E.ON's energy challenge

Power supplier E.ON has launched a nationwide competition to discover and reward individuals developing new energy efficient technologies.

Power supplier E.ON has launched a nationwide competition to discover and reward individuals developing new energy efficient techniques and technologies.

Britain’s budding inventors, engineers and scientists can enter one of two of the so-called 'Eonenergylab' award categories.

The first one, the E.ON EnergyLab Award is open to all, from potting shed inventors to canny customers to entrepreneurs, with the creator of the winning invention receiving a cash prize of £10,000.

The second, the LIFE-IC Technology Award, is aimed at recognising, supporting and encouraging those who are already studying or working in the field of engineering or technology. The winner will receive a cash prize of £5,000 plus support and consultancy from business accelerator LIFE-IC to help get their idea into production.

'This is the second year we’ve run E.ON EnergyLab and last year we unearthed an army of ingenious inventors with a wealth of energy saving ideas – so we’re really excited about the hidden talents we could uncover this year,' said Dave Clarke, from E.ON’s Technology Centre.

Bright ideas should be submitted at www.eonenergylab.co.uk before 30 November 2007.

Those lucky enough to be shortlisted will be invited to one of a series of regional heats held in Birmingham, Cambridge, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Manchester in January and February 2008. 

Regional finalists will then have the opportunity to pitch their ideas and present their prototypes to the panel of experts against the clock, vying for the chance to go head to head in the national final in London in April 2008.