The World CleanTech StartUPs Awards 2024
#WCSA2024
Featuring
The Awards Ceremony on June 12, 2024
at 17th SNEC PV Power Expo in Shanghai, China
and Four Distinguished Categories:
ACWA Power Innovation Award
Visionary Founder Award
(Dr. Charlie Gay Award)
Visionary Investor Award
(Paddy Padmanathan Award)
Visionary Accelerator Award
(Prof. Eicke R. Weber Award)
Powered by
In Strategic Partnership with
Pitch Your CleanTech Disruption
#CreateTheFuture #WCSA2024
#TogetherWeAreStronger
About #WCSA2024 Awards
The World CleanTech Startups Awards (WCSA) is an esteemed annual global competition that recognizes the most innovative and disruptive CleanTech startups, alongside their visionary founders, investors, and highly effective accelerators.
WCSA aims to inspire and promote growth within the CleanTech industry by providing startups with a platform to showcase their groundbreaking solutions. This initiative not only highlights significant advancements in clean technology but also supports the global movement towards sustainability by celebrating the key contributors who are driving change.
Building on the success of its inaugural WCSA2023 edition, which featured its Awards Ceremony on June 14, 2023, in Munich, Germany, WCSA2024 has evolved into a more specialized awards program, now featuring four distinct categories:
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The WCSA2024 ACWA Power Innovation Award - This award is given to the startup that demonstrates the most impactful, visionary, and disruptive technology innovation. It recognizes groundbreaking contributions to the CleanTech sector that have the potential to significantly alter industry standards and practices.
The New WCSA2024 Awards which have been established to honor distinguished CleanTech Pioneers:
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The WCSA2024 Visionary Founder Award (Dr. Charlie Gay Award): This award honors a founder who has significantly advanced clean technologies from niche to mainstream markets, thereby driving transformative change in the industry.
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The WCSA2024 Visionary Investor Award (Paddy Padmanathan Award): This award is presented to an investor who has played a pivotal role in scaling clean technologies globally, supporting startups that catalyze sustainable development.
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The WCSA2024 Visionary Accelerator Award (Prof. Eicke R. Weber Award): This award recognizes an accelerator that has effectively nurtured groundbreaking innovations in the CleanTech sector, helping to bring disruptive technologies to the forefront of the global market.
Powered by ACWA Power and in strategic partnership with the CleanTech Business Club and the New Energy Industry Association for Asia and the Pacific (representing SNEC, the flagship event series in the solar, energy storage, and hydrogen fields), the WCSA2023 Awards feature a judging panel comprised of industry experts and leading CleanTech entrepreneurs. This panel will select the finalists and the winner of the WCSA2024 ACWA Power Innovation Award.
The CleanTech Pioneers, after whom the three new categories are named, have been granted exclusive authority to nominate candidates for their respective awards. These nominees will then be confirmed by the jury through acclamation.
The judging panel will consider the following criteria when selecting finalists and the winner of the WCSA2024 ACWA Power Innovation Award:
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Innovation: The level of novelty and ingenuity in the proposed solution.
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Feasibility: Is the solution feasible, taking into consideration technical, economic, and social factors?
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Impact: The potential for the solution to generate positive environmental, social, and economic impact.
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Sustainability: The degree to which the solution aligns with sustainable principles and contributes to a circular economy.
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Scalability: The potential for the solution to be implemented on a large scale and have a significant impact on the clean technology industry.
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Disruption: The extent to which the proposed solution challenges the status quo and accelerates the clean technology transformation through a disruptive approach.
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The potential for the startup to attract investment or funding, based on the strength and experience of its team, business model, technology, growth prospects, and overall fundability.
By considering these criteria, the jury members will be able to identify the most promising and innovative CleanTech startups that have the potential to make a significant contribution to building a greener, more sustainable, and regenerative future.
Startups can submit their entries by May 22, 2023 on the dedicated webpage HERE, and the winners in all four categories will be announced at the WCSA2023 Awards which will take place in Shanghai, China, during the Gala Dinner of the 17th SNEC PV Power Expo, which is recognized as the world's largest solar and cleantech exhibition.
SNEC, NEIAAP, CBC & ACWA Power #TogetherWeAreStronger
Key dates
April 26, 2024
Launch of the WCA2024 Awards
April 26 - May 22
Submission Phase of participants' entries
May 22 - May 30
The Jury Evaluation Process
June 1, 2024
Reveal of the Finalists
June 12, 2024
Announcement of the Winner at the WCA2024 Awards Ceremony held in Shanghai, China during the Gala Dinner of the 17th SNEC PV Power Expo, which is recognized as the world's leading solar and cleantech exhibition.
"The World CleanTech StartUp Awards 2024 provides a unique platform for CleanTech startups to showcase their innovative solutions and receive recognition for their efforts towards building a sustainable future.
