ThermaVault, a student team from The Shishukunj International School Indore, has been named the Asia Regional Winner in The Earth Prize 2025 for its electricity-free refrigeration solution. The award, part of a global competition recognizing youth-led environmental innovation, includes a $12,500 prize to support further development.
The ThermaVault system addresses critical refrigeration challenges in off-grid and rural communities by using salt-based endothermic reactions. This reusable chemical process creates cooling without electricity, making it ideal for vaccine preservation, food storage, and medical logistics in remote areas.
The team began developing their prototype during a science fair and refined it into a scalable unit after witnessing the impact of unreliable power access during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their solution also targets reduction in plastic waste by eliminating the need for thermocol-based packaging and inefficient cooling materials.
The Earth Prize, an annual environmental sustainability competition for students aged 13 to 19, awards $100,000 in total to youth teams with impactful environmental solutions. For the first time in 2025, the competition introduced seven regional winners, each receiving $12,500 to further their projects.
“ThermaVault reflects our belief in sustainable design and our commitment to solving real-world problems affecting underserved communities,” the team stated on their official website.
The Earth Prize aims to empower students worldwide by providing mentorship and resources to develop tangible environmental solutions. In addition to the student awards, the competition also recognizes outstanding mentors and educators, awarding three in each category with $2,500.