THERE is just one week left to enter the Energy Innovation Awards.

The awards – the brainchild of the world-class Energy Innovation Centre in Capenhurst – celebrate the outstanding achievements of individuals and organisations across the UK flying the flag for energy innovation and sustainability.

The categories for the 2011 Energy Innovation Awards are:

Rising Star Award.

University Spin-out.

New Energy Generation.

Existing Performance Improvement.

Consumer Benefit Award.

Best Service Provider.

Best International Trade Award.

Energy Innovation Award – Best of the Best.

The closing date for entries is Friday, April 15.

Last year’s inaugural Energy Innovation Awards were a huge success and this year’s are likely to be even bigger and better.

Winners will be announced at the Energy Innovation Awards dinner, which will be held at The Hilton Deansgate, Manchester, on Thursday, June 23.

The Energy Innovation Centre, which has four of the leading energy giants among its partners, champions innovation and provides a gateway to accelerate cutting-edge products and technologies to market.

Denise Massey, director of the Energy Innovation Centre in Capenhurst, said: “With rising energy demand and ambitious renewable targets, innovation has never been more important.

“These awards celebrate the unsung pioneers who are investing their all into developing exciting new technologies which address the world’s energy problems. Don’t miss this chance to enter.”

The judging panel is made up of experts from the energy industry, including Clive Deadman, independent industry expert and chairman of the Energy Innovation Centre IFI Investment Forum; John Bullock, chairman of the Institute of Engineering and Technology North West; Gill Shaw of Vision Consulting; Alan Clarke, director and investment committee chairman of University of Manchester Intellectual Property; and David Smith, chief executive of Energy Networks Association.

Manchester-based company Out There Events is supporting the Energy Innovation Centre in staging the awards.

Entry forms, sponsorship opportunities and more details about the awards dinner can be found at http://www.energyinnovationcentre. com/energy-innovation-awards.html. For more information about the Energy Innovation Centre generally or office availability within its incubator facility, visit http://www.energyinnovationcentre.com/