This year, we are proud to introduce four distinct categories to further celebrate the diverse contributions within the CleanTech sector. By introducing these new categories, we aim to acknowledge and celebrate the broad spectrum of contributions that are driving the sector forward.”
Prof. Anis Jouini, CEO at ECM Greentech
CBC Chair of CleanTech StartUp Hub and Chair of the Awards.
"Winning the WCSA2023 was a significant milestone for us. It has undoubtedly propelled our efforts to reshape the storage, distribution, and utilization of renewables. The recognition and support from ACWA Power, as part of the World CleanTech StartUPs Awards, are helping us scale our solutions and expand our impact significantly. With this continued support, we are confident in making a profound impact and accelerating our growth within the clean technology industry.”
Thomas Korn, CEO of "Water Stuff & Sun GmbH”
CBC Co-Chair of CleanTech StartUP Hub
Why Participate?
Join us in our joint mission to promote sustainability and contribute to a greener future.
As a finalist, you'll be invited to the WCSA2024 Awards Ceremony held on June 12, 2024 at the Gala Dinner of the 17th SNEC PV Power Expo in Shanghai, China, the world's leading solar and cleantech conference and exhibition.
Additionally, you'll have the chance to participate in an exclusive TV talk for CBC Leadership TV, promoted through marketing and communication tools, and social media of WCSA2024 and all the partners, reaching hundreds of thousands of potential leads.
As a finalist, you'll be invited to the WCSA2023 Awards Ceremony in Munich, Germany, on June 14, 2023, along with accompanying activities held at The Smarter E Expo, Europe's largest platform for the energy industry. Additionally, you'll have the chance to participate in an exclusive TV talk for CBC Leadership TV, promoted through marketing and communication tools, and social media of WCSA2023 and all the partners, reaching hundreds of thousands of potential leads.
The winner will get an opportunity to explore further development possibilities with ACWA Power.
From ambition to transformative innovation, your ideas can create a sustainable impact in the sectors of renewable energy, water desalination, green hydrogen, and energy storage.
Share your ideas. Together, let's drive change! #TogetherWeAreStronger
Submissions are now open and will close on 22nd May 2024.
#WCSA2023 Initiator & Winner Testimonies
Pitch Your CleanTech Disruption
#CreateTheFuture #WCSA2024
Jury
The judging panel for the World CleanTech StartUPs Awards 2024 consists of industry experts and leading CleanTech entrepreneurs.
The jury members will bring their extensive knowledge, expertise, and experience in the CleanTech industry.
Chair
Prof. Anis Jouini
CEO of ECM Greentech
Chair of WCSA Jury
Co-Chair
Thomas Altmann
Executive Vice President - Innovation & New Technology at ACWA Power
Co-Chair of WCSA Jury
Jury Members
Alicia Eastman
Co-founder and Board Director at InterContinental Energy; Host of “Everything About Hydrogen”; CBC Co-Chair of Green Hydrogen Hub (In Charge of Financial & Investor Ecosystem)
Chibunna Ogbonna
Co-Founder at Kiru Energy Limited; CBC Co-Chair of Under40 Leaders Hub (In Charge of Africa)
Dr. Stefan Kaufmann
Senior Adviser at World Energy GH2; Member of the German Parliament; Former Innovation Commissioner for Green Hydrogen at the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF); CBC Co-Chair of Green Hydrogen Hub (In Charge of Off-takers Ecosystem)
Hayrie Shan
CEO at Euro American Solar; CBC Chair for Bulgaria
Mark Mirza
Project Leader at Fraunhofer ISC; CBC Co-ordinator of the World CleanTech, Hydrogen & Water R&D and Industry Council
Pinfang Wu
"Father of Hydrogen in China", Chairman at Jiangsu Guofu Hydrogen Energy Equipment Co, Ltd.; CBC Honorary Co-Chair of Green Hydrogen Hub
Prof. Eicke R. Weber
Vice-Chairman at European Solar Manufacturing Council; Former Director, Fraunhofer ISE, Freiburg; CBC Chair of World CleanTech Awards
Cornelius Matthes
CEO at Dii Desert Energy; CBC Chair for Middle East
Alexis Issaharoff
Chief Renewable Energy Officer at Jubaili; CBC Chair for South East Asia
Andreas Fornwald
