Innovative Technologies in Cryogenics Emerge as Key Topic of the Year

- The laureates of the Global Energy Prize were unveiled at an official press conference - Their R&D lays the groundwork for the global energy sector  

MOSCOW, April 29, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Research in the field of cryogenics has received high acclaim from the international scientific community.  This is shown by the fact that renowned experts and innovators in this area were presented with one of the world's most respected awards in energy science, The Global Energy Prize. The 2012 laureates are two outstanding Russian scientists – Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS) academician Valery Kostyuk and Russian Academy of Sciences academician Boris Katorgin – and an eminent British professor, Rodney J. Allam.

The names of the laureates of the 10th edition of the Global Energy Prize were announced last week at the official awards ceremony held in Moscow on 20 April.  The prize winners and the results of their scientific research will set the tone for future landscape of the industry and the most pressing industrial issues.  

"Research in the cryogenic area is underscored by the demand for very specific needs of a range of applications like aerospace, automotive, food and beverage, storage, transportation etc. This is particularly true for the energy sector whereby an innovative approach is being developed to store renewable energy leveraging cryogenic platform whose liquid air energy storage could be up to 70% efficient and cost effective too. Another area of development has been leveraging cryogenic CO2 capture using cold energy from Liquified Natural Gas (LNG)," states Director Ankit Shukla, Frost & Sullivan Technical Insights Group.

The International Award Committee gave an upbeat assessment of RAS academician Boris Katorgin.  He was awarded a prize for his cycle of research and development on high efficiency liquid rocket engines which run on cryogenic fuel and oxidant, cryostatic systems and high-conductivity devices.  "I can say that Russian rocket engines definitely enjoy demand on the global market.  We sell a high-tech ready-made product which is assembled in Russia and has high added value," Mr. Katorgin said.

"The development of new processes and equipment to produce gases and cryogenic liquids, and also the development of technologies which use them to generate electric power in energy systems is the second most important topic," said both RAS Academician Valery Kostyuk and UK professor Rodney J. Allam, whose meritorious efforts were noted in this field of research.

"State investments will be required in order to put cryogenic technology to practical use in high-temperature superconductor materials, and a project aimed at rolling out high conductivity electric power lines looks particularly promising," said RAS Academician Valery Kostyuk in his presentation. 

In keeping with the award tradition, the winners are apprised directly over the telephone during a press conference.  Professor Rodney J. Allam was pleasantly surprised by the news: "I have devoted my entire career to work on cryogenic systems.  Over the last 10-20 years I have been engaged in developing new and efficient energy systems.  Right now I'm working on an extremely interesting project which calls for the use of liquefied oxygen to obtain energy.  This is a joint project with my US colleagues." 

Chairman of the Board, Federal Grid Company of Unified Energy System (FGC UES), Oleg Budargin emphasized that the work of prize-winning laureates holds great practical significance this year.  Thus, for example, the cryogenic fuel engines worked out by Academician Boris Katorgin have been successfully applied for peaceful space development purposes in the American Atlas rocket.

The official Global Energy award ceremony will take place in June as part of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.  In 2012, the prize fund amounts to Rub 33 million. The committee reviewed 639 nomination applications from 49 different countries.  Laureates will receive their awards from the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

If you are interested in more information, 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.

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  

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