The World Energy Council (WEC), a global forum for sustainable energy, has launched the Tomorrow’s Energy Prize, a $60,000 competition to recognise outstanding papers submitted to the upcoming Daegu 2013 World Energy Congress.

This year’s congress takes place in Daegu, Korea, from October 13 to 17.

Submissions are invited from global experts in their respective fields. The prize covers six categories under the World Energy Congress’ 2013 theme: “Securing Tomorrow’s Energy Today”.

The Daegu 2013 Organizing Committee encourages authors to provide their insights on a topic relating to any one of the World Energy Council’s six main activity areas:

•    Exploring World Energy Scenarios
•    Surveying World Energy Resources and Technologies
•    Assessing the Energy Trilemma:  The trade-offs between energy security, social equity and environmental impact
•    Improving Energy Access: the food, energy and water connection
•    Promoting Energy and Urban Innovation
•    Shaping Global Energy Frameworks and Governance
The winning paper in each category will receive $10,000.

Younghoon David Kim, acting chair of the Daegu 2013 Organizing Committee and Chairman of Daesung Group, which is sponsoring the prize, said: “Having already secured a significant group of high-level speakers for next October, I am confident that the Tomorrow’s Energy Prize will encourage equally outstanding submissions from across the energy sector – suppliers, infrastructure providers, academia and researchers, to name but a few.”

Christoph Frei, secretary general of the World Energy Council added: “More than ever, we need innovative thinking to tackle our global energy challenges. Therefore I am delighted that, for the first time, we are able to offer significant funds to reward the very best insights to be showcased at the World Energy Congress, the preeminent event of the energy sector.  I am grateful to Younghoon David Kim for his support in making this prestigious prize possible.”

The selection process will comprise two rounds. The first will see 150 papers shortlisted by 15 June.  The second will see the selected papers presented to a judging panel. The winning papers will be announced on July 15.

In expectation of more papers being submitted in response to the announcement of the prize, the submission deadline has been extended to March 31.  The awards for the winning papers will be presented during the Congress.

It is left to the discretion of the judging committee to determine whether an award should be given in each category based on the quality of the submissions. If no paper is considered award-winning in one category, the $10,000 prize will be transferred to another category paper deemed more worthy for recognition.

All papers must be original works and should not be under review for similar events or for journals. The works should be written in English and not exceed 15 pages.

The World Energy Congress is held every three years under the auspices of the World Energy Council, which consists of 93 national committees representing more than 3,000 member organizations. – TradeArabia News Service