The 2009 Carbon Trust Innovation Awards have been announced and applications are being sought for innovative ideas in the development and deployment of low carbon technology solutions. With the closing date of the competition looming on October 9 there is only a little over a month to get the entries in.

The idea of the Carbon Trust Innovation Awards is to recognise the forward thinking solutions that have been devised to help fight the growing carbon problem in the world. Not only is there recognition that goes with the award but also there will be a means of accelerating the new clean technologies to the market.

The recognition also brings other opportunities by making businesses and investors aware of what is being done with past winners finding an attraction of customers and commercial partnerships.

There are six categories for the awards with 4 of them for technology developers and providers and 2 of them for users and early adopters of low carbon technologies.

The four technology innovation categories are open to individuals and groups who can show that they are researching or developing a new technology with strong commercial potential and the ability to significantly reduce CO2 emissions. The specific areas of development are: Power; Buildings; Transport, and; Industry.

The two users of low carbon technology awards recognise the important role that early adopters can play in stimulating the market for emerging low carbon technologies. Organisations will need to demonstrate innovation in the use of low carbon technologies, going well beyond standard industry practice. The awards are divided into 2 categories: Public Sector, and; Private Sector.

This is a way of rewarding and encouraging further low carbon innovation to speed up the process of exploring alternatives to the higher carbon emitting methods. It is hoped that the way in which users use energy will also be changed through the innovations that are fostered by these awards.

Technological innovation may be aimed at renewable energy sources such as wave power, tidal power, geothermal energy, carbon capture and storage. It may also come up with ways in which the energy used within major buildings can be reduced through various forms of on-site power generation.