The Global Energy Prize
Award Ceremony 2019 will be held
on 3 October, the second day of the Russian Energy Week International Forum.
This time, Frede Blaabjerg from Denmark is awarded for the development of an
intelligent renewable energy management system, along with Dr. Khalil Amine from
the United States for his contribution to the development of efficient energy
storage technology. The winners will be awarded gold medals, badges and
diplomas, and share a prize fund of 39 million roubles.
The Global Energy Prize
winners of 2019 were picked earlier this year at the Global Energy
International Award Committee meeting in May. Both scientists won in the new
‘non-traditional’ category. Since 2019, winners of the Global Energy Prize have
been selected in three main categories: New Ways of Energy Application; Non-traditional
Energy; Traditional Energy.
Danish professor Frede Blaabjerg,
an expert in the field of power electronics, won the Non-traditional Energy award.
The scientist authored a number of inventions in variable speed drive
technology. Today, they are routinely applied in wind turbines and can
efficiently generate electricity, saving tens of millions of dollars a year.
Frede Blaabjerg also developed important solutions for the integration of
photovoltaic installations and wind turbines in power grids, which is required
for reliable and stable operation of power systems in general. Today, the
installed capacity of such network renewable energy plants exceeds 1000 GW.
Among other things, the professor is introducing new conceptual methods to
ensure reliability of power electronics for renewable energy sources, aimed at reducing
the costs of energy converters while increasing their stability.
American professor Khalil
Amine, world’s most cited expert in batteries, won the award in the New Ways of
Energy Application category. His scientific studies are dedicated to the new
cathodes and anodes for lithium-ion batteries, liquid-polymer electrolyte
systems, as well as lithium-oxygen, lithium-serum and sodium-ion batteries.
He stood at the origins
of LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 5-volt spinel cathode, which is being actively now introduced
into power systems in many countries. The scientist’s major accomplishment is
the invention of the NMC cathode, which is now widely used in household
appliances and electric vehicles such as Chevy Volt, Chevy Bolt, Nissan Leaf,
BMW I3 and I8, as well as in offerings from Fiat Chrysler, Ford, Toyota, Honda,
and Hyundai. Not so long ago, Dr. Amine developed a new superoxide battery
system capable to yield up to five times more energy than lithium-ion
batteries. This discovery gave impetus to a new round of research aimed at
increasing the energy density of batteries and reducing costs to expand the
number of electric vehicles.
Not so long ago, the
scientist developed a new superoxide storage system that can deliver five times
more energy than lithium-ion batteries. This discovery gave impetus to a new
round of research aimed at increasing the energy density of batteries and
reducing the costs of expanding the use electric vehicles.
According to the IPCC
member and 2007 Nobel Peace Prize laureate Rae Kwon Chung, Chairman of the
Global Energy International Prize Award Committee, the choice of 2019 winners out
of 39 applicants from 12 countries is not accidental. Innovations by Frede Blaabjerg
and Khalil Amine face the urgent challenges of the world energy sector and
solve the most important infrastructure problems associated with the
instability of energy supply in the electric grid. Support for such solutions
is especially important during the time of aggravating climate change crisis
and the global trend of energy shortage. “The world needs technologies aimed
not only at the production of fossil and green energy, but also at the issues
of storing, transferring energy and increasing energy efficiency. Recognizing
such scientists, the Global Energy Prize helps analyze global trends and offers
solutions to the industry’s most pressing issues,” the expert said.
The event will be held
during the Laureate Week of the Global Energy Prize, when the Association holds
a number of events with the participation of members of the Global Energy Prize
International Award Committee, promising young scientists and the energy sector
experts.
The Russian Energy Week is
organized by the Ministry of Energy of the Russian Federation and the
Roscongress Foundation with the support of the Moscow Government.
