Clean Energy Trust Announces Semifinalists for the Inaugural Student Clean Energy Challenge: $150,000 in Prizes to be Awarded

Jan. 9, 2012
Contenders were chosen from more than 40 innovative clean energy business plans submitted by students across the Midwest.

The Clean Energy Trust is excited to announce the semifinalists in its inaugural Clean Energy Student Challenge. A distinguished panel of independent evaluators selected student-led companies from eight states to compete for $50,000 in state prizes and the $100,000 grand prize, provided by the Department of Energy.

Applications from eight states were submitted in all technology areas of clean energy; from waste-to-energy solutions and biofuels to solar cells and new wind energy innovations. The semifinalists will receive mentoring to prepare them to present their business plans to a panel of judges comprised of venture capitalists, corporate investors and business leaders. The presentations will be made on the afternoon of Feb. 29, when eight finalists will earn a chance to compete for the grand prize on March 1 at the Spertus Center in Chicago.

“The Student Challenge is truly bringing the best and the brightest students from some of our nation’s most prestigious universities to the forefront of the clean energy world,” noted Amy Francetic, executive director of the Clean Energy Trust. “They have taken wonderfully innovative technologies and built viable business plans around them.”

Student Challenge finalists                University                                                           Category

  1. Amplified Wind Solutions             Cleveland State University                    renewables
  2. ATS Motors                                  Purdue University                                  next-gen transportation
  3. Bagpipe Technologies                 Northwestern University                        energy-efficiency
  4. Convolutus Inc.                           Purdue University                                  energy-efficiency
  5. Design Flux Technologies            University of Akron                                 energy storage
  6. Effimax Solar                               University of Illinois--Urbana                  renewables
  7. Electroluminescent Products       University of Missouri--Kansas City        energy-efficiency
  8. Hydraulic Wind Power                 Indiana University                                  renewables
  9. NanoHarv                                    Case Western Reserve University          renewables
  10. NuMat Technology                       Northwestern University                        energy storage
  11. Power-by-Nano                           Purdue University                                   renewables
  12. ReGenerate Solutions                 University of Michigan—Ann Arbor           biomass
  13. Re:Wind                                      Purdue University                                    renewables
  14. Root3                                          University of Chicago                               energy-efficiency
  15. Saturnis                                      Washington University                             biomass
  16. SiNode                                        Northwestern University                          energy storage

Finalists will present their business plans to a prestigious panel of judges at the 2012 Clean Energy Challenge on March 1. The winner of the Student Challenge will compete in the national finals in Washington, D.C. this summer.

CET and its anchor partners — Cleantech Open and Nortech (Ohio), University of Michigan, Purdue University (Indiana) and Washington University (Missouri) — held statewide competitions to select three finalists from each state to compete in the Clean Energy Student Challenge in Chicago. An additional 16 universities from across the Midwest served as supporting partners for the competitions.

The 2012 Clean Energy Challenge corporate sponsors include Wells Fargo, Acciona, Skadden, ArcelorMittal, Invenergy, Planet Solar, UK Trade and Investment, Goldwind, West Capital, True North Venture Partners and Marathon Capital

To attend the 2012 Clean Energy Challenge, register here.