Tracks
This year’s MIT Climate and Energy Prize (MIT CEP) features nine tracks for prospective teams. The purpose of these tracks is to encourage a diversity of clean energy technologies and solutions, as well as to pair teams with appropriate industry mentors to maximize their chances of success.
ENERGY
New generation technologies (e.g., nuclear, solar, geothermal), energy storage, hydrogen and other low-carbon fuels, enabling renewables software, marketplace, and grid management platforms, DER and demand response tools, utility transmission and distribution services
FOOD AND LAND USE
Alternative proteins, regenerative farming, vertical farming, sustainable fertilizer and animal feed, biodiversity conservation, nature preservation/restoration and ecosystem services, remote sensing for crop yield optimization, autonomous farming equipment, and food waste reduction
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
Sustainable building materials, low-carbon heating and cooling, prefab construction, energy efficiency, building electrification and energy optimization
TRANSPORTATION
Battery technologies, EV autos, EV charging and fleet management, electric micromobility and ridesharing, zero-emission planes, boats, and trains, urban public transport
GHG CAPTURE & REMOVAL
Carbon offset marketplace and procurement platforms, carbon utilization, carbon removal and storage technologies, methane mitigation, point-source CCS, verifiers and ratings enablers
WATER RESOURCES
Access to clean drinking water, water tech, ocean conservation, ocean pollution removal, ocean upwelling/fertilization, wastewater reuse and treatment, harvesting rainwater/groundwater, aquaculture sustainability
INDUSTRIAL DECARBONIZATION
Low-carbon cement, chemical and plastics, steel, manufacturing, metals and mining, circular economy commerce, sustainable textiles and packaging, waste and recycling
CLIMATE SERVICES & SOFTWARE
Emissions and sustainability reporting including Measurement, Reporting and Verification (MRV), ESG investing and fintech, earth observation through remote sensing, climate risk and intelligence platforms
CLIMATE ADAPTATION
Solutions that protect communities and businesses against the consequences of climate change. Resilient infrastructure, wildfire management, climate refugees, resilient crops, insurance solutions, water purification and recycling, heat adaptation, solar radiation modification