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Co-funded by the European Union, German Cooperation, and GIZGovernment of the People's Republic of BangladeshSREDA — Sustainable and Renewable Energy Development Authority
Sustainable Energy Idea Contest 2026 — স্ফুরণ

A nationwide contest for student teams and energy professionals. submit a practical idea that helps Bangladesh reach 20% renewable electricity and 15% energy savings by 2030, and present it to the people who can make it into reality.

Submit your ideaRead the guidelines

Submissions close 25 October 2026 at 11:59 pm (Bangladesh time)

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Map of Bangladesh. 5 entries have switched on lights across 3 divisions.

5 innovative ideas so far...

  • Dhaka1
  • Chattogram0
  • Rajshahi3
  • Khulna0
  • Barishal1
  • Sylhet0
  • Rangpur0
  • Mymensingh0

Updates

From the contest

Announcements, deadlines and stories from Sustainable Energy Ideas 2026.

All news

Latest news

24 September 2026

Sustainable Energy Idea Contest 2026 opens for submissions on 8 October

Student teams and energy professionals have three weeks to send a concept note and pitch video.

Read more

Two categories, one goal

Every submission should contribute to achieving one of the two national targets in the National Renewable Energy Development Strategy Paper (2026-2030). Your innovative idea can be a technology, a community project, a policy proposal or a business model.

The goal: Bangladesh runs on cleaner energy efficiently.

10,450MW

Category 1: Generating 10,450 MW from renewable energy by 2030

Through solar, wind and other technologies.

10,450 MW — the national renewable energy target for 2030

  • Rooftop solar: 5,500 MW

  • Ground-mounted solar: 4,500 MW

  • Wind, waste-to-energy, floating solar, agrivoltaics: 450 MW

  • Rooftop and space-saving solar

    New business models for solar adoption, mounting structures that allow PV installation without a conventional roof, or ways to combine small, scattered rooftops into viable installations.

  • Smart solar irrigation and off-grid systems

    Productive uses for surplus power from solar irrigation pumps, financing models that help farmers adopt them, or hybrid mini-grids for islands and underserved areas.

  • Grid modernisation, storage and e-mobility

    Renewable generation forecasting, smart load balancing, low-cost energy storage, or new models for EV charging stations.

  • Dual-use and land-efficient renewables

    Agri-PV, waste-to-energy, floating solar and other approaches that generate power without competing for scarce land.

15%

Category 2: achieving 15% energy savings by 2030

Conservation and efficient technology in homes, industry and commercial buildings.

Same homes, factories and offices, 15% less energy

Savings targeted across households, industry and commercial buildings.

  • Clean cooking technologies

    Off-grid solar cooking, improved cookstoves, community delivery models, or carbon-credit and financing mechanisms that make clean cooking commercially viable.

  • Community or campus-level efficiency

    Practical efficiency projects that can run at a university, in a neighbourhood or across an institution.

  • Digital tools for energy monitoring

    Software or hardware that helps households or industries track their consumption and cut it.

  • Energy-efficient retrofits

    Design changes that improve buildings, appliances or industrial processes that already exist, rather than new builds.

  • Behaviour and awareness

    Habit change, incentives or nudges that reduce energy waste without new hardware.

  • Policy proposals

    Recommendations that speed up efficiency adoption through regulation or institutions.

Who can enter

Group A: students, in teams of two

Undergraduate or graduate students at any public or private university in Bangladesh. Any discipline: engineering, business, environmental science, public policy and more. Both team members appear in the pitch video.

Group B: professionals, on your own

Individuals in technical or managerial roles in the energy sector, and entrepreneurs. Submit ideas on renewable energy or energy efficiency; Group B is judged as one combined track.

How to enter

Everything happens on this site, except your video, which lives on Facebook so people can find it.

  1. Write a concept note

    One page, as a PDF: the problem, your idea, why it's feasible, the business model and the impact.

  2. Record a pitch video

    Participants will submit their ideas (concept page and video) through the designated submission platform.

  3. Submit online

    Create an account, add your team details, upload the concept note and paste the video link.

  4. Get your reference

    You'll receive a confirmation email with your entry reference. You can edit until the deadline.

