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Table of Contents

WELCOME! 2
SWITCH ENERGY ALLIANCE 2
THE COMPETITION COMMUNITY 3
WHAT IS ENERGY POVERTY? 4
COMPETITION GOALS & OBJECTIVES 5
PROMPT 6
OVERVIEW OF COUNTRY PAIRS 6
KENYA-BANGLADESH 6
COSTA RICA-THE PHILIPPINES 7
FRANCE-SAUDI ARABIA 8
INSTRUCTIONS 10
ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS AND GUIDANCE 13
FINANCIAL INFORMATION 14
COMPETITION STRUCTURE 15
PRELIMINARY ROUND 16
SEMIFINAL ROUND 16
FINALS ROUND 16
PRIZES 16
KEY DATES 17
SOCIAL MEDIA CONTEST 19
MENTORSHIP PROGRAM 21
MENTORS 21
MENTORING WORKSHOPS 22
ENERGY CAREER PATH SESSIONS 22
JUDGING 23
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS 23
PRESENTATION GUIDELINES 24
SUBMISSION OF VIDEO AND SLIDE PRESENTATIONS 25
VIDEO TESTIMONIALS (OPTIONAL) 26
SCORING SHEET 28
MISCELLANEOUS 29
ORIGINAL WORK 29
PUBLICITY DISCLOSURE AGREEMENT 30
SUBMISSION LINKS AND DEADLINES 30
CONTACT INFORMATION 30
THE SWITCH INTERNATIONAL ENERGY CASE COMPETITION TEAM 30
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Welcome!
Switch Energy Alliance, with support from the Sempra Foundation, Tailwater Capital, Woodside,
Howard Energy Partners, and Sunnova, would like to welcome you to the fourth annual Switch
International Energy Case Competition. This event is like no other of its kind. Students from
every corner of the globe will collaborate to solve one of the greatest challenges of our time:
finding solutions to energy poverty.

This year will be even more competitive than last year. You are one of the more than 180 teams
from 27 countries across nearly all inhabitable continents that registered for this Competition.
The journey to the Finals will not be easy, so we encourage you to find creative ways to stand
out from the pack while still abiding by our guidelines. The requirements are outlined in this
case packet, so be sure to read it closely. If you have any questions during the competition,
please see the Contact Information section for assistance.

We are looking forward to seeing the innovative solutions your team conceives!

Dr. Scott Tinker Carl Steffensen

Founder and Chairman Project Manager, 2023 Case Competition
Switch Energy Alliance Switch Energy Alliance

Switch Energy Alliance

Switch Energy Alliance (SEA) is an Austin, Texas-based nonprofit organization devoted to
inspiring an energy-educated future that is objective, nonpartisan, and sensible. Since its
founding in 2016, SEA has created hundreds of free video lectures, developed Switch Classroom,
a free online energy platform used in thousands of classes around the world, and produced two
world-class documentaries, Switch and Switch On, and an energy and climate television series
streaming on PBS.org called Energy Switch. The Switch International Energy Case Competition
shares the mission of Switch Energy Alliance: to engage students in holding informed
conversations, inspire competitors to broaden their perspective about the global energy
situation, and develop an actionable plan aimed at creating a brighter future for everyone.
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The Competition Community

180 teams | 750+ student participants | 27 countries represented
135+ Mentors & Judges
5 sponsors
7 SEA organizers
1 goal
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What is Energy Poverty?

In 2010, the World Economic Forum defined energy poverty as the lack of access to sustainable,
modern energy services and products. It is not only a matter of sustainability; energy poverty
can be found in all situations where there is a lack of adequate, affordable, reliable, quality,
safe, and environmentally sound energy supply to support development. Although energy is the
engine of civilization, access to adequate and affordable sources of energy is not equally
distributed on the planet.

Energy poverty is firmly and constantly intertwined with economic and social development. As a
result, poorer countries often depend on unreliable energy services, which contributes to
malnourishment, unhealthy living conditions, and limited access to education and employment.
But even developed (or developing) countries face internal issues of energy poverty, especially
when comparing urban and rural populations. Significant portions of their populations do not
have affordable and reliable access to energy, hindering them from societal development and
economic growth.

Among the more critical aspects of energy poverty is the availability of clean, reliable energy
that is accessible and affordable to the entire population. To improve people’s access to safe
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and reliable energy, the world's governments must maintain and expand their existing energy
network by funding various capital projects. These nations’ leaders are aware of the challenges,
and already allocate a portion of government spending toward energy development. However,
these limited budgets are often insufficient to cover maintenance and new construction.

The World Health Organization states that approximately 2.4 billion people live in some form of
energy poverty today. Their condition impacts the entire world in negative, tangible ways.
Addressing energy poverty is beneficial to not only those in poverty, but also to those in the
developed world, as it expands international commercial markets and alleviates geopolitical
tensions. The first step in addressing energy poverty is global awareness and education.

SEA has a track record of creating nonpartisan, engaging energy-education content embraced by
educators, the environmental community, industry, and policymakers alike. SEA builds on the
remarkable popularity of the global energy film, Switch, screened in over 50 countries and
thousands of universities and viewed by more than 15 million people, as well as our latest film,
Switch On, which showcases the implications of energy poverty in several developing
countries. SEA’s latest venture, the PBS affiliated television series Energy Switch, is a talk show
moderated by Dr. Scott Tinker, and features America’s leading experts on energy and climate
issues, and is broadcast to 100 million households across the US.

