45 student-led teams to participate in competitions that engage and educate students about real-world challenges facing the hydropower and marine energy sectors and career opportunities in water power.
Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office
May 14, 2026
Estimated Read Time min
WASHINGTON–The U.S. Department of Energy's Hydropower and Hydrokinetic Office (H2O) today announced the 45 student teams selected to participate in the 2027 Hydropower Collegiate Competition (HCC) and Marine Energy Collegiate Competition (MECC). These annual competitions engage and educate students about real-world challenges facing these sectors and the many career opportunities in hydropower and marine energy.
“The Hydropower and Marine Energy Collegiate Competitions challenge the next generation to find and advance bold new ideas for water power,” said Nichole Fitzgerald, H2O Director. “The competitions offer students real-world experience and prepare them for careers supporting Americans’ energy needs.”
Hydropower Collegiate Competition
During the 2027 HCC, student teams will either apply existing technology or develop new technology related to the conversion of non-powered dams to hydroelectric dams, adding pumped storage hydropower to existing hydropower reservoirs, or enabling energy production from pressurized conduits.
HCC teams will compete in five challenges: The Siting Challenge, Design Challenge, Community Connections Challenge, Design and Siting Poster, and Quick Pitch. Teams also have the option to compete in the Build and Test Challenge.
The following 15 teams will compete in the fifth annual HCC:
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- California State University, Fresno
- Colorado School of Mines
- Cornell University
- Michigan Technological University
- Northern Arizona University
- The Ohio State University
- Purdue University
- Southern Utah University
- University of Colorado, Boulder
- University of Houston
- University of Michigan
- University of North Florida
- University of Southern California
- University of Wisconsin – Madison
Marine Energy Collegiate Competition
The 2027 MECC asks student teams to identify a promising market within ocean-based industries, research sectors, or national security missions. Students will then determine the best marine energy application to address within that market.
The 2027 competition will feature two “leagues”—the Kilowatt League (foundational level) and the Megawatt League (advanced level). The Kilowatt League is designed for teams new to the competition or those opting for a scaled-down participation experience and the Megawatt League is designed for teams prepared to fully participate in all MECC challenges.
Teams in the Megawatt League must participate in all four core challenges: the Business Plan Challenge, Technical Design Challenge, Build and Test Challenge, and Community Connections Challenge. Teams in the Kilowatt League must participate in the Community Connections Challenge and either the Business Plan Challenge and/or the Technical Design Challenge.
The following 30 teams will compete in the eighth annual MECC:
- Baldwin Wallace University
- California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
- California State University, Fresno
- Cornell University
- Georgia Southern University
- Hawaii Pacific University
- Iowa State University
- Michigan Technological University
- Oakland University
- Oregon State University
- Purdue University
- Rutgers University (New Brunswick)
- Stevens Institute of Technology
- Stanford University
- University of California, Riverside
- University of Hawaii at Manoa
- University of Houston
- University of Kentucky – Paducah Campus
- University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
- University of New Hampshire
- University of New Mexico
- University of North Carolina at Charlotte
- University of North Florida
- University of Southern California
- University of Texas at Dallas
- University of Texas at Tyler
- University of Washington, Seattle
- University of Wisconsin – Madison
- Washington and Lee University
- Webb Institute
HCC and MECC activities begin in fall 2026, and teams will focus on their challenges throughout the academic year. Both competitions will conclude in person at industry events in spring 2027.
Learn about the teams from the 2026 HCC and MECC. H2O announced the winners for the 2026 HCC in April and the 2026 MECC will conclude at the end of May.
H2O funds—and the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) administers—the HCC and MECC.
Stay in the know with H2O! Receive the latest information on funding opportunities, events, and other news by subscribing to the monthly Water Wire newsletter.