Student teams vie with each other at Solar Decathlon India
A student team from BMS college of Architecture, Design and Planning and BMS College of Engineering won the grand prize at Solar Decathlon India (SDI), an annual competition for undergraduate and postgraduate students to develop innovative, net-zero energy-water and climate resilient solutions for the building sector in India.
During the finals of SDI held at Infosys' campus in Mysuru, six student teams, which had been declared winners in their respective divisions, were challenged to 'make' solutions that improve cooling performance in existential residential buildings.
The six teams pitched their solutions to a grand jury, and team Anvaya, led by BMS College of Architecture, Design and Planning, with BMS College of Engineering as their partner institution, won the grand prize for proposing the most promising and investment-worthy design, said a statement here.
The grand jury said that the team provided a versatile solution of modular systems at very affordable costs, driving net-zero targets, the statement said.
The event began on May 23 with student presentations to the jury. These were followed by the Climate Smart Innovation Exhibition, where innovators from the building industry displayed products and solutions addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation.
The exhibition was followed by pitch presentations the jury comprising Aiyappa Somayanda - chief business officer, Brigade REAP, Guruprakash Sastry - AVP and head – Climate Action, Infosys, Hari Prasad Hegde - Founding Partner, Edhina Capital, Harleen Oberoi - senior VP and head – Project Management, Tata Realty & Infrastructure Ltd. & Tata Housing Development Company Ltd., Johann Fernandes - co-founder, climateXcapital, Priyank Garg - managing partner, IAN Alpha fund, and Sunita Purushottam - head of sustainability and CSR, Mahindra Lifespace Developers Ltd. and chair, GBPN Board.
Subsequently, Lambert Technovation Pvt. Ltd. was declared winner of the Climate Smart Innovation Award 2025. 'Their modular, chemical-free reactor transforms wastewater treatment for buildings & beyond—boosting sustainability in the built environment', the statement said.
On May 25, 2024, Solar Decathlon India (SDI) held its career fair where leading organisations working on climate change and net-zero buildings interacted with the best and brightest minds to offer them internship and early career opportunities.
Infosys, which hosted the three-day finals event pro bono, also ensured that the entire event was carbon neutral, according to the statement.
Solar Decathlon India is conducted by the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) and the Alliance for an Energy Efficient Economy (AEEE) under the aegis of the Indo-US Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF). It is supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India.
The 2024-25 challenge featured 175 teams comprising more than 2,100 students from 150 academic institutions. At the finals, over 50 organisations offered internships and early career opportunities to the SDI finalists, the statement said.
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