Innovating Together: One Team’s Journey Through the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge
As we look ahead to this year’s Efficiency for Access Design Challenge Grand Final, we caught up with one of the teams participating to talk about collaboration, the details of their design, and how the experience has shaped their interest in a career in clean energy access.
The Efficiency for Access Design Challenge encourages collaboration and teamwork, as groups of students come together to work on their designs before submitting for the Challenge. For Team 2024-39 from Independent University, Bangladesh, the 2024-25 Challenge was more than just a competition – it was transformative experience for the members working as a team. Tasking themselves with developing a solar-powered electric boat, the team brought together diverse skills and perspectives to tackle a real-world problem affecting riverbank communities in Bangladesh.
We spoke to the team about how they worked as a team, the challenges they faced in the design stages, and the positive learnings that they gained from working together as part of the Challenge.
The Importance of Teamwork
Whilst individually each member has gained invaluable skills, the importance of collaboration has been emphasised by all the members of Team 2024-39. “We all came from different areas”, says Parvez Sultan, who led the boat’s design. “Some were focusing on the electrical side, others on sustainability – and we had to constantly communicate and adjust based on each other’s progress. It really showed me how important teamwork and flexibility are in any design project.”
Persistence was key, according to fellow team member Shahariar Parves. “Most of the meetings resulted in zero. Only through dedication could we reach where we are today.” Echoing this sentiment, Sajid Zafry Ahsan noted how the long-term collaboration felt like he was part of something bigger: “Previously, I had never worked with a team for such a long duration… I felt like I was not just doing a project but working with our own startup company.”
Knowledge Application
The Challenge provides students with a unique chance to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges, often marking their first experience working on a renewable energy-powered appliance or technology Brishti Dhar, who focused on solar integration and sustainability for the project, describes the technical learning curve: “This is my first-ever renewable powered vehicle design… it taught me many lessons in power management and optimising a design for maximum efficiency.”
Parvez faced a steep learning curve in hydrodynamics and hull design: “The shape of the hull affects everything… [including] how much energy it uses.” Meanwhile, Shahariar had another hurdle to climb. “In the starting stage, I knew nothing about an electric boat. Then our [team] leader suggested we gather knowledge… We read research papers, articles, journals, and watched videos. Meeting after meeting, we were able to fix our path.”
Sajid highlights how the challenge helped him grow beyond the classroom. “In my four years of learning engineering, most of the education I received was theoretical. Here, the practical aspect was present, and it elevated my complex engineering problem-solving skills.
The team also learned to adapt under pressure. Delays in importing components forced them to find local alternatives, whilst environmental testing revealed unexpected issues like water spray interfering with electrical connections. “Improvement of waterproof sealing and developing mounting with a panel adjustment feature helped solve these issues,” Brishti explains.
Positive Steps Forward
Beyond technical skills, the project left a lasting impact on the team’s personal and professional development. Brishti found positivity in the social dimension of their work: “Seeing fishermen struggle with high diesel prices… changed forever the way I think of the work I do. When the fishermen first experimented with the solar-powered boat and saw almost no fuel costs, I felt what being brought closer to technology meant to enhancing livelihoods.”
Shahariar found the experience deeply rewarding: “This journey gave me practical knowledge… It was truly full of fun and thrilling experiences for me.”
Parvez summed up the journey with pride: “The project wasn’t just about building an electric boat – it was about learning, experimenting, and pushing ourselves beyond what we thought we could do.”
Working together often brings out a deeper sense of purpose and empathy. In the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge, though, it’s more than just a by-product – it’s a kind of momentum that many students carry with them as they move into careers in clean energy access.
For Team 2024-39, like many teams in this year’s Challenge, the experience has inspired a real enthusiasm for taking on new, meaningful projects in sustainable development. The team’s ability to support one another through a variety of challenges has been vital to their success. Along the way, they’ve picked up more than just technical skills – they’ve gained a sense of purpose, belief in themselves, empathy for others, and the confidence to take the next step towards a career in clean energy access.
Tickets still available
There is still time to get your tickets to the Efficiency for Access Design Challenge 2024-25 Grand Final! You can find out more information by clicking on this link.