Geothermal Collegiate Competition - Class of 2022

Registration is now open for the 2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition! $10,000 for first place teams in multiple tracks; $6,000 for second place and $2,000 for third.

Register by September 16, 2024, to be paired with an industry mentor. The final date to register is October 7, 2024. 

To register: 

Click "Solve This Challenge" on HeroX 

Team captains must fill out the "2024 Geothermal Collegiate Competition Registration Form" (click 'Begin Entry') on behalf of the team to officially register.  

We recommend having all team members make a HeroX account and connect to their team. You can add team members after completing the registration form. 

After registering: 

READ the competition rules! 

Attend the Informational Webinar on September 12, 2024, at 4 p.m. EDT. 

Contact competition organizers at Geo.Competition@nrel.gov with questions. 

Begin your project - you can submit an optional deliverable on October 28, 2024, to receive feedback on your work in progress. 

Final deliverables are due on December 20, 2024. 

Join competition organizers TOMORROW, Wednesday, July 26 for the final Fall 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition Office Hours before competition registration opens on August 1!

Register here for the optional July 26, 1 pm EDT Office Hours to learn more about this year's challenge.

The next opportunity to talk with competition organizers will be at the August 15 Informational Webinar.

Considering competing in the Fall 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition for a chance at $10k? Join organizers Tuesday, June 27 at 2 p.m. EDT for optional, virtual Office Hours.

Register here and come with questions! A brief overview of the competition will also be provided.

Can't make it in June? Join the July Office Hours on July 26.

The Geothermal Collegiate Competition (GCC) has announced the launch of the Fall 2023 cycle! Read the rules and start gathering your team for the competition that invites students to develop real-world geothermal solutions while competing for cash prizes and gaining resume experience in the renewable energy industry.

With two tracks this year—technical and policy—there is something for nearly any undergraduate or graduate student. First-place teams in each track will receive $10,000 and second-place teams can earn $6,000. 

Registration will open on August 1, 2023! Check out the rules to learn more and follow the competition on HeroX for updates.

Questions? 

• Register for one of the GCC office hours: 
  • May 25 (2 p.m. ET), June 27 (2 p.m. ET), July 26 (1 p.m. ET) 
• Or email  with questions.

The Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED) is seeking public input via a Request for Information (RFI) on a new $1 billion program to improve energy generation in rural or remote communities across the country. 

• Funded by President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the Energy Improvements in Rural or Remote Areas (ERA) program aims to strengthen the resilience, reliability, and availability of energy systems, helping communities unlock the public health and cost-saving benefits that cleaner, more efficient energy provides.
• This RFI will inform the funding opportunity for the ERA program and is an opportunity for DOE to hear from rural or remote communities, utilities, private sector project developers, and others about what they need to improve their energy systems.

Feedback to this RFI can be submitted to ERA@hq.doe.gov until Nov 28, 2022, at noon EST. More information is available on the Geothermal Technologies Office website.