A new solar award celebrates innovation: Starting in 2025, the Adolf Goetzberger Award will annually honor visionaries in the field of solar energy. Established by the board of the Adolf Goetzberger Foundation, the award pays tribute to the esteemed German solar pioneer Adolf Goetzberger and recognizes outstanding contributions to the advancement of solar energy and the integration of renewable systems.
The inaugural award ceremony will take place during the 40th PV Symposium (March 11-13, 2025) at the historic Banz Abbey in Bad Staffelstein—a venue where research, industry, and business come together to shape the future of renewable energy. Interested parties can find further details on the application process at www.goetzbergerstiftung.de .
The Adolf Goetzberger Award celebrates scientific, technical, and entrepreneurial achievements that stand out due to their innovative approaches and concepts. The award primarily targets European applicants but is also open to candidates from outside Europe.
The prize is supported by the Adolf Goetzberger Foundation, with financial contributions from individuals and companies in the industry. It includes a certificate highlighting the significance and background of the award, along with a monetary prize of €25,000. The goal is to bridge the gap between research, industry, and business, while bringing the importance of renewable energy even more prominently into public view.
The jury responsible for selecting the recipient is appointed by the board of the Adolf Goetzberger Foundation and consists of at least five leading experts from the fields of science and the solar industry. In evaluating the submissions, the jury places particular emphasis on the level of innovation and originality of the presented concept, especially in addressing technical and economic challenges. Additionally, the potential for practical application, societal benefit, and the individual contribution of the applicant to the implementation of the concept are key evaluation criteria. The award winner will be officially announced no later than six weeks before the ceremony. The announcement will be made simultaneously on the foundation's and the PV Symposium's websites.
Adolf Goetzberger was not only a visionary physicist but also a pioneer in German solar research. In 1981, he founded the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems ISE - at a time when few believed in the success of photovoltaics. His dedication and ideas were recognized worldwide. Goetzberger held over 30 patents and received numerous honors, including being the first German recipient of the "J. J. Ebers Award" from the American IEEE Electron Devices Society, as well as the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany, First Class. His international accolades included the "Becquerel Prize," the "European Solar Award," and the "European Inventor Award" for lifetime achievement from the European Patent Office. Goetzberger's contributions to the solar industry are not only milestones of the past but also guiding lights for the future of renewable energy.
With the introduction of the Adolf Goetzberger Award, the foundation is sending a powerful statement for the future of solar energy. The goal is to promote innovative ideas and solutions that are not only technically brilliant but also economically and socially impactful. The award is a tribute to a man who not only advanced solar technology but also laid the foundation for a sustainable energy transition.
The purpose of the Adolf Goetzberger Foundation is to promote science and research, as well as nature, environmental, and climate protection, with a particular focus on solar energy. It fulfills this mission by awarding an annual award. Members of the board of the Adolf Goetzberger Foundation include Prof. Dr. Andreas Bett, Markus Elsaesser, Ursula Goetzberger, Dr. Winfried Hofmann, and Thomas Nordmann. The Adolf Goetzberger Foundation is represented by the Foundation for the Region – Sparkasse Pforzheim Calw.
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