TLDR: A team of ten De Montfort University (DMU) students, named EcoSynergy, won the 2025 DMU-Made CEM Hackathon by developing a four-step, revenue-positive solution to significantly reduce the energy consumption and emissions of AI data centers. Their proposal, which includes strategies like model distillation and heat recovery, is projected to cut electricity use by approximately 55%, offering substantial financial and environmental benefits.
De Montfort University (DMU) students from Team EcoSynergy have emerged victorious at the 2025 DMU-Made CEM Hackathon, securing a share of a £3,000 prize fund for their groundbreaking solutions to mitigate the substantial energy demands of Artificial Intelligence (AI) data centers. The team, composed of ten Computing, Engineering, and Media (CEM) students who had not previously collaborated, impressed judges with their innovative pitch to drastically cut emissions associated with AI infrastructure.
The hackathon, an annual fast-paced entrepreneurial event by DMU Made, challenged student teams to devise solutions for real-world problems within a tight timeframe. This year’s brief centered on the escalating energy consumption of data centers and the growing issue of e-waste, particularly highlighting how power-hungry AI technologies pose a significant threat to achieving the Paris 2030 emission targets. The task was to ‘propose innovative and sustainable solutions to make these technologies more environmentally and socially responsible’ using design thinking and entrepreneurial skills.
Team EcoSynergy’s winning concept, developed over seven intensive days from May 1-8, 2025, is encapsulated in a four-step, revenue-positive strategy: ‘Distil the model, cascade the calls, shift the load, sell the heat.’ This comprehensive approach aims to optimize AI operations for energy efficiency. Their detailed modeling estimates a remarkable reduction of approximately 55% in electricity usage through these innovations, promising considerable financial savings for both AI users and providers.
PhD student Timothi Lim, a member of the winning team, reflected on the experience: ‘Ten strangers from across the CEM programmes met for the first time at the 2025 DMU-Made CEM Hackathon. Within seven days, from 1-8 May, we brainstormed, prototyped, and pitched a solution that won first prize. Before the event, I would have doubted that a newly formed team could achieve such cohesion so quickly. Yet this hackathon proved that collaboration can be both productive and exhilarating.’ Lim emphasized that the challenge resonated deeply with every team member, regardless of their background in mechatronics, computer science, mechanical engineering, or data analytics, due to its direct link to an urgent global issue.
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EcoSynergy’s solution is designed to enable cities and entities like GE Vernova to expand AI capabilities while simultaneously meeting net-zero targets and fostering safer, greener communities. The team’s success at the hackathon not only validated their hard work but also underscored the profound learning experience gained through intense collaboration and problem-solving.
