About the Challenge:

The Renewable Transformation Challenge is awarded every two years to recognize accomplishments by organizations such as private enterprises, NGO’s, and research institutions for undertaking projects and programs that help move the world toward an energy system supplied entirely by renewable energy sources, or for conducting the critical analyses that provide meaningful roadmaps for the transformation. The award is one step towards furthering ISES’ vision of a world powered by 100% renewable energy, used efficiently and wisely, and accessible for all. This vision requires a global transformation of our energy systems to efficient and affordable renewable energy and can only be achieved through private and civil society initiatives towards innovative and successful programs that adopt the use of renewable energy technologies, and the intelligent application of energy efficiency measures. In the context of this Challenge, the energy transformation applies to all end-use energy consumption: power, heat, and transport.

Applications for this Challenge are invited from organizations who can demonstrate that they have established successful projects, innovative technologies, financing schemes, policy initiatives, or renewable energy programs, or from institutions that have undertaken research and analyses and identified solutions that demonstrate how this goal is being met. The Renewable Transformation Challenge can include either supply side (energy generation for end-use energy consumption) or demand side (including energy efficiency) programs, or both, and applicants may address any or all of the end-use energy sectors mentioned above.

Applications must demonstrate applicability, impact, sustainability and scalability in how they support the renewable energy transformation to achieve 100% renewables at local, regional or global scales. Innovative ideas will be given preference over incremental improvement projects.

Listen to our podcasts from 2017 about the Renewable Transformation Challenge:

Prize:

There is a €20,000 prize for the first place entry. The winner, or one representative of the winning team, will receive a free registration to the ISES Solar World Congress 2019 in Santiago, Chile, where the presentation of the Award will take place, and one Gold membership to the Society. The winning project will be featured on this site and on the ISES website.

Judging Criteria:

A panel of international scientific experts, jurors, will review the applications, and the top ten will be put forward to Elsevier-ISES awards’ judging committee for the selection of the winning proposal. The judges will evaluate the applications based on the following evaluation criteria:

  1. Clearly demonstrate that the application supports a transformation to 100% renewable energy
  2. Be replicable, scalable and sustainable
  3. Set a benchmark for innovation
  4. Have practical applicability and a clear demonstration of impact
  5. Be suitable for use in developing countries; consider the project’s social impact on local communities

For more information visit the website here.