Competition Goals and Objectives

The goals and objectives of this Competition are for participants to:

1. Understand the widespread nature, challenges, and diversity of energy poverty, its
impact on people's daily lives, and the broader energy justice issues brought on by
energy poverty globally.
2. Analyze and compare the factors contributing to energy poverty.
3. Consider how, if possible, best practices in one country might be implemented in a
similar country.
4. Consider the impact of government energy policies on a country's economic
development.
5. Network with energy professionals.
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The Prompt
This competition highlights countries categorized into three pairs based on comparable levels of
energy poverty. Teams will analyze and compare factors contributing to energy poverty in
different countries, including accessibility, environmental impact, quality and reliability of
services, affordability, safety and security.

Tasks

1.) Conduct a thorough comparative energy analysis of the energy landscapes in a pair of
countries.

2.) Propose a 10-year plan for one of the two countries.

3.) Evaluate the feasibility of transferring the 10-year plan to the second country.

4.) Record a concise and well-structured video presentation of no more than 15 minutes with a
complementary PowerPoint presentation (see presentation guidelines) explaining the findings
of your comparison, the proposed 10-year plan, and the transfer feasibility evaluation.

Teams should tailor their presentations as if they were part of an advisory council assigned with
the task of proposing projects that relieve energy poverty to the Ministry of Energy in the
selected country.

The following sections of this document provide an overview of the country pairs: Kenya &
Bangladesh, Costa Rica & The Philippines, and France & Saudi Arabia. Competition instructions,
recommended considerations and guidance, mentoring and judging criteria, and information
about competition logistics will follow. Teams must submit their country pair of choice HERE by
October 8 at 11:59 PM Central Daylight Time (USA).

Overview of Country Pairs

Pair 1: Kenya and Bangladesh

Kenya, situated in East Africa, shares its borders with multiple nations and has a large coastline
along the Indian Ocean to the southeast. Its total population stands at approximately 55 million
with roughly 71% residing in rural areas. The country has made significant political and
economic reforms that have contributed to sustained economic growth, improved social
development, and political stability gains over the past decade. However, its key development
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challenges still include poverty, inequality, youth unemployment, transparency and

accountability, continued weak private sector investment, and the vulnerability of the economy
to internal and external shocks. Kenya is an agriculture-based economy with two-thirds of its
energy currently coming from biomass. Approximately 97% of urban residents have access to
electricity as opposed to 62% among the rural population. Only 20% of the population has
access to clean cooking fuel. In 2020, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic hit the economy
hard, disrupting international trade and transport, tourism, and urban services activity.
However, in 2021, the economy staged a strong 7.5% recovery, although some sectors, such as
tourism, continued to lag. Although the economic outlook is broadly positive, it is subject to
elevated uncertainty, in large part due to the economic impacts of the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Bangladesh is a South Asian nation with a population of 173 million people, 61% of which
reside in rural areas. Bangladesh shares its borders with India and Myanmar on three sides and
a coastline along the Bay of Bengal to the south. Over the past twenty years, rapid economic
growth has been sustained thanks to a strong demographic dividend, thriving exports in the
ready-made garment industry, resilient inflows of remittances, and consistent stability in
macroeconomic conditions. Bangladesh has a remarkable history of poverty reduction and
development - from being one of the poorest nations at birth in 1971, Bangladesh reached
lower-middle income status in 2015. The service sector is the major contributor to the
Bangladesh economy. While most Bangladeshis have access to electricity, only 25% of its
population has access to clean cooking fuel. Bangladesh made a rapid recovery from the
COVID-19 pandemic as a result of prudent macroeconomic policies. But the economy now faces
considerable challenges due to global economic uncertainty, rising inflationary pressure, energy
shortages, a balance-of-payments deficit, and a revenue shortfall. Rising commodity prices and
a surge in imports in the second half of FY22 resulted in accelerating inflation.

Pair 2: Costa Rica and The Philippines

Costa Rica is a small nation with a population of about 5.2 million, located in Central America,
with coastlines bordering both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. The combination of
political stability, social contract and sustained economic growth has led to one of the lowest
poverty rates in Latin America and the Caribbean. Recognized globally as a leader in ecotourism,
Costa Rica has also emerged as a global leader in the adoption of alternative energy sources and
has set an ambitious goal of becoming a carbon-neutral country by 2050 Costa Rica is a
service-based economy with its growth resulting from an openness to foreign investment and
gradual trade liberalization. It has achieved 100% energy access in both rural and urban areas.
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The country is also a pioneer in providing access to clean cooking fuel and technologies to96%
of its population. Costa Rica is highly vulnerable to external shocks, including global inflationary
pressures and tighter financing conditions; potential uncertainties in increased food and energy
costs in addition to financial pressures, heightens the unpredictability of the economic outlook
at both macroeconomic and household levels.

