MSU team advances as finalist in U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon Design Challenge

At Mississippi State, new student groups are on the rise— none more electrifying than the College of Engineering’s Energy Club, an organization that houses the interdisciplinary Solar Decathlon team.

Led by junior electrical engineering major Liam Nelson of Huntsville, Alabama, the Energy Club assembled in 2020, with an eye toward competing in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon—a student competition consisting of two major challenges as teams design and build highly efficient and innovative buildings powered by renewable energy.

With competitions continuing through 2023, the 10 contests span architecture, engineering, market analysis, durability and resilience, embodied environmental impact, integrated performance, occupant experience, comfort and environmental quality, energy performance and presentation. Just like athletic decathlons, teams must perform well across all contests to be victorious.

After submitting their project proposal, MSU’S team advanced as one of 63 finalists that will present April 15-19 to industry-recognized jurors at the virtual Solar Decathlon Competition Event.

“What is so impressive is the students’ abilities to balance this project with their studies,” said Assistant Professor of Architecture Duane Mclemore. “They really got a sense of how big of a commitment the design challenge is, but they also saw what an opportunity it is.”

To excel in the design contest, the Solar Decathlon team must create a net-zero home, meaning that the home produces more energy than it consumes. According to Nelson, there are several different ways to approach this challenge, but renewable energy is the primary focus. While some energy must be used, the team must offset it by producing more, he said.

Competing in the attached housing division, the club must meet the challenge’s parameters by designing row homes, or flats, and making the building up to three stories above grade, with a building size of 5002,500 square feet and a lot size up to 3,000 square feet.

Another factor is the climate where the design will be built.

“Climate is going to be different everywhere,” said Nelson. “We decided what location to use, which is Starkville, and then started designing for this climate. We are designing on an open, triangular plot at the intersection of Russell St. and Highway 12. When a team member brought up the idea to design there, we all thought it was perfect.”