Clean Energy Ecosystem and Manufacturing Ecosystem Tracks.
Learn More
DOE Now Accepting Applications for 2025 Collegiate Wind Competition
The U.S. Department of Energy has begun accepting applications for the 2025 Collegiate Wind Competition.
Learn More
2023: A Year in Review for the Clean Energy Transition
Read about how EERE worked to bring clean energy to Americans nationwide in 2023.
Learn More
DOE Launches Prize to Recycle Critical Materials from Electronic Scrap
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today launched the Electronics Scrap Recycling Advancement Prize (E-SCRAP), which will award up to $4 million to competitors to substantially increase the production and use of critical materials recovered from electronic scrap—or e-scrap.
Learn More
