HiMCM 2021 · Problem set
Two energy-and-water systems problems with strong real-world data anchors. Problem A asks you to size a grid-scale storage system around a solar farm; Problem B drops you into the mega-drought on the Colorado River and asks for a Lake Mead operating policy.
| Contest dates | November 4 – November 15, 2021 (14-day window) |
| Participation | ~870 teams, mostly United States and China [illustrative] |
| Problem A | Storing the Sun — energy-storage sizing for a 100 MW solar farm |
| Problem B | Tackling the Drought — Lake Mead release / inflow policy |
| Official results | 2021 HiMCM results & commentary |
All four 2018–2021 prompts are also indexed on COMAP's
previous problems page.
Read the PDF before our outline — the outline is most useful as a second pass.
The two problems
Problem A
Storing the Sun
Size and operate a battery / pumped-hydro / thermal-storage system attached to a 100 MW solar plant so it can meet a predictable evening demand curve. Optimization + cost models.
Open outline →
Problem B
Tackling the Drought
The Lake Mead reservoir on the Colorado River is at historic lows. Model inflow, outflow, and storage; propose an operating policy that survives a multi-year drought.
Open outline →
Why this year is good practice
- Real, downloadable data. Both problems map onto well-curated public datasets (NREL solar irradiance, USBR Lake Mead daily levels). You won't waste time inventing numbers.
- Two very different model families. Problem A rewards optimization and finance (NPV / LCOE); Problem B rewards mass-balance ODEs and policy simulation.
- Stakeholder communication. Both ask for a memo / letter to a real audience — utility CFO, Bureau of Reclamation. Classic HiMCM "non-technical letter" practice.