Renewable Transformation Challenge

About the Challenge

The objective of the Elsevier-ISES Renewable Transformation Challenge Promotion (“Challenge”) is to recognize and honor outstanding work towards a world powered by renewable energy and with accessible energy for all.  This objective is consistent with the vision of the International Solar Energy Society (ISES), which is for a world powered by 100% renewable energy used efficiently and wisely and accessible for all. To achieve this vision, a global transformation of our energy systems to efficient and affordable renewable energy must take place.

The Challenge promotion is administered every two (2) years to recognize accomplishments by organizations such as private enterprises, NGOs, and research institutions for undertaking projects and programs that help move the world toward an energy system supplied entirely by renewable energy sources, or for conducting the critical analyses that provide meaningful roadmaps for the transformation. The award winner represents one step towards furthering ISES’ vision.  This vision can only be achieved through private and civil society initiatives towards innovative and successful programs that adopt the use of renewable energy technologies, and the intelligent application of energy efficiency measures. In the context of this Challenge, the energy transformation applies to all end-use energy consumption: power, heat, and transport.

Applications for the Challenge are invited from organizations who can demonstrate that they have established successful projects, innovative technologies, financing schemes, policy initiatives, or renewable energy programs, or from institutions that have undertaken research and analyses and identified solutions that demonstrate how this goal is being met. The Challenge can include either supply side (energy generation for end-use energy consumption) or demand side (including energy efficiency) programs, or both, and applicants may address any or all of the end-use energy sectors mentioned above.

Innovative ideas will be given preference over incremental improvement projects.

The Challenge is not a funding body and applications still in the conceptual stage with little supporting evidence of viability are unlikely to proceed past the first evaluation phase.

Details of how the application supports the progress towards the 100% renewable energy transformation must be very clear.

The winning proposal will be the one that best demonstrates a contribution to the transformation to a world powered by renewable energy and that ideally has potential to widen access to energy, particularly in developing countries.

Prize

There is a €20,000 prize for the first-place entry. The winner, or one representative of the winning team, will be invited to attend the ISES Solar World Congress 2025 in Fortaleza, Brazil from November 4-7, 2025 and the Congress Awards Banquet, where the winner/representative will present the project. The winner, or one representative of the winning team, will receive one Gold membership to the Society. The winning project will be featured on this website, the journal homepage of Solar Energy and on the ISES website.

Judging criteria

A panel of international solar and renewable energy specialists will review the applications, and the top ten will be put forward to Elsevier-ISES awards’ judging committee for the selection of the winning proposal. The judges will evaluate the applications based on the following evaluation criteria:

1. Clearly demonstrates that the application supports a transformation towards 100% renewable energy;

2. Be replicable, scalable and sustainable;

3. Set a benchmark for innovation – new ideas or concepts will be given preference over incremental improvement projects;

4. Have practical applicability and a clear demonstration of impact; e.g. does it consider a feasible implementation plan of the project?

5. Be suitable for application in developing countries; consider the project’s social impact on local communities.

Submit your proposal

Submit your proposal on the SKILD platform. Visit rtc2025.skild.com 새 탭/창에서 열기.

Applications will be accepted from 01 March 2025 until 30 April 2025. Please send any queries you may have about the Challenge or your Application to: [email protected] 새 탭/창에서 열기.

Please see the full terms & conditions 새 탭/창에서 열기 for more information.

2025 Judges & Jury

Judges

Judges to be announced spring 2025.

Jury members

Jury to be announced spring 2025.

RTC Project Team

Renewable Transformation Challenge Webinar: Towards a World Powered by Renewable Energy

Following the launch of the RTC2021, we have invited the two previous winners, ME SOLShare Ltd and SUNSPOT, to talk about how their work has developed since they won, and to discuss how the RTC has impacted their work and why they were motivated to apply. Watch this recorded webinar with Dr. Dave Renné from ISES and Adam Fraser from Elsevier discussing why the award is important, why we want people/organisations to apply and what applicants should know.

Listen to our podcasts about the Renewable Transformation Challenge

• About the Challenge background, prize and judging panel 새 탭/창에서 열기 with Joanna Costello and Fernanda Ogochi

• Learn about the judging criteria 새 탭/창에서 열기 with Yogi Goswami and Joanna Costello

• Learn why this challenge is so important and what the judges are looking for from the winning entry 새 탭/창에서 열기 with Dr David Renné and Joanna Costello

• About why we launched the Challenge, and what we learned from the 2017 award 새 탭/창에서 열기 with Dr David Renné and Adam Fraser