By SOLGEL Team
A team of students from Gulu University, Uganda, has won the gold award in the 2024–25 Efficiency for Access Design Challenge for their innovative hydrogel solar evaporator design — a sustainable solution that purifies contaminated water using solar energy and hydrogel materials.
Designed for use in Ugandan refugee settlements, the system is eco-friendly and low-cost, helping improve access to clean water for off-grid communities.
The Efficiency for Access Design Challenge is a global competition that invites university students to design affordable and energy-efficient appliances for underserved communities. Now in its sixth year, the Challenge has engaged over 700 students from 40 universities across 17 countries.
This year's silver awards went to Makerere University (Uganda) for an eco-solar cassava flash dryer, and Aston University (UK) for a solar-powered sanitary pad vending machine. Bronze awards went to teams from Makerere University, Obafemi Awolowo University (Nigeria), University of Rwanda, and Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education (India).
Globally, 750 million people live without electricity, and many more lack reliable access. Solar-powered appliances like the SOLGEL purifier can improve lives and help vulnerable communities build climate resilience. Yet less than 2% of current demand is being met.
SOLGEL's technology addresses this gap by providing a simple, solar-powered purification system that works off-grid with no moving parts — delivering clean drinking water to households, schools, and clinics across Northern Uganda.
The Challenge is delivered by Energy Saving Trust in collaboration with Engineers Without Borders UK, and is funded by UK aid from the UK government via the Transforming Energy Access platform and the IKEA Foundation.
Following the Grand Final on 26 June 2025, the Challenge will enter a strategic pause to assess its future direction and ensure alignment with the evolving needs of the energy access sector.
