The Solar Decathlon Africa Design Challenge is an international competition that invites students to design innovative, net-zero energy buildings that meet the specific needs of Africa, such as climate resilience, accessibility and community well-being.
The Solar Decathlon Africa Design Challenge is different from the Solar Decathlon Africa Build Challenge, which took place in 2019 in Ben Guerir, Morocco, and consisted of building solar houses on a dedicated site. The Design Challenge is entirely online, and students have to propose solutions for real construction projects, in collaboration with local partners.
The finalist teams will have the opportunity to present their projects at an in-person event in June 2024 in Benguerir. The Solar Decathlon Africa Design Challenge is open to students from all disciplines and levels, from undergraduate to doctoral. Although the competition is focused on African participants, it is also open to students from around the world, and African students can team up with a student from Europe, North America, Asia or Latin America to submit an entry.
The competition aims to foster innovation, collaboration and leadership in the field of sustainable construction, and to prepare students to face the energy and environmental challenges of the future.