Welcome to the eEnergy Solar Innovation Challenge 2026

 

Your school’s new solar panels will cut electricity bills and carbon by more than 20%. What should your school or community do next with those savings?

The Solar Innovation Challenge is your chance to help decide what happens next.

The new solar array eEnergy is designing and installing on your school roof will save money and cut carbon every year. If you could work with your teachers to reinvest those savings to further reduce energy use and carbon in your school or community, what one key initiative or innovation would you prioritise – and why?

We’re looking for creative, practical ideas that could really happen by 2030.

 

What you need to do

Submit one clear idea that shows how your school or wider community could:

  • Use the savings from your new solar panels, or

  • Build on your school’s solar project to cut carbon, save energy, or inspire others to act.

Your entry should explain:

  • What the initiative or innovation is

  • How it would work in your school or community

  • Why you’ve chosen it as the top priority

  • What difference it would make by 2030

 

How you can enter

You can choose any one of these formats:

  • Written explanation – up to 500 words

  • Drawings or diagrams – scanned or photographed

  • Short video – up to 5 minutes, filmed on a phone

  • Model or prototype – photographed or filmed, with a short explanation

Your teacher will collect the entries and submit them on your behalf.

Deadline: 5pm, 30 January 2026

Teacher submission email: [email protected]

 

 

Bold ideas to spark your thinking

 

 

You don’t have to use these – they’re just to get you started:

  • A plan to turn part of your school into a warm, energy-efficient community hub

  • A solar-powered outdoor classroom that also tracks the school’s carbon savings

  • A Net Zero 2030 masterplan for your school

  • A student-led campaign that changes everyday behaviour (lighting, heating, travel) and links back to your school’s solar project

 

We’re excited to see how you bring your own big ideas to life.

How your idea will be judged

Entries will be judged on:

  • Creativity (30%) – Is the idea original, bold, and imaginative?

  • Practicality (25%) – Could it realistically be delivered by 2030 in a school setting?

  • Impact (25%) – Would it make a real difference to your school or local community?

  • Presentation (20%) – Is the idea clearly explained or shown, so others can easily understand it?

 

Prizes

There will be two winning entries:

First Prize – Solar Trailblazer 

Student award – Solar Innovation Pack, including:

  • Solar-powered headphones

  • Solar speaker

  • Solar torch

  • Solar power bank

Plus:

  • 100 trees planted in your name – a living legacy of your idea

  • £350 donated to your school’s Sustainability Fund to support future sustainability projects

 

Runner-Up Prize – Solar Changemaker 

Student award – Solar Innovation Pack, including:

  • Solar-powered torch

  • Solar power bank

Plus:

  • 50 trees planted in your name

  • £150 donated to your school’s Sustainability Fund to help grow the next green initiative

 

Winning ideas will be showcased at the Dudley College event (Feb 2026).

Speak to your teacher if you’d like to take part, or if you have any questions about how to enter.

 

 

 

Testimonial

This challenge is about what you do best: asking big questions, exploring bold ideas and imagining better ways to use energy. Your entry is a chance to bring a project to life on paper, on screen or in a model – something that could change how schools think about Net Zero in the future. We’re excited to see how your curiosity, creativity and hard work turn into ideas that make people stop, think and act.

Cass Swallow
Chief Marketing Officer | eEnergy

For Teachers only: Download the Teacher’s Guide Pack to help your senior school students get the most from this exciting opportunity.

Teacher’s pack

The Solar Innovation Challenge 2026 is subject to the competition’s Terms and Conditions. 

Eligibility notice:

To avoid disappointment, please note that this competition is only open to senior schools included in Lot 1 of the Great British Energy Solar Project.

This competition is run by eEnergy and Mace, on behalf of LocatED, Great British Energy Group Limited and the Department for Education, as part of the Net Zero Accelerator programme.