UConn is taking bold steps towards a sustainable future by committing to reducing its carbon footprint through innovation and community involvement. For the second year in a row, UConn has partnered with Eversource Energy to launch an exciting innovation competition aimed at engaging students in the design of our energy future. This unique opportunity invites teams of undergraduate and graduate students to propose their own groundbreaking ideas to facilitate a clean energy transition.
The competition has attracted an impressive group of participants, with five finalist teams comprising 13 students – four undergraduates and nine graduates. These talented individuals represent six departments and schools: Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, School of Computing, School of Public Policy, and Department of Mathematics. This multidisciplinary approach ensures a wide range of perspectives and expertise in tackling the complex challenges of clean energy.
Each selected team will receive summer funding and be paired with mentors from both UConn faculty and Eversource Energy, providing them with invaluable guidance and support as they develop their innovative ideas. This hands-on mentorship will help students address the real-world dimensions and details necessary for a successful clean energy transition.
The culmination of their efforts will be showcased at the 2024 Sustainable Clean Energy Summit on September 23, where the teams will present their projects to a distinguished panel of industry, utility, research, and state professionals. The most promising team(s) will be awarded additional funding to continue their research through the next academic year, paving the way for tangible advancements in sustainable energy.
This renewed partnership between UConn and Eversource Energy exemplifies a continued commitment to fostering environmental justice both locally and globally, preparing for climate extremes, and driving forward the innovation needed for a sustainable future. Through this initiative, UConn is empowering its students to be at the forefront of the clean energy revolution.
The projects and student teams selected for the 2024 Clean Energy & Sustainability Innovation Program are:
Project: The Energy Justice Mapping Tool
Students: Umar Salman (Ph.D. Student, Electrical Engineering), Binit Gautam (Ph.D. Student, Civil Engineering), Charitarth Chugh ’25 (CLAS), Mathematics and Statistics.
Project: A Probabilistic Real-Time Controller for Restoration Control Actions During Hurricane Disasters with High Penetration of Renewable Energy
Students: Soroush Vahedi (Ph.D. Candidate, Electrical Engineering), Alaa Selim (Ph.D. Candidate, Electrical Engineering), Morteza Azizi (Ph.D. Candidate, Environmental Engineering).
Project: Leading Connecticut Towards a Sustainable Future: Innovative Energy Demand Prediction and Resilience Planning
Students: Jiwon Kim ’25 (ENG), Computer Science; Buket Sahin (Ph.D. Student, Environmental Engineering).
Project: Integrating Green Hydrogen Production and Transport within a Natural Gas Infrastructure on the Path to Carbon Neutrality
Students: Ava Tobón ’25 (ENG), Chemical Engineering; Alana Marquis ’25 (ENG), Civil Engineering.
Project: Potential Micro-Hydropower Retrofits at Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants
Students: Zhiqing Li (Ph.D. Student, Structural Engineering), Steven Matile (MPA candidate), Meshach Ojo (Ph.D. Student, Structural Engineering).
