ClimateCare is a proud partner of the Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy. These are accolades given for outstanding, inspirational and innovative local sustainable energy schemes that both protect the environment, tackle climate change and make real improvements to people's quality of life.

They are designed to encourage wider take-up of local energy solutions worldwide - proving to the public and policy makers alike that such schemes offer viable, practical ways of tackling poverty, resource shortages and climate change. To this end the Ashden Awards' aims are very similar to those of ClimateCare.

We began our collaboration in 2003, and have provided funding for two prizes in 2005, three in 2006 and one for 2007. In order to qualify for an Ashden Award, applicants must have demonstrated a track record of managing a sustainable energy project and have a plan to show how the prize money will be spent to extend the existing project or start a new one.

Al Gore presents ClimateCare award

Andy Schroeter of Sunlabob collects his Ashden Award from Al Gore. With the announcement of the 2007 winners, the Ashden Awards for Sustainable energy showed yet again how simple technologies can transform lives in the developing world while also tackling climate change.

Presenting the Awards in June 2007, former US Vice-President Al Gore described the winners as “illuminating a path to a sustainable future together. No one can attend an event like the Ashden Awards,” he said “and fail to be inspired.”

The winner of the Light and Power award this year, sponsored by ClimateCare, is certainly inspiring. Sunlabob Rural Energy Ltd makes lighting affordable for the people of Laos. Its portable lamps are charged by solar power and rented out by the hour. This means that families can switch from expensive, fossil fuel kerosene lighting to safe, solar-powered lamps to light their homes at night.

Sunlabob, like other first prize winners, received £30,000 to use in continuing its work. Andy Schroeter, Director of Sunlabob (seen above collecting his award from Al Gore) said: “Thank you to the Ashden Awards and ClimateCare for this prize which will help us to continue providing commercially viable and affordable energy services for rural areas.”

The challenge for the world is how to grow sustainable energy at the scale and pace needed. As Sarah Butler Sloss, Executive Chair of the Ashden Awards and chair of the judging panel, stated “If these technologies were expanded and replicated on a large scale, they would play a significant role in helping us to tackle climate change and poverty.”