The Philippines is a Southeast Asian archipelago and is characterized by a unique energy profile
that reflects its geographical diversity and developmental aspirations. With over 7,641 islands
and a population of nearly 115 million, the country's energy infrastructure faces inherent
challenges, particularly in ensuring equitable energy distribution. A significant portion of the
population still grapples with poverty, making affordable energy access crucial for
socio-economic development. Despite these challenges, the country has made commendable
strides, with 96% of its population having access to electricity in 2023. While the Philippines
may not be a significant player in the global oil and gas markets, with oil sales contributing just
0.012% and natural gas sales at 0.115% of its GDP, its dependence on energy imports is notable.
This reliance makes it susceptible to global energy price fluctuations, and any disturbance in
global supply chains can have pronounced effects on its energy security. The Philippines' GDP,
which reflects its economic stature in the region, witnessed a sharp contraction of 9.52% in
2020. This underscores the nation's vulnerability to external shocks and highlights the role a
stable energy sector plays in economic resilience. In the broader context of energy security, the
Philippines' heavy dependence on energy imports presents both challenges and opportunities.
Its strategies and decisions will not only shape its domestic energy landscape but also influence
regional energy cooperation and dynamics.

Pair 3: France and Saudi Arabia

France is situated at the core of Western Europe. With its urban population accounting for 81%
of the approximate 67 million residents, France boasts an advanced energy infrastructure,
ensuring that nearly its entire populace has access to electricity. Historically, nuclear power has
been the linchpin of France's electricity generation. However, in the backdrop of global energy
transitions, the nation is diversifying its energy mix. France's consumption of alternative energy
resources has grown marginally from 15.5% to 16.9% in recent years. In line with global
sustainability trends, the government has set forth ambitious goals, targeting a reduction of
nuclear energy's contribution to 50% by 2035. Despite these plans, the energy landscape of
France is not without challenges. A considerable portion of its oil and gas is imported, and the
recent conflict between Russia and Ukraine with its resultant volatile geopolitical environment
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casts a shadow of uncertainty over France's energy stability. This concern becomes even more
pronounced considering the nation's high per capita energy consumption. The resilience of the
French economy was tested in 2020 when it contracted by 7.8% due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
after which it rebounded with a growth of 6.8% in 2021.

Saudi Arabia is located at the crossroads of Asia, Europe, and Africa and stands as a global
energy giant. Its vast oil reserves have traditionally been the linchpin of the global oil market,
influencing both global energy prices and politics. Its oil reserves, which are the second-largest
in the world, have made it one of the largest global oil exporters. Saudi Arabia has a population
of about 36 million with a high per capita income. Saudi Arabia is one of the wealthiest nations
in the Middle East, and nearly the entire Saudi population enjoys access to electricity. The
Kingdom's energy infrastructure has traditionally relied heavily on oil and gas, a fact
underscored by oil sales contributing a significant 15.98% to the nation's GDP and natural gas
sales adding another 1.28%. Such heavy dependence on hydrocarbons, however, makes the
nation vulnerable to global oil price fluctuations. The challenges of this dependency became
evident in 2020 when Saudi Arabia's GDP contracted by 4.34%, as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic and a decline in global oil demand. As global energy dynamics shift and the demand
for greener energy sources increases with potential geopolitical threats in the oil-rich Middle
East, understanding and mapping Saudi Arabia's energy strategy is of paramount importance for
global energy security.
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Instructions

Please read these instructions thoroughly in order to complete the four prompt tasks on page 6.

1. Conduct a thorough comparative energy analysis to be used as a tool to design the

10-year plan for one country, and to evaluate the feasibility of transferring it to another
country. The results of this comparative analysis must be included in your presentation, and
analytical content used in the presentation must be cited correctly and completely.

Step 1: Choose one of the three country pairings below for analysis:

● Pair 1: Kenya and Bangladesh - face scarcity of economic resources, fundamental

infrastructure, and daily access to affordable clean energy sources.
● Pair 2: Costa Rica and The Philippines - have made progress in energy access, but
face challenges with providing consistent and dependable energy availability for
the majority of their population.
● Pair 3: France and Saudi Arabia - provide affordable and reliable energy for a
majority of their populations, yet still have issues of energy poverty, access to
multiple energy sources, and environmental protection.

Step 2: Assess the energy scenarios for the following energy poverty factors:

1. Accessibility - Can the country and its people access energy for cooking, electricity,
transportation, heating/AC, and industry?
2. Environmental Impact - How are the country’s current energy scenarios impacting
the environment as a whole (land, water, atmosphere), positively or negatively?
3. Quality of Energy Services - How reliable, safe, and affordable are the country’s
energy services? What is the current progress in energy demand reduction efforts
like energy efficiency programs, smart metering, etc.?
4. Reliability - Are energy services provided consistently without interruption (i.e.
frequency of blackouts, fuel shortages)?
5. Affordability - Are available energy services affordable?
6. Safety - Are transmission lines and other energy infrastructure safe for consumers?
Are cooking fuels impacting health? Is there adequate heating or air conditioning
for extreme temperatures?
7. Security - Is the country’s energy infrastructure protected from attacks and
disruptions?
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8. Potential for Roadblocks - Are there major hurdles (political, financial,

infrastructure, supply chain, employment, etc.) that could impede the
improvement of energy poverty levels?

