Events

What Is It 

The Volue Hackathon brings together exceptional students, engineers, and problem-solvers to tackle the energy industry's most pressing challenges. This is a highly selective event - we accept just 12-24 participants - so every team gets direct access to Volue R&D experts, real APIs, and a possibility to present on stage at the Power Summit. Running from the morning of May 19 through the afternoon of May 20, the hackathon opens the Volue Power Summit and feeds directly into its main programme: winning teams present their solutions on the summit stage.

Location:
May 20-21
Amsterdam
Postillion Hotel

IN PERSON ONLY - no virtual participation at the location

Challenge Tracks 

Teams will work on one of two challenge tracks aligned with the core themes of the summit: 

Track 1 – Real-Time Power Markets & System Agility
Build an intelligent agent that can interpret live market data, generate short-term forecasts, detect market-moving signals, and produce analyst-style commentary – helping energy market players act faster in increasingly volatile markets. 

Track 2 – Grid Intelligence & Asset Visibility
Build an AI system that turns grid imagery into operational intelligence – automatically identifying asset types, reading signs and labels, assessing component condition, and flagging assets that need attention – so grid operators can move from reactive maintenance to proactive asset management. 

Challenge briefs with datasets and APIs will be shared at kickoff. 

Who Can Participate 

The hackathon is open to students and early-career professionals with backgrounds in AI, data science, software engineering, or energy systems. We’re looking for curious, technical minds ready to solve real industry problems. 

Applications are reviewed based on academic background, technical portfolio (e.g. GitHub), and relevant project experience. 

Teams & Format 

  • Team size: 3-4 people
  • Teams per challenge: 2-3
  • Total participants: 12-24
  • You can apply as an individual or with a team – we’ll help match unassigned participants at kickoff 

Prizes

  • Winner - €5,000
  • Second place - €2,500
  • Third place - €1,000

What You Get 

  • 24-hour workspace with breakout and rest areas 
  • Meals throughout (lunch, dinner, snacks, breakfast) 
  • Access to Volue APIs, datasets, documentation, and tooling 
  • Mentoring from Volue R&D experts and domain specialists 
  • A stage slot at the Volue Power Summit to present your solution 
  • Exposure to senior industry leaders, customers, and technology partners
  • All participants receive Volue swag 

    Judging 

    Solutions are evaluated by a panel of senior Volue leadership, customer representatives, and technology partners on: 

    • Technical depth & innovation 
    • Feasibility & real-world relevance 
    • Creativity & problem-framing 
    • Quality of presentation 

    How To Apply

    Application Deadline May 1st 2026

    Selected candidates will be notified ahead of the event.

    Agenda

    FAQ

    Yes, please bring your own laptop with your preferred development environment set up. Volue will provide access to APIs, datasets, and documentation at kickoff, but all tooling and hardware is your own responsibility

    Yes, applications are open internationally. However, please note that the event is held in person in Amsterdam - travel arrangements are the participant's own responsibility

    There's no mandatory stack. Teams are free to use any programming languages, frameworks, or tools they're comfortable with. That said, experience with Python, REST APIs, and data science tooling will be particularly useful given the nature of the challenges.

    If a team member drops out before or during the event, let the organisers know as soon as possible. We'll do our best to help find a replacement or adjust your team configuration.

    Not necessarily. Domain knowledge is a plus, but the strongest teams tend to combine strong technical skills with curiosity. Volue mentors will be available throughout to provide energy market and grid context.

    Full challenge briefs, including datasets and API details will be shared at kickoff on May 19. General thematic areas (power markets and grid intelligence) are outlined on this page to help you assess fit before applying.

    We will aim to confirm your application as soon as possible, but no later than May 4th