AI for Energy
Aperçu
The energy sector faces pressing challenges and needs to act with urgency. Policy commitments to a net-zero future, such as the Paris Agreement, mean the transformation to a low-carbon economy must come at pace. Major disruption to the electricity sector is on the cards as governments ramp up renewables and transition away from fossil fuels.
As we move into the Fourth Industrial Revolution, grid operators, developers and consumers are harnessing artificial intelligence (AI), paving a path for a smooth transition to greater use of renewables. AI’s ability to provide better prediction capabilities is enabling improved demand forecasting and asset management, while its automation capability is driving operational excellence – leading, in turn, to competitive advantage and cost-savings for stakeholders.
Supported by other emerging technologies, such as the internet of things (IoT), sensors, big data and distributed ledger technology, AI can unlock the vast potential of renewables. Failure to embrace it would leave the renewable energy sector falling behind.
Initiative Summary
- Increasing employability of young Nigerians through hands-on exposure to data science in a real-world capacity
- Building solution-orientation where theories are applied and deployed
- Enhancing quality of machine learning skill set available in the country, while deepening local content agenda
- To drive real-world application that solves specific business problems whilst finding an intersection between theory and practice.
Structure/Format of major stages of the initiative
| Activity | Format |
| Team selection & formation | Virtuelle |
| Seminar/Hackathon briefing | Virtuelle |
| Hacking/Solution development | Virtuelle |
| Mentorship | Virtuelle |
| Événement de présentation finale | Hybrid: The physical event will be streamed live. Finalists that cannot travel down will send in a recording of their demo and pitch and will be available online to answer questions from the judges. |
Prizes/Rewards
1er prize: N1,500,000
2ème prize: N1,000,000
3ème prize: N500,000
Expression of interest
Apply as a team
Each team has a minimum size of three and a maximum size of four. Ensure that you have a very strong team in line with selection criteria to stand a greater chance of being selected. Apply as a team ici
Apply as an individual
If you cannot create a team, you can apply as an individual. If selected, you will be automatically added to a newly formed team in line with the selection criteria. Apply as an individual participant ici
Information Pack
Hackathon Information Guide
All you need to know to be a part of the AI for Energy hackathon.
Download the AI for Energy Seminar and Hacakthon Information Pack
Directives pour le hackathon
Application/Entry periods: Application for the online hackathon starts on the 23ème of July, 2021 and closes on the 6ème of August, 2021 by 11:59 pm West Africa Time (WAT). After the selection of participants, entries for the working prototype/solution opens on the 16ème of August, 2021 and closes on the 3ème of September, 2021 by 11:59 pm West Africa Time.
Eligibility: To participate, you must be an undergraduate or graduate student of a Nigerian tertiary institution with valid proof. You must also be at least 18 years of age or have written consent from a parent or legal guardian.
Participants selection criteria and general conditions:
- Verifiable skill and experience in Artificial Intelligence, Data Science, Data Visualization, Database Management, Front-end development, business development etc. via Kaggle, Zindi, GitHub etc.
- Willingness to work in a team
- Demonstrated experience of taking up similar challenges
- Minimum age of 18. Minors will have to submit legal consent from guardians
- Team’s familiarity or understanding of the problem space
- Diversity of the team (members with different skillsets and at least one member with a verifiable understanding of the problem space)
- Inclusive talent selection across all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria
- Gender inclusion and opportunity for the physically challenged students
- A testable prototype with basic UI/UX
- Proper documentation of the solution
- A recorded pitch and demo video
Hackathon Process
Application:
You can apply to be part of the hackathon as an individual or as a team. Each team contains a minimum of 3 members and a maximum of 5 members. Selected individual applicants will be paired to form new teams. The application portal will be opened on the 23rd of July, 2021 and will close on the 6th of August, 2021 by 11:59 pm West Africa Time (WAT).
Mandatory live virtual seminar and hackathon briefing session:
If selected, you will be invited to attend a mandatory live briefing session on the 14th of August 2021, where the hackathon theme and focus will be discussed by experts and more details of the hackathon will be shared. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions to gain more clarity about the challenge.
Note: Any team that fails to attend the briefing session will be automatically disqualified and replaced with another team on the waitlist.
Team – Mentor pairing:
To provide your team with expert support and guidance through the solution development stage, each team will be assigned a mentor on the 11th of August, 2021. The mentors will be required to play an advisory role throughout your participation in the competition.
Solution development:
Each team will have a minimum of 3 weeks, from the 16th of August to the 3rd of September, 2021 to develop and submit a solution. You are allowed to use any programming language, open-source platform, APIs, design and development tools in the development of a solution.
Change of solution focus:
You are allowed to change the focus of your solution development should you want to from the start of the hackathon till the 20th of August, 2021.
Solution submission:
The deadline for solution submission is the 3rd of September, 2021. Each team is required to submit a testable prototype with little or basic UI/UX, proper documentation of the solution and a recorded pitch and demo video
Announcement of finalists:
After the solution submission rounds, top teams with the highest-ranked solutions will be announced on the 13th of September, 2021 and invited to the final pitch and award ceremony.
Final pitch and award ceremony:
Top-ranked teams from the hackathon will be invited to pitch and demonstrate their solutions to a live audience and a panel of judges on the 18th of September, 2021. The top-ranked 3 teams from the hackathon will be awarded cash prizes and rewards.
Structure du hackathon
Critères de jugement
Relevance
Does it solve any of the identified problems?
Understandability
Can the solution be easily understood?
Value-Sensitivity
Does it align with the values/ethics/morals of its users?
Performance
How well does it profer solutions to the problems?
Usability
How easy is it to use?
Data Quality
What is the quality of the data used in the solution?
Reproducibility
How easy is it to rebuild the proffered solution?
Testability
How easy is it to test the solutions or verify modifications?
Changeability
How easy is it to modify or improve its functionality?
Documentation
Is the solution documented in line with the template provided?
Timeline
Conditions générales, modalités et décharge de responsabilité
En soumettant une solution/un prototype, vous nous accordez un droit et une licence irrévocables, libres de redevance et mondiaux d'utiliser, d'examiner, d'évaluer, de tester et d'analyser de toute autre manière votre soumission et tout son contenu dans le cadre de ce projet, et d'utiliser votre soumission dans tout média, quel qu'il soit, actuellement connu ou inventé ultérieurement, à toute fin jugée utile par les initiateurs du projet.
To the extent allowed by law, by participating in the competition, you agree to release and hold harmless, Data Science Nigeria, Chevron Nigeria Limited Joint Venture and their respective partners from and all liability or any injury, loss, or damage of any kind arising in connection with any prize won. Read full terms and conditions ici.
This project is proudly sponsored by
ABOUT DATA SCIENCE NIGERIA
Annual Reports:
2020/2021: Rapport annuel
2019/2020: Rapport annuel
2018/2019: Rapport annuel
2017/2018: Rapport annuel
Keep up with our online presence. Reach out to us via our social media handles.