Use a table like the one provided below as a tool to organize your thoughts.

2. Propose a 10-year plan with solutions for ONE country in the selected pairing that will
help it achieve long-term goals in relieving energy poverty.

● Design
○ How will the country use various energy resources to improve their energy
scenario? Does the country need to expand or remove the use of existing
resources, add additional ones, or both?
○ Focus on developing energy resources within the country, avoiding excessive
energy resource imports. If imports are necessary, how can the country become
more energy secure/independent over time?
○ Consider financial, environmental, and social impacts.
○ Investigate local communities and cultures. How will the government consider,
engage, and communicate with those affected by the proposed plan during the
design and implementation processes? Will local communities help shape the
plan? How?
● Implementation
○ Establish an implementation timeline over 10 years based on real-world data.
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○ Describe how the government will execute the plan.

○ Each country is given a maximum budget (see Table 1). List the projected costs
for the proposed solutions in the 10-year plan, taking into consideration initial
investment, ongoing maintenance, and maximum budget. Do the projected costs
fall within the maximum budget limit? If not, how will the country supplement
funding?
○ Describe what metrics you will use to measure the success (or failure) of your
plan.
● Impact
○ Environmental
■ Indicate how the environment as a whole (land, water, atmosphere) is
impacted by the proposed solutions (positive and negative).
○ Social
■ Describe how society might respond to the proposed solution and what
cultural and quality of life changes various communities will undergo
once the solutions are implemented (include such things as education,
healthcare, women’s rights, food and hunger, water, and sanitation).
○ Financial
■ How will the 10-year plan impact GDP, trade, and overall economic
development? What economic benefits does your proposal provide for
the country and its population?

3. Evaluate the feasibility of transferring the ten-year plan to the second country, based on
the results of the comparative energy analysis.

● Would the 10-year plan be successful in the other country? Why or why not? Would
some aspects of the plan be successful while other parts are not?
● Why might solutions and technologies that work in one country be likely to fail in
another country?
● Can there be a single solution for global energy poverty?

4. Record a concise and well-structured video presentation of no more than 15

minutes with a complementary PowerPoint presentation (see presentation guidelines, page
24).
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Additional Considerations and Guidelines

A. Forward-looking suggestions for selected country

a. Ensure that proposed projects/solutions include actionable tasks and realistic
goals feasible within a 10-year timeframe.
b. Stay within budget limits, considering practicality, innovation, and affordability.
c. Incorporate potential usage of future technologies, keeping in mind uncertainties
in their development and/or implementation.
d. List the top five similarities and differences in each of the countries in your
chosen country pair, based on your comparative energy analysis (instruction 1,
page 10).
e. Describe the positive impact of implementing your proposed solution.
B. Community/Stakeholder engagement*
a. Identify how and when to engage stakeholders and urban and rural communities.
b. Emphasize effective community and stakeholder engagement as integral parts of
social license - understand and prioritize local concerns, integrating them into the
implementation process.
C. Economic development
a. Ensure your solutions include a path for economic development based on
improvements in energy poverty.
b. Exhibit an understanding of local priorities and align your plan with the country's
development goals.
D. Government policies
a. Analyze how government policies and strategies can positively influence a
country's development in the energy sector.
b. If the allotted 10-year government budget proves to be insufficient to support
your proposal, what borrowing institutions could the government approach for
additional funding?

*What do we mean by community and stakeholder engagement?

“Community engagement” refers to the process of building relationships with the local
community. It includes communicating with them, providing opportunities to participate in
processes and decisions, and becoming aware of social, environmental, and economic factors.

“Stakeholder engagement” is similar to community engagement but applies to other entities

besides the local community. Stakeholders are specific groups that have an interest in or
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influence over your proposed solution. In this competition your stakeholders could include local
and national governments, companies that would be involved in executing your plan,
organizations that might be impacted (negatively or positively) by your plan, or potential
funders to name a few. You may think of others as your team develops its plan.

How to include community and stakeholder engagement in your presentation

Focus on effective community engagement strategies, economic development, and an

understanding of local priorities. Your solution should not only be scientifically and economically
sound but also considerate of social impact and stakeholder involvement. Explain how you will
address community engagement during your presentation.

It’s important that your stakeholders understand and are aligned with your plan so that they can
become advocates to help you achieve your goals and vision. Explain how you will address
stakeholder engagement during your presentation.

Remember…

You are encouraged to think critically and creatively and to go beyond the scope of these factors
for both the organization and ideation of your solutions. Seek creative, yet actionable solutions
that could be deployed in real-world settings. Your presentation should focus on defending and
supporting your 10-year plan in fifteen (15) minutes or less by seamlessly incorporating the
findings of your comparative analysis and supplemental research. Present your plan concisely,
but ensure that there is sufficient evidence and reasoning backing your argument. Support your
claims with references to publications or with detailed calculations. We look forward to seeing
your team's innovative ideas and solutions to address energy poverty in your chosen country.
Good luck!

