{"688283":{"#nid":"688283","#data":{"type":"news","title":"From Concept to Prototype: How Georgia Tech Students Are Shaping a Sustainable Energy Future","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hack.energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergyHack@GT\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s second annual student-run energy and sustainability hackathon, took place over the weekend of Jan. 23 \u2013 25, 2026. Organized by the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Club at Georgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, the hackathon\u2019s mission was to unite passionate students, tackle critical challenges in the energy industry, and foster innovation and collaboration.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the course of 36 hours, participants collaborated in teams to brainstorm, design, and prototype projects that promote sustainable practices based on diverse problem statements, addressing this year\u2019s tracks: \u003Cstrong\u003Erenewables; electrification \u0026amp; mobility; and smart grid.\u003C\/strong\u003E These themes targeted urgent issues, from balancing renewable energy supply and demand to safeguarding infrastructure against cyber threats and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the arrival of a winter storm and the hackathon shifting to a fully virtual format, students persevered and produced top-tier projects, which were evaluated by a panel of judges.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe event kicked off with an engaging opening ceremony featuring inspiring keynote speeches that set the tone for the hackathon\u2019s ambitious objectives. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/research.gatech.edu\/spotlight-ann-dunkin-sei-distinguished-external-fellow\u0022\u003EAnn Dunkin\u003C\/a\u003E, Distinguished External Fellow at Georgia Tech\u2019s \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energy.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EStrategic Energy Institute\u003C\/a\u003E (SEI), served as the first of these keynotes, presenting her experiences as chief information officer for the U.S. Department of Energy. She gave participants, whether newcomers or veterans in the energy space, diverse problems to tackle, ranging from cybersecurity risks in substations to climate concerns in the age of artificial intelligence. Dunkin emphasized that no matter the challenge, a strong team can always develop innovative solutions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI was impressed by the quality and completeness of the solutions that the students created over about 40 hours,\u201d said Dunkin. \u0022Students created real solutions that meet market needs, and they conveyed an incredible amount of information in the three minutes they had to present their solutions.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EDespite the switch to a virtual format, participants could still talk to mentors throughout the event. These mentors included a Google lead, startup CEOs, Ph.D. researchers, and other professionals with decades of experience in the energy industry. Mentors provided feedback on participants\u2019 ideas and guided them to think more deeply about the problems they chose. The various workshops also provided participants with a chance to dig deep into specific topics.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/michaelklevy\/\u0022\u003EMichael Levy\u003C\/a\u003E, U.S. utilities lead at global consulting firm \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.baringa.com\/en\/\u0022\u003EBaringa\u003C\/a\u003E, presented his workshop on using data and modeling to shape utility decisions, policy, and regulatory strategy. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.gevernova.com\/\u0022\u003EGE Vernova\u003C\/a\u003E representatives presented \u201cThe Energy of Change,\u201d an interactive workshop featuring climate simulations and team challenges to explore the trade-offs between cost, grid capacity, and carbon impact in the real world. \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/mlh.io\/\u0022\u003EMajor League Hacking\u003C\/a\u003E provided guides on GitHub Copilot and Google AI Studio. The final workshop, \u201cOrg Efficiency in Early Startups,\u201d was led by \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/rhunterharris\/\u0022\u003EHunter Harris\u003C\/a\u003E from the technology incubator complex \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/atlantatechvillage.com\/\u0022\u003EAtlanta Tech Village\u003C\/a\u003E. Harris taught participants what to prioritize in an early startup, including how to build a management structure and find the right strategy for attracting customers.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/troy-rice\/\u0022\u003ETroy Rice\u003C\/a\u003E, vice president and general manager of Florida Power and Light under NextEra Energy, gave a keynote speech on utility business models and how to set yourself apart in a large industry. Rice discussed his experience, which began as a Tech graduate from the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.isye.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EH. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering\u003C\/a\u003E. After learning about NextEra\u2019s business model, he eventually created and taught an internal class called \u201cHow NextEra Makes Money.\u201d Rice used this story to explain the importance of becoming an expert in knowledge that others in your company overlook. He also discussed the future of energy generation, emphasizing the growth of renewable energy in utility portfolios and often-overlooked potential career opportunities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe energy and creativity culminated in the Project Expo, where 22 innovative solutions were showcased. Representatives from the Strategic Energy Institute, Microsoft, NextEra Energy, GE Vernova, and Georgia Tech professors judged projects, offering insights and feedback.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe closing ceremony celebrated the participants\u2019 achievements and the event highlights, featuring \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/emily-a-morris\/\u0022\u003EEmily Morris\u003C\/a\u003E, founder and CEO of \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/emrgy.com\/\u0022\u003EEmrgy\u003C\/a\u003E, as the final keynote speaker. Morris shared insights from her experience as a technology startup founder in the energy sector, discussing the unique challenges of navigating a risk-averse industry. She encouraged aspiring entrepreneurs to start by envisioning their future press release to clarify their end goal and avoid getting lost in immediate challenges. Morris emphasized the importance of leveraging your network, whether your Georgia Tech connections or hometown community, regardless of whether you pursue academia, industry, or the startup world.