“The number and quality of innovations and achievements is particularly encouraging this year as they send a powerful message to Europe. Renewable energy does not only represent the essential infrastructure for prosperity and social justice. It is essential to fight the worst of global warming and support peaceful coexistence”, EUROSOLAR president Prof. Peter Droege stated in his welcome speech.
Wolfgang Hein, member of the board of EUROSOLAR Austria, pointed out that Austria has the best prerequisites for generating its total electricity consumption by 2022 renewable and should also initiate this. “In the building sector, all new buildings should arithmetically be plus energy buildings and the renovation rate for old buildings should be raised to 3 percent annually. In the area of transport, a massive shift towards green transport should be achieved over the next 10 years and the rest of the road should be fueled by renewable electricity in 20 years. The manufacturing sector should continue to improve towards the efficient use of resources and the innovative use of renewable energy”, he called for.
In the additional symposium the speakers presented and discussed potentials and conclusions for a sustainable European energy system in the fields of solar architecture, urban planning, economy and politics. They concluded, that the necessary technologies are already available to transform the outdated conventional structures into sustainable ones. The political claim was formulated, that barriers for the use of renewable energy need to be reduced. Therefore the EU-member states need to be able to choose their own market rules for the implementation and trade of renewables, derived from a common European political framework.
The European Solar Prize 2017 goes to ten laureates:
Category: Towns, municipalities, council districts, public utilities
City of Kaposvár, Hungary
Outstanding commitment to become the first Hungarian city with a 100% renewable energy supply
www.kaposvar.hu
Category: Solar architecture and urban planning
Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center (SNFCC), Greece
Strong symbol for ecological sustainability and the potential of renewable energy, integrated in a building of cultural life, setting new standards in architectural requirements
www.snfcc.org
Category: Industrial and commercial companies or farmers
Green City Energy, Germany
Long-time and far-reaching contribution for the expansion of renewable energy in citizen’s hand
www.greencity-energy.com
Category: Local or regional associations/organizations
Region of Thayaland, Austria
Exemplary regional implementation of renewable energy and sustainable mobility, financially driven by public participation
Kem.thayaland.at
Category: Owners and operators of renewable energy installations
EKS – Utility company of the Canton of Schaffhausen, Switzerland
Practical and efficient management of a soccer arena’s roof surface by using solar energy and raising public awareness for renewables
www.eks.ch
Category: Transport and Mobility
City of Oslo, Norway
Trendsetting sustainable mobility concept with special consideration of electric vehicles and role model for European cities
www.oslo.kommune.no
Category: Media and communication
Antonio Cerrillo, Spain
Long-time responsible journalism and reporting for a sustainable and eco-friendly development in Spain and Europe
www.lavanguardia.com
Category: Education and vocational training
LEGO Group, Denmark
Outstanding and inspiring concept of introducing children into renewable energy and environmental protection
www.lego.com
Category: One World Cooperation
EcoPeace Middle East, Jordan/Palestine/Israel
Innovative strategy for a sustainable development with the help of renewable energy in one of the most water stressed and conflict filled regions of the world
http://ecopeaceme.org
Category: Special prize for personal achievement
Arnold Schwarzenegger, United States of America/Austria
Long-term contribution for renewable energy and sustainability, using his prominence to raise public awareness on climate change
www.schwarzenegger.com
Since 1994 EUROSOLAR, together with its national sections, has recognized outstanding commitment in the field of Renewable Energy with the annual European Solar Prize. Ground-breaking projects and initiatives from all sectors of society are selected with the purpose of making pioneers and innovators the focus of public awareness and of giving fresh impetus to an energy turnaround that is decentralized and based on Renewables.
Notes for press editors:
The detailed appreciations and pictures of the award winners can be found at:
https://www.eurosolar.org/en/index.php/events/european-solar-prize-eurosolar
Pictures of the event are available by Sunday, 19 November, from 12:00 pm at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/eurosolar/albums/72157687155918272