Call for inspirational renewable energy projects

The competition is being run by the Ashden Trust, one of the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts. The awards started in 2001, for projects in the developing world only, but this year there is an additional category for UK projects.

“As rural communities in the developing world face an increasingly difficult battle against deforestation, pollution, and climate change, the case for renewable energy – especially in areas that have no electricity supplies – becomes ever stronger,” said Sarah Butler-Sloss, trustee of the Ashden Trust.

“At the same time, developed countries like the UK are the main contributors of gases believed to contribute to climate change, and have a responsibility, and greater access to funds, to rethink the way they use energy,” Butler-Sloss added.

Previous winners include solar powered electric fencing in Zambia to protect crops around South Luangwa National Park. Prior to the development of the scheme, crop raiding by elephants during the dry season was resulting in a dietary short-fall for local people that was being supplemented by illegal game meat. The project was judged to provide household livelihood security and natural resource conservation. The scheme is now extending the use of solar fencing to 1,700 households in the area.

Closing dates for the awards are 29 November for projects in the developing world, and 31 January 2003 for UK projects. Application forms can be found on the Ashden Awards website.