Empowering Sustainable Innovation:
Solar Decathlon Design Challenge Africa 2025
Join the brightest minds in shaping the future of energy-efficient and sustainable buildings.
Why join?
The experience offers students a unique opportunity to
Showcase skills on a global stage
Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team
Develop strategies to decarbonize the building industry
Network with industry experts
Engage with organizations about sustainable building careers
Experience zero energy building design firsthand.
Exchange ideas with other teams around the world
Learn from African and world leaders and collegiate peers
Announcement day
Registration opens
Team Registration Deadline and Project Summary Submission
Submission Deadline for Semi-final Design Project
Virtual semi-finals
Submission Deadline for Final Full Project
Final Competition at AUC (In-person)
Competition Background
The Solar Decathlon Design Challenge is a collegiate competition with 10 Contests that challenges student teams to design innovative, high-performance, low-carbon buildings powered by renewable energy. The challenge is to design zero energy buildings and address complex real-world issues related to carbon emissions, energy justice, affordability, and community resilience through whole-building design. Design Challenge participants prepare creative solutions that address real-world issues in the zero energy building industry.
All registered teams are invited to present their initial designs to expert Jurors at a virtual Semifinal Competition Event, during which Finalist Teams will be selected.
Finalists are invited to compete in person at the Solar Decathlon Design Challenge Event at the American University in Cairo, Egypt, where Division Winners and Grand Winners are announced.
The Host
American University in Cairo (AUC)
The American University in Cairo (AUC) is proud to host the Solar Decathlon Design Competition Africa 2025 (SDDC 2025), bringing together innovative minds to address critical sustainability challenges. Located in Cairo, in the heart of the Middle East, AUC is a leading English-language, American-accredited institution of higher education and center of intellectual, social and cultural life of the Arab world. Renowned for its commitment to academic excellence and environmental stewardship, AUC stands at the forefront of education and research in the region. AUC tackles sustainability comprehensively and was ranked as the most sustainable university in Africa and Egypt in 2022 and 2021 by the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking. As a signatory to the global UN-backed Race to Zero Campaign for Universities and Colleges, AUC provides an inspiring venue for this prestigious competition. With its state-of-the-art facilities and Campus, dynamic.
Egypt, a land of timeless history and vibrant culture, provides an inspiring setting for the 2025 Solar Decathlon Design Challenge Africa. As the host of COP27, Egypt has demonstrated its leadership and commitment to addressing climate change and advancing sustainable development, making it the ideal location for this groundbreaking competition. Known for its iconic monuments like the Pyramids of Giza and the temples of Luxor, as well as its vibrant modern cities, Egypt offers competitors a rich tapestry of history, innovation, and opportunity. Participants are encouraged to explore Egypt’s diverse landscapes, from the tranquil Nile River to the vast desert sands, and immerse themselves in its warm hospitality, vibrant markets, and rich culinary traditions. By experiencing Egypt’s unique environmental and cultural heritage, competitors can draw inspiration for innovative, climate-responsive designs that reflect the nation’s sustainability vision and global impact.