Office: Carbon Management
Learn more: Carbon Management Collegiate Competition
Overall Prize Amount: $25,000

Background Information

The U.S. Department of Energy's Fossil Energy and Carbon Management Office launched the Carbon Management Collegiate Competition for the 2023 Spring Semester. Collegiate students were tasked with proposing a regional carbon transport network, defining its business model, and optimizing the transport network across several parameters and with consideration to regional stakeholders, challenges, and cost variability.

Interdisciplinary teams were required to present a real-world example of work in multi-functional teams. Teams were comprised of 3 or more undergraduate or graduate students and represented more than one major with preference towards majors or specializations in business, supply chain, geosciences, engineering, GIS, land management, law, computer science, and/or public policy. It was highly encouraged to have representation across two or more disciplines. Faculty participation was welcomed and optional, but the faculty participant did take the place of a student in the 3-student requirement.

This competition sought a diverse range of participants with consideration to disadvantaged communities and underrepresented minorities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields to advance carbon management technologies and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emission goals in a just and sustainable way.

Awardees

On June 1, 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management announced the winners of the American-Made Carbon Management Collegiate Competition. All participating teams had access to industry expert mentors at Entrepreneur Futures Network and Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida throughout the competition. Teams also received eligibility feedback and guidance from DOE after submitting draft proposals at the midway check-in.

A panel of expert judges from academic, federal government, and utility backgrounds reviewed the final submissions to determine the winning teams:

• 1^st Place: Sequestration Squad, University of Michigan
• 2^nd Place: Biggest Little Lithium, University of Nevada
• 3^rd Place: GreenHouston, University of Houston

The winning teams will have the opportunity to present their winning proposals at DOE’s annual Carbon Management Research Project Review Meeting in August 2023.

Key Dates

Last Updated: June 1, 2023