A hydrogen-powered renewable energy storage system developed by Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Galway graduate James Swift has won the Siemens Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award 2025, presented by Engineers Ireland.

The annual competition, held on Wednesday, 22 October, celebrates third-level engineering students whose projects demonstrate innovation, sustainability, and commercial potential. This year's event also marked 25 years of Siemens’ sponsorship of the prestigious award.

Five finalist teams from universities across Ireland presented their projects — ranging from biomedical devices to renewable energy innovations — to a panel of judges at Engineers Ireland headquarters.

James Swift, a graduate of Energy Engineering at ATU Galway, was recognised for developing a prototype hydrogen-based energy storage system designed to capture surplus renewable electricity and convert it into clean, reusable power.

James commented: "I am delighted and honoured to be awarded the Siemens Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award 2025 by Engineers Ireland. This project set out to demonstrate how hydrogen can be adopted to fulfil energy balancing requirements across Ireland’s rapidly growing renewable energy sector, and I would like to thank Siemens and Engineers Ireland for highlighting the importance of renewable energy technologies to our future sustainability."

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The judging panel included Joe Walsh, Director and General Manager of Siemens Ireland; Niamh Hegarty, Director of Advanced Operations at Stryker; and Dave Ludgate, Associate Director and Sustainability Lead – Water at AECOM.

Commenting at the event, Joe Walsh, Director and General Manager of Siemens Ireland, said: "We are incredibly proud to celebrate 25 years of supporting the Engineers Ireland Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award. Encouraging young people into STEM fields and helping them develop the skills for a digital future is vital for Ireland’s continued success.

"Digital technology is transforming every aspect of engineering, and it is inspiring to see students embracing innovation and creativity in their projects. Every year, I am struck by the creativity and determination shown by the students who take part in the awards. Congratulations to James, and to all who took part – your innovation is shaping the future of engineering in Ireland."

John Jordan, President of Engineers Ireland, also praised the finalists' achievements: "The initiatives showcased at the Siemens Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award highlights the exceptional talent and ingenuity within our third-level engineering institutions. These students represent the next generation of Irish leaders, poised to drive forward innovative and sustainable solutions that will benefit communities both at home and abroad.

"I would like to offer a sincere congratulations to James Swift and the shortlisted finalists who truly exemplified innovation and engineering excellence. I wish each team continued success in their academic journey and future careers in engineering – they are the changemakers and leaders of tomorrow."

The 2025 finalists for the Siemens Innovative Student Engineer of the Year Award were:

• James Swift, Atlantic Technological University Galway – Harnessing Hydrogen: A Study into Renewable Energy Storage Using Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology

• Gavin McGrath, Munster Technological University Cork – The Design and Development of a Mechanical Floatation Cell to Support Large Diameter Thin Astronomical Mirrors

• Megi Murvanidze, Manas Shingrut, Eve O’Grady, Damla Atalay, Michał Bartler and Olivia O'Fathaigh, Trinity College Dublin – CogniCube

• Ruchit Gandhi, Ethan O'Brien and Sarah Jane Hughes, University of Galway – PeerPower

• Jack O'Brien, Eoin Sheahan, Senan Kenny and Jake Somers, University of Limerick – OvaClear