The Global Energy Prize to Announce the 2012 Laureates

MOSCOW, April 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --

- Upcoming press conference in Moscow will reveal the names of the scientists awarded for outstanding achievements and innovation in the energy sector

The Global Energy Prize, one of the world's most respected awards in energy science, is going to publish the 2012 laureates next week. During a press conference that will take place at RIA-Novosti Press Center, Moscow, on Friday 20 April, the Chairman of the International Award Committee, Nikolay Laverov, will announce the names of the scientists that will be awarded in 2012.

The Global Energy Prize at its 10th edition, honours achievement and innovation in the energy sector and is granted by the International Award Committee, which currently includes 37 internationally-based scientists and specialists, as well as representatives of international research organizations. The recently elected President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin will present the laureates with the award at a ceremony that is part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation, Arkady Dvorkovich, a member of the Board of Trustees, will open the press conference. The agenda includes speeches by Academician and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Eugeni Velihov, and representatives of the founding companies: Chairman of the Board, Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy System (FGC UES), Oleg Budargin, and Deputy Director General, Surgutneftegas, Vyacheslav Nikiforov.

This year's Prize is particularly important as the global energy market is facing three interrelated challenges: fuel costs and supply reliability, environmental concerns and also growing power demand. In 2011, the focus was on energy efficiency and alternative power sources. At the Global Energy Prize Awarding Ceremony last year, President Dimitry Medvedev highlighted the importance of energy efficiency, which became a major focus for the energy sector worldwide. Both 2011 Global Energy Prize laureates, Russian Academician, Philipp Rutberg, and Professor Emeritus of Physics at the University of California, Berkeley, Arthur H. Rosenfeld, were nominated for their achievements in this field.

The projects selected in 2012 focus on energy conversion and accumulating, smart technologies, renewable power sources, and hard-to-reach fuel resource extraction methods.

Rutberg, last year's laureate, comments on the most interesting industry developments in 2012 and believes that this year will witness "further growth of renewable energy sources. Our target is to develop more efficient equipment for power plants and grids, as well as work on electric vehicle infrastructure. The key areas of today's scientific research include thermonuclear fusion, new gasification methods, turbines for slightly enriched gas, and smart systems to reduce peak-load."

Professor Thorsteinn I. Sigfusson, Iceland, nominated in 2007 for his research to implement hydrogen energy generation, says: "In Iceland we have successfully harnessed hydroelectric and geothermal energy and I would expect the world to accelerate exploiting the solar and ocean energy in the decades to come. Renewable energy fuels technology developed in Russia can be used to make hydrogen the energy carrier using either molecular hydrogen or natural gas. I know that Russia has all the potential, knowledge and the science background to become a fuel cell producing country, and to extend its marketing of natural gas in addition to energy conversion units."

The energy industry plays a vital role in today's world. The Global Energy Prize primary goal is to drive energy as a science, to emphasize the importance of international co-operation and to boost both public and private investments in power supplies. While also increasing energy efficiency and energy security. Since its inception in 2002, the Global Energy Prize has recognized 24 scientists from around the globe.

The press conference announcing the 2012 Global Energy Prize laureates will take place at President Hall, Press Centre, RIA-Novosti, Zubovsky Boulevard, Moscow, on Friday, 20 April 2012. The press conference will start at 11 am. There are complimentary seats available for media representatives. If you would like to attend the conference or learn more about the Global Energy Prize, please contact Julia Nikishkina, Corporate Communications, at julia.nikishkina@frost.com

About the Global Energy Prize

The Global Energy Prize awards over US$1M each year, and thus far has been granted to 24 scientists from around the globe, including past Laureates from the US, Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Iceland, Russia, Ukraine and Japan. The President of the Russian Federation participates in each year's award ceremony held at the conclusion of a week-long celebration of the awardees' work, Laureates' Week. Other world leaders who have supported the prize include the former US President George W. Bush, former British Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, former French President Jacques Chirac and current Canadian Prime Minister, Steven Harper.

The Prize rewards innovation and solutions in global energy research and its concurrent environmental challenges. The degree to which a development contributes to the benefit of humanity is a key driver in deciding the recipient of the Prize.

Non-profit partnership focused on the development of international energy research and projects

http://www.globalenergyprize.org/en/

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Contact:

Julia Nikishkina
Corporate Communications - Russia
P: +7 (499) 918-6145
E: julia.nikishkina@frost.com