Efficiency for Access Design Challenge

To provide sustainable energy for all, we urgently need to enhance the efficiency and affordability of high performing appliances. The Challenge invites teams of university students to create affordable, high-performing off-grid appliances and enabling technologies.

By bringing together and inspiring students, the competition aims to foster innovation in the off-grid appliances sector. It also seeks to help address barriers that limit market expansion in this area. Furthermore, the Challenge seeks to forge beneficial partnerships between universities, researchers and industry partners at a global level. In this way, it will further strengthen academic capacity within the off-grid sector.

Introducing the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge 2024 – 2025

The Efficiency for Access Design Challenge, brought to you in partnership with Engineers Without Borders UK, returns for its sixth year running.

This year, we invite student teams to submit innovative designs that will accelerate clean energy access, revolutionise the off-grid appliances sector, and make a lasting impact on communities in the Global South.

To learn more about the competition’s full scope, major milestones and timeline, and our assessment framework, explore our Challenge Handbook.

Previous Challenges

Over the past five years, more than 500 students from 40 universities in 17 countries have participated in the Challenge. More than 115 project ideas have been developed which you can read about here.

Last year, students from 17 universities participated in the competition. The Challenge involved kick off workshops for each university, a series of webinars, and a prototype fund application call.

Industry partners mentored student teams, spoke in our webinars, and judged the pitching sessions. They also provided resources for the students, which can be found here.

The Challenge year concluded with the Grand Final event on 18 June 2024, celebrating the students’ achievements, showcasing their amazing designs, and honouring student teams whose innovations stood out to the judges based on the assessment criteria at the awards ceremony.

Discover the full list of award winners and their designs.

Watch the full recording of the Grand Final and be inspired by these exceptional young innovators.

Discover highlights from the Challenge in the video below.

Contact

Students and academics

If you are a student or an academic and have any questions about the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge, please contact  EforAchallenge@est.org.uk

Companies

For more information on sponsoring or future involvement in the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge, please contact EforAchallenge@est.org.uk

Efficiency for Access and Engineers Without Borders UK are delighted to collaborate on the delivery of the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge. The Challenge is funded by UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform and the IKEA Foundation.