MECC 2021 open for applications

The US Water Power Technologies Office has opened the 2021 Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC) for applications.

MECC enables diverse teams of students to get real-world experience exploring marine energy solutions for the blue economy.

The competition is specifically open to undergraduate and graduate-level students.

As a nascent technology, marine energy devices require further work to optimize designs and reduce costs.

Possible proposal submissions include marine-powered applications for desalination, offshore marine aquaculture, ocean observation, and other markets.

Students will research and develop business plans, pitch their plans to a panel of judges and hypothetical investors, and perform actual prototype testing.

The 2021 competition introduces a new segment that will allow interested teams to build and test their devices.

Deadline for applications is 30 September 2020, with the informational webinar set for 23 September.

The US Department of Energy (DOE) announced winners of the 2020 MECC in July this year.

Of the 14 collegiate teams that competed, DOE recognised three overall winners, who achieved the highest scores.

Teams were asked to design a device that optimises technology, reduces costs, and explores further opportunities for marine energy.

Specifically, the 2021 MECC teams will need to:

Develop a market-research-supported business plan and conceptual-level technical design of a commercial system that could address power needs for a chosen sector of the blue economy;

Pitch their plan to a panel of judges and hypothetical investors;

Design, build, and also test a device to achieve energy production.