As we prepare to host the regional EnergyTech University Prize (UP) competition on February 28, The Corridor is proud to spotlight 12 student teams selected to participate. The EnergyTech UP competitors selected hail from postsecondary institutions in Florida and Alabama. These student teams will present their business plans for the chance to win a berth in the national competition and their share of $370,000 in federal funding.
Sponsored by the Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) at the U.S. Department of Energy, EnergyTech UP encourages students to build business plans around National Laboratory technologies, or technologies development at their university or independently. The regional competition will be held virtually and is open to the public.
Learn more about the EnergyTech UP competitors selected and register to attend.
The Competitors:
AIKYAM
School: University of Florida
Team Members: Divya Dhananjayan (Captain), Divya Vellanki
Proposal: A unified platform will be key to the development and implementation of the infrastructure necessary for the wide adoption of electric vehicles. This platform provides a data-driven and informed approach to planning and analysis of necessary changes.
BacteraCell
School: University of South Florida
Team Members: Mitchell Harrah (Captain)
Proposal: Creating a commercially viable microbial fuel cell will convert municipal wastewater into potable water while creating green energy and decreasing pollution.
Battery Doctor
School: University of Alabama
Team Members: Mohammad Alsmadi (Captain), Anastasia Ramig
Proposal: Quick and intelligent Health Diagnosis (qiHD) provides an accurate and fast analysis of lithium-ion batteries. This technology can estimate the health of a battery and predict an upcoming failure.
Carbon Electrode Perovskite Solar: Energy for all
School: University of Alabama
Team Members: Jacob Wall (Captain), Vijay Sankaranarayanan Nair
Proposal: Cost-effective, high-efficiency, perovskite solar cells, which utilize carbon electrodes instead of more expensive traditional metals like silver or gold, can revolutionize the solar industry.
Carbon-Negative Wireless Power Transfer Technology
School: University of Tampa
Team Members: Akshay Bhuva (Captain), Paulo Cezar Lopes Sa, Ryan Drames, Jude Corr,
Gabrielle Assad, Luisa de Dea Januario, Maxwell Cohen, Olivia Richardson, Gemma Laughman
Proposal: Wireless power transfer technology eliminates the need for small kitchen appliances to use power cords, giving users an aesthetically pleasing and welcoming kitchen while companies get the ability to collect and analyze first-hand user data.
Desulfurization of Natural Gas Producing Hydrogen
School: Florida International University
Team Members: Alexis Arriaga-Rubio (Captain), Ana Claus
Proposal: A cheaper and more energy-efficient desulfurization process will allow for natural gas companies to increase revenue and play a major role in the transition to zero emissions.
Digital Twin for Photovoltaic System Analysis and Diagnosis
School: Florida International University
Team Members: Mahmoud Abdelrahman (Captain), Hossan Hussein, Ahmed Aghmadi, Osama
Mohammed
Proposal: Photovoltaic panels are vital to converting solar radiation into electrical energy. Digital Twin technology can be used to assist in the performance optimization and diagnosis of potential defects in the panels, providing utility companies with the chance to improve efficiency.
From Waste to Market Growth: CO2 Eating Algae
School: Florida Agricultural & Mechanical University and Florida State University
Team Members: Esther Perceval (Captain), Naomy Perceval
Proposal: A photobioreactor that converts algae, along with CO2, solar energy and water, into value-added products such as fatty acids, lipids and proteins which can then be used by several other industries to produce cheaper goods.
The MEGA: Mobile Electricity Generating Appliance
School: New College of Florida
Team Members: Antonia Ginsberg-Klemmt (Captain), Ari Ginsberg-Klemmt, Foster Swartz
Proposal: The MEGA is an appliance that targets underserved “energy prosumers.” The team’s patented rack on wheels will enable everyone to adopt renewable solar energy generation.
Perpetual Electricity
School: University of Central Florida
Team Members: Zachary Aaron Teal (Captain), Max Tafoya, Pugazh Enthi, Clayton Marcon
Proposal: Powered by an electromagnetic motor, Perpetual Electricity is a new form of high-volume electricity generation that uses a similar principle as wind and natural gas.
RenergyNest
School: University of Florida
Team Members: Mahsa Farzaneh (Captain), Arash Shad, Faisal Altwijri, Ayyoub Momen
Proposal: New technology allows for the efficient development of a long-duration grid-scale energy storage system, which is vital for utility companies and renewable energy sources.
Ultrasonic Deposition of Ionic Membranes
School: University of Connecticut and University of Miami
Team Members: Jack Kissane (Captain), Liam Kissane
Proposal: Proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) and water equalizers (PEMWE) are innovative energy conversion devices, but both technologies are expensive to manufacture. With new technology, we can reduce the cost and complexity to produce the proton conductive membrane, an important component of both devices.