Thanks to a grant sponsored by solar energy firm SunEdison and distributed by the national organization Engineers for a Sustainable World, students will soon be able to purchase beverages from a solar-powered cart on campus.

ESW-GT earned $2,340 for its proposal for a solar café or kiosk used to raise funds for the chapter; Tech’s chapter chose to focus on beverages, either hot or chilled.

“This will not only raise money for our group, but will promote sustainable energy sources and pique the engineering interest of students around campus,” said Zac Hoffman, president of ESW-GT. The group hopes to use the cart on campus during large events, such as football games, and plans to debut it at this year’s Earth Day celebration on Friday, April 20, to showcase ESW-GT to students and generate excitement about renewable energy. Hoffman said the team is finishing its final design and will soon begin construction.

Funding will be used to purchase materials to build the cart and for travel expenses to showcase the final product at the ESW national conference this fall. SunEdison will provide on-board solar cells that will be used in beverage preparation.