The University of Houston’s Energy Transition Institute hosted its inaugural Coogs for Energy Hackathon on February 21-22 at the UH Technology Bridge, bringing together students from multiple disciplines to tackle some of the region’s most pressing energy challenges.
The competition, sponsored by the Glenn Bailey Foundation, featured 10 teams of students from several UH colleges, all working to develop innovative solutions in areas ranging from renewable energy and carbon reduction to electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure and circular economy initiatives.
The teams had 10 days to research their assigned problem statements before the event. On Friday evening, they pitched three potential solutions and refined their ideas with guidance from industry mentors. By Saturday afternoon, they had developed prototypes—either digital or physical—and presented their final proposals to a panel of judges.
The event took place at the Innovation Center, a state-of-the-art space designed to stimulate business development, research, and industry collaboration. Throughout the competition, the center provided an environment where participants could develop, refine, and present their solutions.
Addressing Real-World Energy Challenges
Participants tackled a range of critical energy issues, choosing from prompts such as:
1. Carbon intensity labeling for products
2. Green hydrogen plant development in Texas
3. EV charging station deployment along the I-10 corridor
4. Real-time energy demand forecasting for community resilience
5. Waste-to-energy innovations
“We were working on wastewater treatment and how we could utilize wastewater,” said participant Abdallah Zakri. “While not our top choice, it was definitely a challenging problem and we were happy it was assigned to our team. When we started to dive into the research and did a bit of digging, we realized what an important issue it is and how much it could help the environment if we solved this issue.”
“This Hackathon has been a really rewarding experience. During the two days that we have been working here and the previous week, I for one learned a lot and gained invaluable experience,” Zakri said. “I would definitely suggest it.”
Scott Nyquist, Senior Advisor to the Houston Energy Transition Initiative, served as one of the three judges of the event. He explained what they looked for in the teams’ solutions: “We wanted to see insights that emerged from collaboration. Have they looked outside and gathered all the research that’s needed that's available in the particular topic? Have they been able to connect the dots in a way that allows them to come up with something new? And can they bring that all together in a provocative product, offering, or solution that is unique and distinctive?”
Recognizing the Winners
After a full day of collaboration and problem-solving, the top three winning teams were awarded prizes of $6,000 for first place, $3,000 for second, and $1,500 for third. Additionally, the winners earned an opportunity to present their ideas to industry leaders and stakeholders, further bridging the gap between academia and real-world energy innovation.
Glenys Yevi and her team Ecosix took first place, and they were ecstatic at the result. “We were so nervous, we weren’t expecting the win at all, it still feels unreal,” Glenys said. “We cannot wait to take the next steps and take this product to market.”
When asked if she would want to do another Hackathon event, Glenys continued to show her excitement. “I absolutely would. It was a really great experience. I think it challenged me in a lot of ways. This is my first interdisciplinary case competition ever, and I will do more of them again. It was an amazing experience through and through.”
Empowering the Next Generation of Energy Leaders
The hackathon served as more than just a competition; it provided students with hands-on experience in systems thinking, energy transition strategies, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Through mentorship and networking, participants gained insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the future of energy.
Participant Rebecca G. left a piece of advice for future students who might be thinking about participating in a future hackathon: “Just do it. You don't have to be super advanced in your major or be really confident in your presentation skills, if you have a passion and a team you can do anything!”
The Energy Transition Institute hopes to build on the success of this year’s event by making the Coogs for Energy Hackathon an annual tradition, reinforcing the University of Houston’s role as “The Energy University ®.”
Watch Highlights From The Coogs For Energy Hackathon