£400k competition for best green invention

Environment conscious inventors have the chance to win more than £444,000 in the fifth Postcode Lottery Green Challenge launched yesterday (2 May 2011).

The annual competition aims to find and reward innovative new products and services that can help to reduce carbon dioxide emissions and be achieved within two years.

Although run by the Dutch Postcode Lottery Initiative, the Green Challenge is open to applicants from all over the world. To enter the competition green thinkers must submit a detailed business plan that will then be assessed by an expert jury.

The organisers are looking for innovative ideas that reduce emissions but are also well designed and user friendly. The top prize will be awarded to the best business plan and a further £177,000 has been allocated for one or two other promising entries.

In 2009, Briton Dean Gregory won with The Power Collective’s near-invisible rooftop wind turbines and last year’s prize was presented to American Scot Frank for his low-cost, portable solar collector SolSource.

The Green Challenge has many high profile supporters including ex-US president Bill Clinton and head of Virgin Richard Branson.

“People aren’t going to stop consuming. Instead, we must offer the consumer a green alternative to bring climate change to a halt,” said Branson, a 2007 juror for the prize.

“The Green Challenge is about stimulating the development of these alternatives. The large number of entries demonstrates that awareness of the need to change and the willingness to do something about it are felt worldwide.”

The closing date for entries to this year’s competition is 29 July 2011. For more information and to enter visit www.greenchallenge.info.