Amity Student Wins Top Honors at International Poster Competition for Energy Innovation

Amity University is proud to announce that Ms. Kareena Mueenuddin, a final-year student from the Department of Mechatronics Engineering, has achieved first place in the prestigious Inter-University Poster Competition held at Curtin University. This international competition was jointly organised by Curtin University and the globally recognised professional body ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers).

With over 20 leading universities participating from across regions, the event provided a platform for innovative minds to present their ideas under the theme “Energy Conservation for a Sustainable Future.” Competing against students from diverse engineering and science backgrounds, Kareena stood out for her creative and technically sound approach to one of the most pressing challenges of the modern world—sustainable energy management.

Her winning poster, titled "Untapped Energy: Data Centres & EVs Powering Tomorrow's Grid," explores the powerful potential of Virtual Power Plants (VPPs) in creating a cleaner and more efficient energy ecosystem. The project focused on leveraging distributed energy resources—namely, solar panels, electric vehicle (EV) batteries, and data centre uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems—to intelligently manage energy generation, storage, and distribution.

Kareena’s concept utilises the flexibility and capacity of EVs and data centres to not only reduce dependency on fossil fuels but also to actively contribute to the grid during peak demand. By intelligently syncing these decentralised resources, the proposed VPP model could sell surplus energy back to the grid, creating both environmental and economic benefits.

"Energy systems around the world are evolving rapidly, and there is a critical need for scalable solutions that go beyond traditional infrastructure,” Kareena said during her presentation. “My aim was to explore how existing digital assets like data centres and growing EV adoption can be synergised with renewable energy to create sustainable energy loops."

The judging panel, comprised of esteemed energy professionals and ASHRAE members, praised Kareena’s work for its originality, practical viability, and the clarity with which it was presented. They noted the relevance of her idea in the current global energy landscape, where decarbonisation and grid resilience are key objectives.

Dr. S.K. Sharma, Head of the Mechatronics Department at Amity University, expressed pride in Kareena’s achievement. “This is a testament to the calibre of students we nurture here. Kareena’s success is an inspiration to her peers and highlights the university’s commitment to fostering innovation with global relevance.”

The Inter-University Poster Competition has become a respected venue for academic exchange and innovation, and Kareena’s success brings significant recognition to Amity University. Her work serves as a promising step toward reimagining the role of modern technologies in driving the global energy transition.