Energy Vault Student Competition

Energy Competition

Energy Vault Student Competition

Energy Vault is an energy storage technology provider and system integrator with a product portfolio spanning short-duration and long-duration applications. Energy Vault is specialized in utility-scale projects; primary customers include electrical utility companies, independent power producers (IPP), and large industrial energy consumers. The driving mission of Energy Vault is to identify, develop, and bring to market the most advanced, sustainable, and economic energy storage products and integrated project solutions in order to accelerate the renewable energy transition and maintain the critical power reliability needs of our modern world.

The competition will require students or teams to present a 'pitch' to members of Energy Vault, who will then judge the winner. 

Deadlines

Virtual Competition Information Session: February 20, 2023, TIME TBA (Email Christine Reed at christine.reed@uwyo.edu to gain access to the link)

Registration Deadline: March 15, 2023

Presentation Submission Due: April 5, 2023

Presentations and Winner Selection: April 10, 2023

2023 Competition Topic

Hydrogen storage is a key factor to enable the growth and continued advancement in the overall hydrogen economy. Although hydrogen has a high energy density per mass relative to other fuel sources it is an ultra-light gas that results in low density at normal atmospheric pressure.  Today, hydrogen is stored as a gas or a liquid in high-pressure tanks; each method presents it’s own pros and cons.

The $5,000 Energy Vault student competition challenges graduate students to identify potential new methods of hydrogen storage and provide examples of current research or companies exploring such methods.

Competition Entry and Rules

1. The competition is open to graduate and doctoral students. 

2. Students may enter the competition as an individual or within a team. Teams must be comprised of graduate or doctoral-level students of any major.

3. To enter, email your intention to compete to krussow@uwyo.edu by 5:00 PM (MST) on March 15, 2023 with the subject line "Energy Vault Student Competition." Please include the names of any team members competiting with you. Only one submission per team is required.

4. As a part of the deliverables, teams will provide a short 20-minute presentation with accompanying powerpoint slides summarizing their findings, as well as a long form word document with more complete details.

5. Email the final presentation slides and summary document as a single PDF to the School of Energy Resources at krussow@uwyo.edu by 5:00 PM (MDT) on April 5, 2023. 

6. Teams must provide a 20-minute, in-person presentation on April 10, 2023 before a panel of Energy Vault representatives. Winners will be selected at the completion of the presentations. 

Kickoff Video

To recquest viewing access of the informational kickoff meeting that was held on February 20 with the competition organizers, please email christine.reed@uwyo.edu.