Clean Energy Definitions

Clean Energy is broadly defined so as to deal with both the reduced environmental foot print balanced with increased global demand for energy and the imperative for energy independence. 

Toward this end, the Prize seeks creative solutions which materially more efficiently manage existing resources and /or develop new cleaner sources of energy.

Clean Energy solutions involve products or services which promote, enhance or advance:

• Diversity of supply sources/transmission
• Efficiency in use
• Reduce negative environmental effects such as greenhouse gas emissions

This can include but is not limited to:

• Renewable sources of energy (solar, wind, fuel cells, bio-fuels, geothermal, hydro-technologies, etc.)
• Conservation and demand response (building use, grid management, delivery & transportation, resource mining, extraction and refining)
• Enabling technologies (power electronics, storage systems and batteries, cables & wires, sensors & instrumentation, control systems, materials & manufacturing technology)
• More efficient & effective use of hydrocarbons (hybrid cars, cleaner use of coal, more environmentally friendly oil recovery methods, CO2 sequestration)
• Integrated Systems (sustainable design & integrated clean energy applications)