2025
Ireland
EirGrid’s CleanerGrid competition invites third-level students across Ireland to develop creative solutions supporting the clean energy transition. Participants respond to a themed challenge, present to expert judges, and win prizes for themselves and their universities. By promoting collaboration, awareness, and innovation, the competition builds early engagement between EirGrid, academia, and future energy professionals while highlighting the challenges and opportunities of Ireland’s transition to a net-zero power system.
Highlights
01
Participation grew 4.5 times year-on-year, with students from 66 degree programmes and 8 universities.
02
Over 5.5 times more projects were submitted compared with 2023.
03
25 social media posts reached 260,000 impressions and generated 16,000 engagements.
Main Information
EirGrid’s CleanerGrid Competition is an annual initiative that engages third-level students across Ireland in the national clean energy transition. Participants submit projects responding to a yearly theme, such as envisioning the energy sector in 2050, and present their ideas at a live finale hosted at EirGrid’s Dublin headquarters.
Developed by EirGrid’s Energy Research Team, CleanerGrid supports the company’s Innovation and Research Strategy by fostering creativity, early academic engagement, and future recruitment opportunities. Students work individually or in teams over a 20-week period, culminating in a presentation to a judging panel of internal and external experts, including academics, journalists, and climate professionals.
The competition uniquely bridges education and industry by turning complex energy challenges into accessible, research-driven opportunities for young innovators. Participation has expanded rapidly, with entries from diverse disciplines and eight universities. Engagement was amplified through national and regional media, radio broadcasts, and social media campaigns. CleanerGrid has proven a scalable and transferable model of engagement, offering a transparent, credible platform that elevates students’ voices and supports EirGrid’s wider mission to decarbonise Ireland’s grid. Future editions aim to refine timelines and expand outreach to strengthen its impact further.
other practices