Financial Information
Each country in the three pairings has been assigned a maximum budget for the 10-year plan
(referred to as the “Maximum Allowable Spend for Team Proposal over 10 years” in Table 1).
The total spending amount depends on current energy sector expenses, projected as a
percentage of GDP for the next decade. Teams get 10% of a country's total 10-year energy
budget for new projects. See Table 1 for budget constraints by country.
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Table 1. Energy budget for country pairs

Competition Structure

*as an example, not based on 2023 registrations

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Preliminary Round
Teams will begin the Competition on October 2. Teams must notify SEA of their chosen country
pair by October 8, and must submit their video and PowerPoint presentation by October 29 (no
additional presentations need to be submitted after this date). Submission instructions are
located below in the “Presentation Guidelines'' section. All teams will be divided into groups,
and each group will be judged by at least two judges to ensure fairness of scores. Judges will
score teams independently and their scores will be summed to determine each team’s total
score. The highest-scoring team in each group will advance to the Semifinals.

Semifinal Round
The winners of the Preliminary Round will be notified of their advancement to the Semifinals on
November 3. Here, a new group of judges will re-evaluate and score the semifinalists’ video
presentations based on the same scoring criteria with a more rigorous grading basis. The five
highest-scoring teams will advance to the Finals.

Final Round
The top five teams will be notified of their advancement to the Finals on November 7, and the
live Final round will be held on November 11. The selected teams will join the online event
through a Zoom invitation link sent to their Team Leader’s email. This link will also be shared
with all teams who have submitted a presentation.

A panel of judges will review the Finalists’ video presentations beforehand. The Finals will be
broadcast to the general public live on ZOOM. During the live event, the Finalist teams will have
15 minutes to present their proposal, after which there will be a 10 minute Q&A period with the
judges. Anticipating questions is a key skill for competitors and demonstrates significant
preparation. Teams will present their slides live during the event. Winners will be announced at
the end of the event.

Prizes

The top five Finalist teams will be featured on SEA's website, newsletter, and social media. The
$25,000 USD in prize money will be split among the five Finalist teams as shown in Figure 1.
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Figure 1. Prize Money Distribution

After the Finals, SEA will contact the Finalist Team Leaders to distribute the prize money. Please
note that the amounts above represent the total prize awarded to the entire team, which is
then to be divided evenly amongst the team members.

Finalists will also be contacted after the Finals with more information about how to apply for an
internship opportunity specifically set aside for Case Competition Finalists. More information
about the internship will be announced during the competition.

Key Dates

October 2 | 12:00 PM CDT – Competition begins

Teams and volunteers begin receiving the case packet and can start initial research leading to
creation of their video and PowerPoint presentations supporting their 10-year plan.

October 5 | 09:00 AM CDT - “Mentor the Mentors” workshop

Virtual workshop to provide guidance and clarity to the responsibilities of being a mentor,
discuss procedures, and answer questions about the role. Attendance is recommended for
those who volunteer as Mentors, however it is not mandatory. Students do not need to attend
this workshop.
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October 7 | 9:00 AM CDT – Kickoff with Dr. Scott Tinker & Competition Q&A
Dr. Scott Tinker is the Chairman of Switch Energy Alliance and the Director of the Bureau of
Economic Geology. He works to bring industry, government, academia, and non-governmental
organizations together to address major societal challenges in energy, the environment, and the
economy. A Q&A session with competition organizers will follow. Questions must be submitted
by 12:00 PM CDT on October 6 HERE.

October 8 | 11:59 PM CDT – Submit country pairing of choice

Teams must decide on a country pairing from the prompt above and submit it HERE. Teams that
requested a mentor during the registration process will be notified of their Mentor pairing.

October 25 | 09:00 AM CDT - “Mentor the Judges” workshop

Virtual workshop to provide guidance and clarity to the responsibilities of being a Judge, discuss
procedures, and answer questions about the role. Attendance is recommended for those who
volunteer as Judges, however it is not mandatory. Students do not need to attend this
workshop.

October 29| 11:59 PM CDT – End of Preliminary Round

All teams MUST submit a video in MP4 format and presentation slides in PDF format HERE. Late
submissions will have points deducted (see score sheet). Submissions received more than 12
hours after the deadline will be disqualified.

November 3 | 09:00 AM CDT – “Energy Career Path Session” #1, Semifinalists announced
Sponsoring companies will provide company overviews, describe internship and entry-level
opportunities, provide general information about energy-related career options, and participate
in a Q&A session. Teams that are advancing to the Semifinals will be announced following the
company presentations and notified via email.

November 7 | 09:00 AM CDT – “Energy Career Path Session” #2, Finalists announced
Sponsoring companies will provide company overviews, describe internship and entry-level
opportunities, provide general information about energy-related career options, and participate
in a Q&A. Teams that are advancing to the Final Round will be announced following the
company presentations and notified via email.

November 10 | 09:00 AM CDT – “Energy Career Path Session” #3

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Sponsoring companies will provide company overviews, describe internship and entry-level
opportunities, and provide general information about energy-related career options, and
participate in a Q&A session.

November 11| 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM CST – Finals Round, Live

Teams will answer questions from an esteemed panel of judges regarding their proposed
10-year plan while being broadcast live across the globe. Winners will be announced at the end
of the event. After the Finals, SEA will contact the Finalist team leaders to distribute the prize
money and provide more information about the internship opportunity.

