Eurosolar awards 13 prizes for renewable energy

In December, the European renewable energy association, Eurosolar, presented solar prizes to organizations and individuals from Spain, Italy, Turkey, Switzerland, and Germany. In addition, two non-European awards were made. 

In the education category, the Paraguayan foundation Celestina Pérez de Almada, which promotes the expansion of solar energy within the framework of its human rights and education work, received a prize. The other was given to the India's Maharana of Mewar Charitable Foundation in the »one-world co-operation« category in recognition of the group's interest in solar, such as using solar-powered boats for charitable projects.

Of the 13 prizes awarded, five went to Germany. The bio-energy village Jühnde with 100 percent of its energy needs provided by biomass was awarded a prize in the »cities, municipalities or municipal services« category. Solitem GmbH received recognition in the »industrial and commercial companies, enterprises« category for its solar climatization system which has already been successfully implemented in Turkey and Jordan. The category »local and regional associations promoting renewable energy projects« honored the German Catholic youth organization KLJB, which set up a much-admired solar church in the center of the »Global Village« as part of World Youth Day in Cologne, Germany in 2005. And along with the Czech solar activist Neela Winkelmann-Heyrovk, who was honored for her work on the introduction of a feed-in tariff in the Czech Republic, Mechthild Rothe, a Socialist member of the European parliament, received a »special award for extraordinary personal commitment.«

Two prizes were awarded for PV systems for »owners or users.« One went to Westfalenhalle Dortmund, where two solar systems with a total power of 660 kW should cover the entire electricity needs for the five soccer World Cup 2006 games which will take place in its stadium. A similar award went to Switzerland's Stade de Suisse for a 1.3 MW system billed as »the world's largest PV system integrated into a stadium rooftop.«

Jochen Siemer 
© PHOTON International, February 2006