Aquila Capital has launched an award for research into energy transformation and decarbonization in Europe, with the goal of advancing applicable solutions to combat climate change.
The first Aquila Capital Transformation Award will be presented this fall. The biennial award, with the tag line "Accelerating Decarbonization in Europe," has a prize of €20,000 ($22,500). The research award is aimed at young scientists currently enrolled as Ph.D. students or further studies and whose work is directly related to sustainability, climate change and energy transformation. Research, including already-published papers, may be submitted through Aug. 31. The award ceremony will feature a commemorative lecture by the recipient.
In addition to providing financial support for the research, the award is meant to foster collaboration toward practical application of the research concepts and solutions.
"With this research award, we want to live up to our social responsibility and promote academic research," said Roman Rosslenbroich, Aquila Capital co-founder and CEO, in a statement. "As a sustainable investment manager, our aim is to make an active contribution to the fight against climate change and to promote the European energy turnaround with our investments in renewable energies."
The award jury consists of two Aquila Capital staff members; Hans-Joachim Schellnhuber, director emeritus at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research; Eicke R. Weber, former director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE; and Yukari Takamura, professor at the University of Tokyo at the Institute for Future Initiatives.
The award makes an important contribution "by promoting outstanding research ideas for a broader public" and supporting the transfer from research to practical applications, Mr. Weber said in the statement.