Social Media Contest

The Social Media Contest is a multi-stage engagement event designed to amplify the
competition’s social media presence, promote community among teams, and raise public
awareness about energy poverty. The contest takes place on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and
Twitter (X). The three highest-scoring teams in the Social Media Contest will win a distributed
$1200 USD to be split evenly among team members.

Note: Participation in the Social Media Contest is optional, and will not affect scoring or
performance in the Switch International Energy Case Competition.

Stages
Pre-Stage: Registration Period (Sept 1-October 2)
Post a video, 45-60 seconds long, showcasing modern energy sources on the team’s campus(es)
and/or communities.

Stage 1: Preliminary Round (Oct 3-29)

Announce the team’s participation in the Case Competition including one or more photos of the
team.

Stage 2: Semifinals Round (Oct 30-Nov 7)

Post a video, 45-60 seconds long, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the team’s preparation
process for the Case Competition presentation and PowerPoint.

Stage 3: Finals Round (Nov 4-Nov 11)

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Post a video, 45-60 seconds long, reflecting on the team’s Competition experience, highlighting
key takeaways, and/or sharing changes in personal perspective.

Note: Before each stage, participants will receive additional guidance regarding the prompts,
including example captions, content ideas, and photo frames.

Scoring
● Like/Reaction: 1 point each
● Comment: 5 points each
● Share: 8 points each

Posting Requirements
For a post to receive points, it must:
● Tag Switch Energy Alliance
○ Instagram: @switchenergyalliance
○ Facebook: @Switch Energy Alliance
○ LinkedIn: @Switch Energy Alliance
○ Twitter: @SwitchEAlliance
● Include both hashtags
○ #CaseComp23
○ #SwitchOn
● Include a caption that mentions the team's name.
● Be relevant to the stage description and posting period.
● Follow time requirements (video posts between 45 and 60 seconds).

Note: Posts do not have to come from team member accounts, and there is no posting limit. We
encourage sharing the prompts and requirements with your friends and family!

Bonus Points
Each team member can earn additional points for their team through the following actions:
● Following SEA on social media platforms (1 point per platform).
● Joining the Case Competition Facebook Group (1 point).
● Interacting with SEA's social media posts during the Competition (Sept 1-Nov 10):
○ Like/Reaction: 1 point each
○ Comment: 5 points each
○ Share: 8 points each
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Note: Bonus points will be tracked using the individual team member’s social media handles
listed at registration. If a team member would like to share a handle not given during
registration, they can do so by direct messaging SEA on any of our platforms.

Prizes
The three highest-scoring teams will receive a distributed $1,200 USD in prize money as listed
below:
1. $600 USD
2. $400 USD
3. $200 USD
Prize money is to be split equally among team members. Winning teams will be announced
during the live finals.

Mentorship Program
Mentors
When completing the competition registration form, teams had the option of requesting a
mentor. We are pleased to announce that over 140 energy professionals throughout the world
have volunteered as mentors. As a result, each team that requested a mentor will be assigned
one. Teams that requested a mentor will be notified via email on October 9 with contact
information for their assigned mentor.

It is the responsibility of the Team Leader to contact their team’s assigned Mentor to arrange
for 30 minute weekly mentoring sessions with their team.

The mentors are a mix of energy professionals and academics who all have a passion for energy
and are generously volunteering their time to help you succeed. Please be respectful of their
time and courteous with your communications.

The mentors’ objectives include:

● Act as a sounding board for teams.
● Keep teams on track to finish their presentations in a timely manner.
● Help teams develop roles within the team.
 22

● Assist teams in setting goals and sticking to them.

● Encourage teams to think critically about potential energy sources, and consider a true
interdisciplinary approach to their recommendation.
● Provide general guidance.Mentors shall not recommend specific solutions to the
prompt, engage in research, create materials, or draft language.

Teams will meet virtually with their mentor once a week for at least 30 minutes each session. It
is up to the team to initiate communication with their assigned mentor. Teams and mentors
should agree upon the optimal video conferencing platform (i.e., Zoom, Skype, WebEx, etc.) and
schedule three mentoring sessions. Teams will need to accommodate their mentor’s time zone
and work schedules.

Mentoring workshops
New this year are “Mentor the Mentors” and “Mentor the Judges” virtual workshops, during
which we will provide an overview of the responsibilities of each role and answer any questions
volunteers might have. These workshops are not mandatory, but are designed to provide
guidance and clarity to these important roles. The “Mentor the Mentors” workshop will be held
on October 5, and the “Mentor the Judges” workshop will be held on October 25. Invitation
links to both workshops will be emailed to all registered volunteers (mentors and judges).

