Annual awards instituted for eco-energy projects

Developers of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects will be rewarded in an annual contest called Eco-Energy Moldova, which was launched on Wednesday by the Ministry of Economy and the Energy Efficiency Agency, Info-Prim Neo reports. Awards will be given for the best projects in the field of solar, wind, biomass, biofuel, geothermal and hydroelectric energy. There will also be awards for the best innovation of the year, the best project in the field of energy efficiency and the best youth initiative. Communication, awareness-raising and educational initiatives will be also rewarded. Details on how to apply and selection criteria will be available on the Energy Efficiency Agency's website from March 2012. Winners in each category will be selected by independent panels composed of national and international experts. Studies showed that Moldovans could save up to 40% of the consumed energy and could replace 20% of it with renewable energy.