UT Tyler teams split $100K grand prize in energy innovation competition

TYLER, Texas ( KETK ) – Two University of Texas at Tyler teams of engineering students placed first and third in a energy innovation competition winning a total of $70,000 of the $100,000 grand prize.

According to a release, each team was originally awarded $15,000 in January and additional $20,000 in April for advancing to the progress phase of the Department of Energy (DOE) Community Energy Innovation Competition. The money was reportedly awarded to ensure the benefits of clean energy were felt in local communities.

The top three collegiate teams competed in the impact phase for a share of the grand prize. The first place team with the concept Greener CASA won $45,000 and GreenSynergy that placed third won $25,000.

“We congratulate our two teams of mechanical engineering students, led by Dr. Nelson Fumo and Dr. Mohammad Biswas, and their community partners,” UT Tyler College of Engineering dean Dr. Javier Kypuros said. “Their concepts show exemplary teamwork, use of technology and collaboration to help improve and benefit communities in need.”

Diego Diaz, Pedro Montano and Rafael Reyes’ Greener CASA concept is a partnership to bring free energy audits to disadvantaged communities, a release said.

The concept GreenSynergy was represented by Oswaldo Garcia, Peter de Vries, Grant Howard, Muhammad Khan, Arnold Garcia, Anne Josiah, Syed Jafferi and Parth Modi. Their plan focuses on fostering learning and sustainability using technology to integrate clean energy into education.

“Supporting underserved communities with their local energy transitions is a cornerstone of DOE’s work to ensure that every American benefits from the clean energy economy,” Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said. “We’re proud of the ingenuity and dedication these student-led teams brought to this challenge, and we encourage them to lend their hard-earned experience to future clean energy projects in their own communities.”

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.