Sarah Jane Hughes, an electronic and computer engineering student from Drogheda and two colleagues from Galway University, Ruchit Ghandi and Ethan O’Brien, have won a prize of €6,000 for an app they designed called Peer Power, which encourages energy sharing in communities. Their project narrowly missed out to team Todhchaí Glas from University College Dublin, who claimed first place.

Judging the competition were Joanna Donnelly, Meteorologist with Met Éireann, Vish Gain, Technology and Business Journalist with the Business Post, Professor John Barry, Professor of Green Political Economy at Queens University Belfast and EirGrid’s own Head of Engineering and Asset Management, Louise O’Flanagan.

The CleanerGrid competition run by EirGrid, the operator and developer of Ireland’s electricity grid, aims to foster innovation and creativity by encouraging third-level students to showcase their skills in solving critical energy challenges, with a focus on sustainability, efficiency and clean energy technologies.

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”.

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 energy storage, leveraging our coasts through offshore wind and the use of artificial intelligence in grid enhancement.

Following the event, Sarah Jane spoke positively of the team’s experience, saying, “The timeline we were given on the project was fantastic. We submitted our initial proposal in October, so it gave us a lot of time to commit to the idea and really work on it.

“For students entering competitions like this in the future, I recommend looking at something that will solve challenges for people. It was all very enjoyable,” she added.

Congratulating all the teams on an engaging series of presentations, EirGrid Chief Innovation Officer Liam Ryan said, “Today’s 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. We offer our thanks to everyone who took part in today’s final, coming from all corners of the country.”