  5. Final pitch

    Shortlisted entries pitch live to the jury. 1 November 2026.

How entries are judged

The jury scores every entry against four weighted criteria. The top 10 in each category go through to the live final pitch.

Prizes

Every shortlisted finalist also receives a certificate of appreciation.
Winner: renewable energy, Group A
Trophy, public recognition and a high-configuration laptop — premium performance, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD or higher.
Winner: energy efficiency, Group A
Trophy, public recognition and a high-configuration laptop — premium performance, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD or higher.
Winner: renewable energy and energy efficiency, Group B
Trophy, public recognition and a high-configuration laptop — premium performance, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD or higher.
1st runner-up: renewable energy, Group A
Crest, certificate and a high-configuration tablet — premium display, high-performance processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage or higher.
1st runner-up: energy efficiency, Group A
Crest, certificate and a high-configuration tablet — premium display, high-performance processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage or higher.
People's Choice
High-configuration tablet — premium display, high-performance processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage or higher. Decided by public engagement on shortlisted pitch videos.

The contest so far

Updated live as entries arrive.
5
ideas submitted
10
people taking part
7
universities represented
30%
of participants are women

Entries by track

  • Students, renewable energy 5

  • Students, energy efficiency 0

  • Professionals 0

Who's taking part

  • Women 3

  • Men 7

  • Other or not stated 0

Frequently asked questions

Quick answers about who can enter, what to submit, and how judging works.
What is Sustainable Energy Ideas 2026?

A nationwide contest inviting university students and energy-sector professionals to pitch practical ideas that speed up renewable energy adoption and energy efficiency in Bangladesh. It is anchored in the Power Division's National Renewable Energy Development Strategy Paper (RESP) 2026–2030.

Who can participate?

Group A (students): teams of 2 undergraduate or graduate students from any public or private university in Bangladesh, in any discipline.

Group B (professionals): individuals working in technical or managerial roles in the energy sector, including entrepreneurs. Submit ideas on renewable energy or energy efficiency; Group B is judged as one combined track.

What are the contest categories?

Every entry falls under one of two themes. Category 1 is about reaching 20% renewable electricity by 2030: rooftop solar, solar irrigation and off-grid systems, grid modernisation and storage, and land-efficient renewables. Category 2 is about achieving 15% improvement: clean cooking technologies, campus or community projects, monitoring tools, retrofits, behaviour change and policy. See the Categories page for details.

What do I need to submit?

A one-page concept note (PDF) describing your idea, and a pitch video of up to 3 minutes explaining the concept, its feasibility and expected impact. Upload the video to Facebook with the contest hashtag and paste the link in the submission form. For student teams, both members are expected to appear in the video.

How are submissions judged?

The jury scores every entry on feasibility and technical soundness (35%), innovation and originality (25%), potential impact and scalability (25%), and quality of pitch and communication (15%). The top entries in each category are shortlisted for a live final pitch.

How does the People's Choice award work?

Share your pitch video on Facebook with #seideas. Among shortlisted entries, the video with the most public engagement wins the People's Choice award.

What are the prizes?

Winners receive a trophy, public recognition and a high-configuration laptop (premium performance, 16 GB RAM and 256 GB SSD or higher). First runners-up (Group A) receive a crest, certificate and a high-configuration tablet (premium display, high-performance processor, 8 GB RAM and 256 GB storage or higher). The People's Choice winner receives a high-configuration tablet. Every shortlisted finalist receives a certificate of participation.

What is the timeline?

Submissions open on 9 October and close on 15 October 2026. Screening and shortlisting follow, with the final pitch on 1 November and the award ceremony from 3 November onwards.

Can I change my entry after submitting?

Yes. You can update your concept note, video link and details until the submission deadline. After the deadline your entry is locked for judging.

If I win, will my idea be piloted?

It is possible. Development partners, financing institutions and EPC companies may follow the final pitch. If the right idea meets the right institution, further development can follow.

Where do I ask questions?

Follow the Energy Ideas 2030 event page on Facebook for updates, deadlines and submission tips, or contact the organisers using the details at the bottom of this page.

Entries close 25 October. Start with one page.

Submit your idea