Dubai’s DEWA Opens Fourth Clean Energy Hackathon to Global Innovators
DEWA invites companies, students and experts to the fourth Clean Energy Hackathon from May 18–20, 2026, to accelerate low‑carbon solutions, AI-driven energy tools and storage innovations.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has opened registration for the fourth Clean Energy Hackathon, a three‑day innovation competition running May 18–20, 2026. The Clean Energy Hackathon will bring together companies, university teams, subject‑matter experts and independent innovators to develop solutions addressing climate change, water scarcity and broader environmental challenges. Organised by DEWA’s Sustainability and Innovation Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the event aims to accelerate technologies that support the UAE’s transition to a low‑carbon economy.
DEWA Announces Event Dates and Venue
The Clean Energy Hackathon is scheduled to take place from May 18–20, 2026, at the Sustainability and Innovation Centre within the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This venue is part of the world’s largest single‑site solar park developed under an independent power producer model, providing a practical backdrop for clean energy demonstrations. DEWA’s announcement confirms that the hackathon’s finalists will also be showcased during the Clean Energy Forum 2026. The timing positions the hackathon as a feeder event to a high‑profile convening of industry and policy leaders.
Who Can Participate and How Entries Are Presented
DEWA’s call for entries is open to local and international companies, individual innovators, start‑ups, university students and research teams. Organisers specifically encouraged graduation projects and early‑stage ventures to enter, highlighting opportunities for market exposure and investor engagement. Submissions are expected to include proof‑of‑concepts, prototypes or detailed technical proposals aligned with the hackathon’s tracks. DEWA will evaluate entries for feasibility, scalability and potential impact on emissions reduction and resource efficiency.
Competition Tracks and Technical Priorities
Participants will compete across three main tracks: emissions reduction and sustainability, clean energy integration and storage, and artificial intelligence and digitisation. The emissions reduction and sustainability track targets solutions that cut greenhouse gases and improve resource management across electricity and water systems. The integration and storage stream focuses on grid‑scale storage, hybridisation with renewables and technologies that smooth variable generation. The AI and digitisation track seeks advanced analytics, predictive maintenance, smart demand response and other digital tools that raise system resilience and efficiency.
Strategic Aims and Policy Alignment
DEWA framed the hackathon as part of a broader strategy to drive the UAE’s shift to a low‑carbon, climate‑resilient economy and to support global net‑zero targets. By inviting cross‑sector collaboration, the authority aims to bridge research and deployment, turning promising concepts into operational solutions. The event also aligns with national priorities on water security by encouraging innovations that reduce consumption and improve reuse. DEWA emphasised the role of private sector and academic partnerships in scaling clean energy technologies domestically and regionally.
Opportunities and Exposure for Winners
Winners of the Clean Energy Hackathon will gain exclusive visibility at the Clean Energy Forum 2026, where they can demonstrate prototypes at the Sustainability and Innovation Centre. DEWA will host a dedicated seminar within its “Communications for Clean Energy” series to further spotlight successful teams. The hackathon also offers structured networking with investors, researchers and sector executives, increasing prospects for funding and pilot projects. Organisers signalled that winners could secure follow‑on support to pilot solutions at the solar park or within DEWA’s operations, subject to standard procurement and partnership assessments.
Finalists and participants will benefit from mentoring sessions during the event, where industry experts will provide technical guidance and business advice. These sessions are designed to improve market readiness and help teams refine pitching and commercialisation plans. DEWA’s outreach aims to attract a mix of early‑stage innovators and established firms that can scale solutions rapidly across utilities and industrial customers. The combination of technical feedback and investor exposure is intended to shorten the pathway from prototype to deployment.
The Clean Energy Hackathon presents a practical route for innovators to contribute to the UAE’s sustainability agenda while accessing high‑level industry networks and pilot opportunities. Prospective entrants are advised to prepare submissions that clearly state technical specifications, potential emission reductions and a credible implementation roadmap. Registration details and submission guidelines are available through DEWA’s Sustainability and Innovation Centre channels ahead of the May 18–20, 2026 event.
