REW 2022 Hosts Global Energy Prize Ceremony

October 13, 2022

REW 2022 Hosts Global Energy Prize Ceremony

Moscow, 13 October – Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak presented the Global Energy Prize to Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Viktor Orlov (Russia) for his fundamental research on the development of innovative energy technologies based on fast-neutron reactors with a heavy alloy coolant and a closed fuel cycle.
The awards ceremony took place at the Russian Energy Week International Forum. The event was also attended by Rosseti Chairman of the Board Andrey Ryumin. The two winners from the United States, Distinguished Professor of Engineering at the University of Houston Kaushik Rajashekara and Argonne National Laboratory Senior Scientist Mercouri Kanatzidis, were unable to attend the ceremony in person, but spoke to the participants and guests of the ceremony via video link.
“In the current situation of global changes, the technological potential of the global fuel and energy industry is of paramount importance, so we need to act together by uniting the scientific efforts of countries for the benefit of the entire industry. In this regard, it is essential that the prize has an international status. We see how each year this award contributes to scientific breakthroughs in the energy sector and promotes discoveries in the fuel and energy sector. I firmly believe that at the next stage of its development, the award will be presented to specialists whose talent will help improve the energy efficiency of energy sources that we already know about and discover new ones, which means making the lives of millions of people on the planet more comfortable. I congratulate the Global Energy Prize on the 20th anniversary of its establishment,” Novak said.
“This year marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Global Energy Prize. The Rosseti Group has supported this initiative virtually throughout its entire journey since it contributes to the unification of the global scientific community and helps to raise key issues for all of humanity. The laureates’ research aims not only aims to develop new energy sources, which are now being given special attention, but also traditional energy, which is the cornerstone of energy supply systems,” Ryumin said.
Orlov accepted the award from the deputy prime minister. “Thank you for such a deep appreciation of my work. I would like to thank my colleagues who nominated me for this award. I would also like to single out the engineers at Moscow University’s Faculty of Physics, with whom I worked at the world’s first nuclear power plant: this experience enabled me to master a number of technical details that were essential to working in nuclear energy,” Orlov said.
“We definitely need to further develop the prize, promote it in different countries, and encourage scientists who are working on solving environmental problems and reducing fuel consumption and emissions. All of this is only possible with increased support for science, and prizes such as Global Energy help researchers bring even more benefits to humanity,” Rajashekara said in his video address.
“I am honoured to receive the Global Energy Prize and be recognized among those who have made outstanding contributions to renewable energy science and technology by becoming a worthy part of the solar energy research community. I want to thank my students and colleagues for their support, and the International Prize Committee that selected me,” Kanatzidis said.
During the ceremony, Novak presented an honorary diploma on behalf of Global Energy to a foreign researcher. Luke Chika Eme, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University in Nigeria, received the diploma for his contribution to the development of energy in the countries of the African region.
This marks the first year that the honorary diploma was awarded to a foreign scientist. In the past, the association gave this award to Russian scientists for their contribution to the development of the energy industry. The decision to encourage foreign specialists with an honorary diploma is due to the fact that the geography of applications for the Global Energy Prize has expanded significantly over the past three years. Nominations from the developing world drew the international scientific community’s attention to the work of scientists from Africa and Latin America.

Read more

.