May 25: Two Indians have been short-listed for the prestigious Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, also known as the 'Green Oscars'. The award carries a cash prize of about 2 lakh pounds (Rs 17 lakhs approx.) to the winners.
The team of Ashden Awards visit different places all across the world in search of organizations that work in the field of sustainable energy. Its prime aim is to promote energy saving methods especially in local areas by rewarding those who work constantly for this purpose. This is something very important so far as climatic changes are concerned. It also aims to improve the quality of life of the people in rural areas.
The award ceremony will take place on June 21 and former US Vice President Al Gore will present the award at the Royal Geographical Society, in central London. Other participants are from Bangladesh, China, Ghana, Peru, Nepal, Philippines, Tanzania and Lao PDR.
The Green Oscar team awards various innovative schemes demonstrating sustainable energy at local level in terms of solar, wind, biogas, biomass and other energy efficient process.
Founded in 2001 by the Ashden Trust, it works as a charitable trust and by promoting and giving cash prizes to organisations the trust encourages them to work forward in their respective energy efficient schemes. This also encourages others to follow their steps.
The trust awards organizations under two different categories, one for organizations in UK and other for organisations working at international level and mostly in developing countries. For international award the participant in developing countries should have at least worked in any of the given area like food security, health and welfare, power, education and any other area with some economic prospect, particularly in rural areas.
For the 2007 Green Oscar award, two Indian contestants have been short listed among the 10 innovative projects. The first one is a Kerala based company BIOTECH, which has been successful in preparing biogas from the dumped food waste in the street. BIOTECH has installed various plants across the state and collect food waste and human waste in generating cooking gas and also to some extent the production of electricity. The company also produces small amounts of LPG gas for transport purposes, there by replacing the use of diesel and petrol to a small extent.
Another Indian firm in south Indian state, Karnataka, the SKG Sangh is also been engaged in producing biogas and fertilizer in different parts of the state. The organisation helps to provide a cheap and reliable source of energy to the locals and also reduces the dependence on forest and climatic pollution.
|
|
Comments:
