Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy 2011
London, 21.09.2010 - James Smith
The Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy are seeking entries from inspirational and innovative local sustainable energy programmes from Asia, Africa and Latin America.
 "Sir David Attenborough presenting an Award to 2010 Gold Award winners D.light Design")
The leading green energy awards call for entries for 2011 has just been announced with a deadline of 19 October 2010. Up to six winners will receive £20,000 each in prize money for programme development, with one winner receiving a gold award of £40,000. The awards will be presented at a VIP ceremony in London in June 2011.
For 2011 the organisers are particularly interested in applications from Latin America and China and from organisations who are working to reduce deforestation. To be successful, schemes will need to be technically rigorous, have an element of innovation and - most importantly - make a genuine difference to local peoples’ lives, both socially and economically. Many are doing this by boosting local peoples’ income, providing employment or training, installing lighting for schoolwork and even improving women’s status in their community. Award-winning schemes must have been consistently successful for at least one year with plans for further expansion.
Ned Tozun, of 2010 International Gold Award winner D.light Design said:
“The press exposure we have received from the awards has been incredible. Our website traffic has jumped up substantially and we have had visitors from all across the world. We have had a massive surge in distributer inquiries, and almost all of them heard about us through our interviews with the BBC.”
Recent winners include micro hydro schemes bringing power to remote areas in Brazil and Peru; businesses selling solar home systems and lanterns from Nicaragua to Africa and India; and biogas programmes building domestic and institutional digesters in Vietnam, Kenya and India.
The 2010 Award winners were announced at an awards ceremony on 1 July 2010.
For further information on eligibility criteria and to download an application form for the 2011 Awards click here.