Energy Career Path Sessions

We will be hosting 3 virtual “Energy Career Path Sessions” during which some of SEA’s
sponsoring companies will have the opportunity to provide company overviews, describe
internship and entry-level opportunities, and provide general information about energy-related
career options. We anticipate that two companies will each have 30 minutes for their
presentations at each of the sessions, including time for Q&A. Companies involved represent
many aspects of the energy industrial spectrum – upstream, midstream, downstream,
infrastructure, finance, analytics, academia, and more. A different pair of companies will
present at each of the sessions, which are scheduled for November 3, November 7, and
November 10; teams who submit a presentation are invited to attend all 3 sessions to gain the
maximum insight into the energy industry. Teams that are advancing to the Semifinals and Finals
will be announced following the company presentations on November 3 and November 7. Links
to each session will be emailed to all Team Leaders whose teams have submitted a case study
by the October 29th deadline.
 23

Judging
Energy professionals from numerous energy fields, countries, and organizations will judge team
submissions in all three judging rounds. Judges review the video presentations and then score
the teams using the scoring guide shown on page 28. No travel is necessary as this is a virtual
competition.

The Preliminary Round will include all teams that have submitted presentations by the October
29th deadline. The 15 highest-scoring teams from that round will advance to the Semifinal
Round. Preliminary and Semifinal Round judges will have flexibility over when they decide to
review and score the presentations, according to the schedule below:
● Preliminary Round review & scoring: October 29-November 3
● Semifinal Round review & scoring: November 4-November 7

The Final Judging Round will include the five highest-scoring teams from the Semifinal Round.
The Finals Round judges will review all five of the finalists’ 15-minute video presentations
between November 7th and November 10th. The judges will then participate in the virtual live
Finals Judging Round to be held on November 11th from 9:00 AM – 12:00 AM Central Standard
Time. During the November 11th live event, the judges will engage in a Q&A with the finalists.
After each Q&A, the judges will individually score the team using the scoring sheet (page 28). All
scores will be totaled and the Final Round placements and monetary awards will be announced.

Please note that a “Mentor the Judges” workshop will be held on October 25 (see page 22 for
details).

Technology Requirements
Since the Competition is virtual, access to a stable internet connection is required. Video
conferencing will be utilized for the Mentorship Program and Finals Judging Round. Teams will
also need a microphone and video camera/computer webcam. The Finals Judging Round will be
held on Zoom, so teams should understand its functionality if selected as a Finalist. We strongly
recommend that teams use Gmail accounts to access the forms for the Competition and make
their submissions. Other types of accounts may have issues.
 24

Presentation Guidelines
Teams must create both a slide presentation and a video presentation narrating some or all of
the slides. No external source videos can be embedded in your slide or video presentation. If
research or a figure/image/diagram is selected from an external source, a citation must be
provided on the slide. File size limitations and naming conventions are shown in Table 2 below.

Slide Presentation Requirements

The first slide in your presentation must be the title slide, containing team members’ names,
your Mentor’s name (if applicable), home countries of team members, your selected country
pair, and your team name and number. The final slide should be a complete listing of all
resources and references used in your team’s research (bibliography). In order to submit the
slide presentation, it must first be converted into a PDF document.

Video Presentation Purpose

The purpose of the video is to verbally elaborate on each slide that is shown and explain
relevant figures and concepts to support your team’s argument. The video will function as the
primary presentation tool that will be reviewed by the judges to determine scoring during the
Competition (judges are encouraged to also view your PDF document for additional details and
supporting information). Your video will contain only the individual slides you choose to show
during the video (i.e., it is unlikely that you will have sufficient time to show every slide in your
PDF document during the 15-minute video, so it is important to make your video
comprehensive and concise).

Video Presentation Requirements

The following are the video presentation requirements and guidelines:

● At all times during the video the slides must appear.

● At all times during the video the person speaking must appear. But teams have
the option of showing: (i) just the speaker or (ii) the speaker and the other team
members.
● Each team member must speak at least once during the video.
● The slides in the video shall have clear and visible content, including any pictures,
figures, and diagrams.
 25

● If research or a figure/image/diagram is selected from an external source, a

citation must be provided on the slide.
● The video cannot exceed 15 minutes in length. The judges will be instructed to
end the video at the 15-minute mark.
● The video must be 1920x1080p or 1280x720p quality.

Language Requirements
English will be used throughout the competition as the medium of communication. Unless prior
arrangements have been made with the Case Competition team: (i) the video and slide
presentations must be in English and (ii) when speaking in the video presentation, each
presenter must speak in English.

Submission of Video and Slide Presentations

The (i) video presentation and (ii) PDF slide presentation must be submitted HERE by October
29 at 11:59 CDT. Only one video and one slide presentation can be submitted per team, and
these submissions will be used throughout the three judging rounds. Points will be deducted for
late submissions, and submissions received 12 hours or more past the deadline will be
disqualified. We strongly recommend that teams use Gmail accounts to access the forms for the
Competition and make their submissions. Other types of accounts may have issues.

Language English (unless arrangements have been made

Presentation slide creation method
Title slide must include
Citations (slides and video)
Slide file size limit
Slide file name (to be submitted)
with Competition organizers)
PowerPoint or Google Slides converted to PDF
Team members’ names
Mentor’s name
Selected country pairing
Home country (or countries if multiple)
Team name & number
Required; final slide should list bibliography
of all resources used
1 GB
“[3-digit team #]_[TeamName]_2023.pdf”
Example: 001_SEA_2023.pdf
 26

Slide file type (to be submitted) PDF

Videos must include Presentation slides at all times.
Speaker’s face at all times.
(teams may opt to only show the speaker, or
show all team members, see example below)
Presenters’ faces
Presenters’ voices
Number of team members in video All team members
Video time limit 15 minutes
Video size limit 3 GB
Video file name (to be submitted) “[3-digit team #]_[TeamName]_2023.mp4”
Example: 001_SEA_2023.mp4
Video file type (to be submitted) MP4
Table 2. Summary of slide and video presentation requirements.