CEO at Rebirth Capital Partners; CBC Co-Chair of Energy Storage Hub
Dr. Rashi Gupta “Batterywali”
Managing Director, Vision Mechatronics; CBC Chair of Energy Storage Hub & Chair of Empowering Women Hub
Moctar Toure
Founder & CEO at SMART’ÉLEC & PARTNERS; Former Special Advisor to The President of Mali & Former President of CREE (Power and Water Utilities' Regulation Commission); CBC Chair for Mali
Paul Van Son
President at Dii Desert Energy; Visionary Advisor at CBC
Simay Akar
CEO and Founder, AK Energy Consulting; CBC Co-Chair of Empowering Women Hub
Zouhair Kefi
Director Division Energy & Home Automation at Heinrich Kopp GmbH, CBC Co-Chair of Smart Energy Hub
Anastasia (Sun Ru)
CEO at JIAO YANG NEW ENERGY; CBC Co-Chair of Financial and Investor Hub (In Charge of China Relations); Chair of CBC Empowering Women Hub for China
Daniel Thielking
Sales Manager EMEA at AMPT; CBC Co-Chair of Energy Storage Hub (In Charge of Europe)
Enrico Carniato
Group Deputy General Manager - Global Finance and Business Development at Upsolar Group; CBC Chair for Italy
Justin Gu
General Manager at GF Hydrogen Europe; CBC Co-Chair of Green Hydrogen Hub (In Charge of China Relations)
Mi Yue
Founder of SNEC, Executive Vice-Chair at NEIAPP (New Energy Industry Association for Asia and the Pacific), Board Member at the Global Solar Council; CBC Co-Chair for Asia
Thomas Korn
Founder & CEO at water stuff & sun GmbH; CBC Co-Chair of CleanTech StartUP Hub
"CleanTech Mama" Mary O'Donnell
Founder & President at Clean Power Inc; Honorary Chair at Empowering Women Hub at CBC
Dr. Claas Helmke
Founder & CEO of newtrail.capital; CBC Co-Chair of Financial & Investor Hub
Jean-Pascal Pham-Ba
Co-Founder at Paradigm Partnerships; Secretary General and Spokesperson at Terrawatt Initiative; CBC Chair of Financial & Investor Hub
Dr. David Renne
Founder, Dave Renne Renewables, ISES Immediate Past President USA; CBC Chair of Solar Hub
Karel de Winter
Founder & Commercial Director at Hy-Energie FZE, CBC Co-Chair of Floating PV & CleanTech Hub
Mostafa Boulal
Founder & CEO at COREAS; CBC Chair for Morocco; CBC Co-Chair of Clean Water Hub in Charge of Africa
Rami Fedda
Co-Founder & Supply Director, Solar Juice Pty; CBC Chair for Australia & Oceania
Soufiane Naime
Business Development Middle East Oil & Gas Market (Energy Transition) at Bureau Veritas Group; CBC Co-Chair of Utilities & Energy Companies Hub
Charlie Gay, "Dr Solar"
Former Director of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Solar Energy Technologies Office; CBC Visionary Advisor
Dr. Jianhui Zhang
CEO at Beijing HyperStrong Technology; Board Member of the US-China Green Energy Council (UCGEC); CBC Co-Chair of CBC Chair of Utilities & Energy Companies Hub (In Charge of China)
George Yang
Chairman & CEO, Shanghai GoldenRidge CleanTech; CBC Co-Chair of R&D, Manufacturing & Supply
Chain Hub (In Charge of China
Marie Latour
European Affairs Director at Euro-Funding; CBC Co-Chair of CleanTech StartUP Hub (In Charge of the EU Funding)
Mohamed Laarissi
CEO at Obvious Brigade; CBC Co-Chair of CleanTech Architecture & Hospitality Industry Hub (In Charge of Africa)
Paddy Padmanathan
Co-Founder & Vice-Chairman at Zhero; Former CEO and President of ACWA Power; CBC Honorary Chair for the Middle East
Antonio Celso de Abreu Junior
Solar Pioneer in Brazil, Former Director in the Ministry of Mines & Energy; CBC Honorary Chair for Brazil
Prof. Ad Van Wijk
Professor Emeritius of Future Energy Systems at TU Delft; Member of Dii Advisory Board; CBC Honorary Chair of Green Hydrogen Hub
Adamo Screnci
Hydrogen Pioneer; Vice President - Licensing & Business Development at NextChem, CBC Chair of Green Hydrogen Hub
Dr. Hitesh Doshi
Chairman at Waaree Group; CBC Co-Chair for Asia & Chair for India
Laura Azpilicueta
European Director ESS Business
CATL - AMPACE Technology Limited; CBC Chair for Spain
Murat Aydemir
Managing Director MENA at px Engineering; CBC Chair of Bioenergy Hub & Waste To Energy Hub
Ruggero Arico
CEO at RAMP Advisory; Vice-President at Confindustria Assafrica and Mediterraneo; CBC Chair of Utilities & Energy Companies Hub
Victoria Kerner-Alexandratou
CEO at WRE Group; Vice President at German Hellenic Chamber of Industry and Commerce
