November 29, 2023
Geology graduate student wins international energy competition
Fidelis Onwuagba, Kansas State University graduate student in geology, and his international team, EnerGreen, won the 2023 Switch International Energy Case Competition. The competition is an annual event organized by the Switch Energy Alliance, an Austin-based nonprofit organization devoted to "inspiring an energy-educated, objective, nonpartisan, and sensible future."
This year's competition featured more than 180 teams from 27 countries across the globe. The preliminary round saw 88 submissions, of which only the top five teams advanced to the finals. The finalists were invited to present their solutions to a live audience while entertaining questions from the panel of judges via Zoom. The teams were required to analyze and compare factors contributing to energy poverty in different counties, including accessibility, environmental impact, quality and reliability of services, affordability, safety and security.
Onwuagba's team, which consisted of members from both the U.S. and Nigeria, were praised by the judges for their critical thinking and innovative techniques. Their plan focused on conducting a comparative energy analysis of the energy landscapes in Kenya and Bangladesh, proposing a 10-year plan for Kenya and evaluating the feasibility of transferring the 10-year plan to Bangladesh.
"Energy poverty is a global concern, particularly in emerging and developing countries," Onwuagba said. "Addressing the global effect of energy concerns demands a multifaceted strategy, and every effort, no matter how little, has the potential to make a significant difference."
To read more about Fidelis' achievement and his advice for young people interested in a sustainable and equitable future for energy, visit the geology website.
For more information about the Switch International Energy Case Competition, visit switchon.org/case-competition.
For more information about Switch Energy Alliance, visit switchon.org/.