Students of Premiere Academy, Abuja, have emerged winners of the Battle of Energy Titans Challenge, a prestigious Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) competition, with their innovative renewable energy solution, Smart Solar Mini Grid (PASS G).

The school defeated nine other finalists to claim the top spot at the event, held as part of the yearly Youth Eco Summit National Festival (YES-NAFEST).

The competition’s eight-member team of judges, comprising representatives from the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), Association of Professional Women in Engineering in Nigeria (APWEN), National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), and the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Students Engagement, among others, unanimously selected Premiere Academy’s project as the most outstanding entry.

The winning project is a scalable, affordable, and offline-ready renewable energy solution designed for underserved African communities.

The design integrates a smart prepaid metering system with a solar-powered mini grid, using low-power hardware and energy meters.

The judges praised the project’s innovative ability to ensure efficient energy use without relying on constant Internet connectivity.

“The Premiere Smart Solar Mini Grid is built on open-source platforms, making the system cost-effective, easy to replicate, and designed to empower local communities with access to reliable and clean energy,” the judges noted.

They added that the innovation combats energy theft, promotes responsible energy consumption, and provides sustainable electricity to remote areas.

Team mentor, Okoro Chinedu, described the project as a transformative, technology-driven solution aimed at redefining the future of sustainable renewable energy provision and consumption in Nigeria and across Africa.

Chinedu noted that the outstanding achievement attests to the school’s culture of resilience, innovation, and unwavering dedication, which has remained its driving force over its two decades of existence.

The principal, Chris Akinsowon, congratulated the students on their outstanding performance, saying the recognition was a testament to the school’s tradition of excellence, ethics, and teamwork.

He pledged that the school would continue to provide students with opportunities to access cutting-edge technological skills and knowledge in tune with global trends and aspirations.