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2012 IDEAS Energy Innovation Contest for the Caribbean

Winning innovative ideas identified

Over 180 innovative ideas were submitted for the 2012 IDEAS Energy Innovation Contest for the Caribbean, which supports the development of innovative projects promoting renewable energies and improving energy efficiency.

A jury made up of representatives from each of the sponsoring entities reviewed the proposals and selected the best based on criteria that included innovation, financial sustainability and replicability. 30 projects were shortlisted, coming from Haiti, Barbados, Belize, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Suriname and Trinidad & Tobago.

Solar based technologies were the most popular ideas for innovation, followed by Biodiesel and Efficient stove/charcoal, and then a roughly equal representation of Biogas, Energy Efficiency,Wind and Transport. Applicants’ profiles were a mix of community based organisations, energy companies, existing companies and new enterprises.

Last week, the jury identified the winners and full details will be published later in August once the agreements are signed.

Each winner will be granted up to US$200,000, to develop their innovative energy efficiency or renewable energy solution that will have local or regional benefits, provide jobs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In addition to grant funding, winners will receive technical and business development support to implement or scale up their ideas, as well as access to other experts, policy makers, institutions and potential financial partners. The goal is to enable the winners to turn their ideas into financially sustainable businesses, helping solve the energy problems facing the region.

This round of the contest was targeted specifically at the Caribbean, with financial support provided by UKAid from the Department for International Development (DFID). The wider contest is also sponsored and supported by GVEP International, the Government of South Korea, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB).

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