Welcome to CleanerGrid
EirGrid's CleanerGrid contest sees participants submit projects related to Ireland’s clean energy transition, with the chance to win cash prizes for themselves and their educational institutions
What is CleanerGrid?
CleanerGrid is EirGrid’s annual competition for students enrolled in a third-level institute (below Phd level) in the Republic of Ireland.
Each year participants – either as individuals or teams – submit projects addressing a specific prompt related to Ireland’s clean energy transition, with the chance to win cash prizes for themselves and their educational institutions.
Last year’s prompt challenged students to present their vision of what the growing energy sector will need to look like in 2050 to have sustainably achieved net-zero emissions.
CleanerGrid 24-25
The deadline to apply for the competition was 31 October 2024.
Students developed their projects over four months to submit it by the deadline of 28 February 2025.
After a rigorous internal marking process, five finalists advanced to a live project presentation and award ceremony in the EirGrid offices on 25 March 2025.
A panel of four expert judges selected the winners:
- Joanna Donnelly – Met Éireann meteorologist and RTÉ weather forecast presenter
- Vish Gain – journalist with the Business Post
- Prof John Barry – Professor of Green Political Economy in the Centre for Sustainability, Equality and Climate Action at Queens University Belfast
- Louise O’Flanagan – Head of Engineering and Asset Management at EirGrid and Fellow of Engineers Ireland
CleanerGrid 2025 Winners
First Place - Todhchaí Glas
Ruairí Collins, Eoin Duffy, Stephen Murphy, three Mechanical Engineering with Business Master's students from University College Dublin. Their project focused on Hydro pumped storage. Supervisor: Assoc. Prof. Paula Carroll.
Award: €6000 to University College Dublin + €6000 shared among the team.
Second Place - EcoShift Engineers
Ruchit Ghandi, Sarah Jane Hughes, Ethan O’Brien, three 2nd-year Electronic and Computer Engineering from University of Galway. Their project focused on a peer-peer energy trading app. Supervisor: Prof. Martin Glavin.
Award: €3000 to University of Galway + €3000 shared among the team.
Third Place - The Transmission's Transition
Jarlaith Brady, a final-year Mechanical and Sustainability Engineering Student from Dublin City University. This project had a strategic plan for new transmission lines with short-, medium- and long-term goals. Supervisor: Dr. Greg McNamara.
Award: €1000 Dublin City University + €1000 to the student.
CleanerGrid 25-26
Details for the next CleanerGrid competition will be announced in Autumn 2025.