Ashden Awards 2020: Six Clean Energy Innovators Lighting Up India

Some of India’s most promising climate and sustainability innovators have been named in the longlist for the 2020 Ashden Awards. Inspiring projects across India include emergency response plans for heatwaves, sustainable urban transport, climate friendly cooling solutions and women-empowering employment opportunities.

Six Indian organisations have made the cut alongside 38 other innovators from around the world. Eleven final winners will be celebrated at the Ashden Award Ceremony in London this July.

Ashden CEO Harriet Lamb said: “. This year once again, a wealth of Indian organisations have made it to Ashden’s longlist, tackling issues from air pollution in cities to cooling in dangerous heatwaves, to renewable energy - always making sure that the most marginalised are not left behind. The longlist showcases inclusive initiatives that are fair, holistic projects, disrupting systems and rethinking the rules of the game.

Over the past 20 years, nearly a third of all winners of the respected global Ashden Awards have come from India, showcasing inspiring innovation and entrepreneurship in tackling the climate crisis. Past winners range from SELCO, a social enterprise providing sustainable energy solutions to households and businesses - to SMV Green whose electric rickshaws won last year.

“India’s energy use is expected to double by 2040, mostly from coal, but with renewables growing fast - and in need of supportive government and financial environments. Initiatives like those longlisted need support from investors and politicians to scale up and help us reach our goals.

Indian organisations on the 2020 Ashden Awards longlist

• ITDP India: Safe, modern, sustainable and efficient public transport.
• Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan: Reducing the health impacts of extreme heat on the city’s most vulnerable populations.
• Fairconditioning and cBalance: Integrating sustainability and efficiency into architectural and engineering education.
• cKers Finance: Creating new opportunities for financing decentralized renewable energy.
• S4S Technologies: Using the power of the sun to preserve fruit.
• Self Employed Women's Association: Empowering women to become leaders.