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWith more than 110 registered participants, 22 project submissions, and leaders from some of the biggest energy and tech companies, EnergyHack@GT served as a platform for innovation and learning, showcasing the potential of student-led initiatives in shaping the future of energy and sustainability. Awards were presented to the top three projects for their creativity and impact, with the winning teams receiving cash prizes provided by the startup \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tractian.com\/en\u0022\u003ETractian\u003C\/a\u003E:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli\u003EBest Overall Hack: AppliScan\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003ESecond Place: TeraWatt\u003C\/li\u003E\u003Cli\u003EThird Place: WattsUp\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003Cp\u003ETake a look at all the projects submitted: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyhack-gt-26.devpost.com\/project-gallery.\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/energyhack-gt-26.devpost.com\/project-gallery\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EWritten by Georgia Tech students: \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/bradenqueen\/\u0022\u003EBraden Queen\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/linkedin.com\/in\/orit-endalk-725b61325\u0022\u003EOrit Endalk\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/radhikasharmaga\/\u0022\u003ERadhika Sharma\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/hack.energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EEnergyHack@GT\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E, Georgia Tech\u2019s second annual student-run energy and sustainability hackathon, took place over the weekend of Jan. 23\u0026nbsp;\u2013 25, 2026. Organized by the\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/energyclub.gatech.edu\/\u0022\u003EEnergy Club at Georgia Tech\u003C\/a\u003E, the hackathon\u2019s mission was to unite passionate students, tackle critical challenges in the energy industry, and foster innovation and collaboration.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOver the course of 36 hours, participants collaborated in teams to brainstorm, design, and prototype projects that promote sustainable practices based on diverse problem statements, addressing this year\u2019s tracks: \u003Cstrong\u003Erenewables\u003C\/strong\u003E; \u003Cstrong\u003Eelectrification \u0026amp; mobility\u003C\/strong\u003E; and \u003Cstrong\u003Esmart grid\u003C\/strong\u003E. These themes targeted urgent issues, from balancing renewable energy supply and demand to safeguarding infrastructure against cyber threats and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Despite the arrival of a winter storm and the hackathon shifting to a fully virtual format, students persevered and produced top-tier projects, which were evaluated by a panel of judges.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"EnergyHack@GT, Georgia Tech\u2019s second annual student-run energy and sustainability hackathon, took place over the weekend of Jan. 23 \u2013 25, 2026. 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Work","file":{"fid":"263441","name":"TeamsWorking.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/TeamsWorking.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/TeamsWorking.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":349906,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/16\/TeamsWorking.jpeg?itok=S0Kc6yj-"}},"679298":{"id":"679298","type":"image","title":"Judges.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1771271336","gmt_created":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","changed":"1771271336","gmt_changed":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","alt":"EnergyHack@GT 2026 Judges","file":{"fid":"263440","name":"Judges.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/Judges.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/Judges.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":106682,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/16\/Judges.jpeg?itok=vzc63_Eu"}},"679300":{"id":"679300","type":"image","title":"Teamsworking2.jpeg","body":null,"created":"1771271336","gmt_created":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","changed":"1771271336","gmt_changed":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","alt":"EnergyHack@GT Teams at work","file":{"fid":"263442","name":"Teamsworking2.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/Teamsworking2.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/Teamsworking2.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":358794,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/16\/Teamsworking2.jpeg?itok=1lj-KMSl"}},"679301":{"id":"679301","type":"image","title":"WinningTeam.jpeg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EEnergyHack@GT 2026 Winning Team\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1771271336","gmt_created":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","changed":"1771271336","gmt_changed":"2026-02-16 19:48:56","alt":"Winners of EnergyHack@GT 2026","file":{"fid":"263443","name":"WinningTeam.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/WinningTeam.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/02\/16\/WinningTeam.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":77205,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/02\/16\/WinningTeam.jpeg?itok=05BjMDDP"}}},"media_ids":["679297","679299","679298","679300","679301"],"groups":[{"id":"367481","name":"SEI Energy"},{"id":"1280","name":"Strategic Energy Institute"}],"categories":[{"id":"144","name":"Energy"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"193158","name":"Student Competition Winners (academic, innovation, and research)"},{"id":"8862","name":"Student Research"},{"id":"194612","name":"Workforce Development"}],"keywords":[{"id":"186858","name":"go-sei"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39531","name":"Energy and Sustainable 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