Example Video Layout – speaker video must be the in upper right corner

Video Testimonials (optional)

Not all teams that participate in the Case Competition will be able to compete in the live Final
Round. However, each individual that participates in the Case Competition can submit a two
 27

minute or less video testimonial about their experience in the Case Competition, what they
learned during the Competition, and how they hope to use the experience to advance their
academic and professional goals.

Portions of the testimonial videos from members of teams that do not make it to the Final
Judging Round may be used during the live Final event. Video testimonials should only show the
speaker’s face and not competition slides. Testimonials must be submitted HERE by November
30, 11:59 PM CST. Please use the following naming convention:
o Video file name: “[3-digit team #]_[YourName]_2023.mp4”
Example: 001_SarahSmith_2023.mp4
Note: no spaces between words in your name

Video Presentation Creation Options

Teams are free to use any screen recording software. A couple of recommendations are listed
below.
 28

Scoring
Teams will be evaluated on a 100-point scale. Each bullet point is worth a maximum of 5 points.

Comparative energy analysis & Design (__ /45 points)

● Are all 8 of the energy poverty factors addressed in the comparative energy analysis?
● Are specific energy resources identified for the chosen country?
● Are all sources of energy (fossil fuels, nuclear, and alternatives) considered?
● Were clear reasons presented for why certain energy resources were excluded or included?
● Is potential use of new/future technologies considered and evaluated?
● Does the energy mix selected make sense in terms of resources available?
● Are improvements to energy access, efficiency & reliability described?
● Are energy imports avoided to the extent possible?
● Does the team’s plan elaborate on the inclusion and participation of local governments, various
stakeholders (like developers, policy makers, financers etc.), and local communities?

Implementation (__ / 20 points)

● Is there a timeline for implementation, based on real-world data?

● Are the steps the government would take to execute the plan clearly described?
● Is the budget for the described project within the maximum amount provided by the
government? Does the team address the adequacy (or lack thereof) of governmental funding to
accomplish the proposed solutions?
● Does the team describe how they will measure success?

Impact (__ / 15 points)

● Are potential environmental impacts addressed?

● Are public health, cultural sensitivity, sustainability, and affordability issues addressed?
● Does the team describe the economic benefits of their proposal?

Feasibility (__ / 5 points)

● Is there an explanation of how the proposed plan could or could not be implemented in the
paired country, and why?

Delivery (__ / 15 points)

● Are teams professional, composed, and prepared?

● Do teams demonstrate a strong understanding of potential risks and strategies for mitigation?
● Does the team include/cite all the sources used in developing the plan in the final slide of their
presentation?
Total Score: _____ / 100
 29

Potential Deductions

● Late submission (-10 points)

● Failure to follow Presentation Guidelines (-1 point per item)
● Any team members not shown and audible with individual video in upper right corner

Judges are asked to support their scoring with constructive comments.

Miscellaneous

Original Work
Besides meeting with your mentors, teams are permitted to contact whoever they wish but
must produce original work solely attributable to the team members.

Team Leader’s Responsibilities

The role of the Team Leader is an important one. The Team Leader is:
● Responsible for identifying their teammates and registering them during open
registration (September 1-October 5).
● The main point of contact for all competition communications coming from SEA.
● Responsible for delivering any and all competition information received to all team
participants.
● Responsible for contacting their assigned Mentor (if one is requested during
registration) to arrange for three 30 minute weekly mentoring sessions with their
team.
● Responsible for maintaining team focus and direction during research, presentation
production, and judging.
● Responsible for ensuring that deadlines are adhered to and all Competition rules and
requirements are followed.
 30

Publicity Disclosure Agreement

By participating in the competition, each team member consents that their name, photo,
university affiliation, major/discipline, and presentations may be posted in SEA's newsletter,
website, social media, with similar materials shared with third parties that might deem the
presentations beneficial. This includes without limitation: government officials, thought leaders,
and organizations. If a team member does not desire to have his or her name or photo shared
with the public, the individual may contact SEA via email by October 29 to discuss options.

Submission Links and Deadlines

Kickoff Event Q&A Question Submission Form October 6, 12:00 PM CDT
Country Pair Selection Form October 8, 11:59 PM CDT
Slide and Video Submission Form October 29, 11:59 PM CDT
Video Testimonial Form (optional) November 30, 11:59 PM CST

Contact Information
For any questions during the competition, please email Carl Steffensen at
carl.steffensen@switchon.org.
(make sure to add “switchon.org” email addresses to you approved list so that important emails
aren’t sent to you junk or spam folders).

The Switch International Energy Case Competition Team

Carl Steffensen, Project Manager
Cierra George, Science Marketing & Communications Specialist
Syed Talha Tirmizi, Volunteer
Roopmati Meena, Intern
Shruti Prajapati, Intern
Ava Templeton, Intern
Grey Johnson, Intern