BERLIN, Germany, October 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Innovative companies from industry and production which have implemented outstanding projects for the increase of energy-efficiency can once again compete for the international "Energy Efficiency Award". The prize, endowed with award funds of a total of 30,000 Euros, is announced by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) - German Energy Agency - in the context of the Initiative EnergieEffizienz in collaboration with Deutsche Messe. The prize-winners will be honoured on the 21 April 2009 at the WORLD ENERGY DIALOGUE of the HANNOVER MESSE 2009.

Stephan Kohler, Chief Executive of dena: "We are inviting companies which have recognized energy-efficiency as a business opportunity, to take part in the competition. By honouring these pioneers in the field of energy-efficiency we hope to motivate other companies to initiate their own innovative energy-efficiency measures."

The first prize of the "Energy Efficiency Award 2009" is endowed with 15,000, the second with 10,000 and the third with 5,000 Euros. In order to apply for the prizes companies are requested to submit their projects by 31 January 2009. The competition is open for offers on a worldwide basis and for companies of whatever size and branch of industry which have implemented energy-efficiency measures. Applications from small and medium-sized companies are in particular welcome.

"The companies, which were honoured the last years, were able to achieve impressive savings in both energy and costs with the aid of their energy-efficiency measures. The HANNOVER MESSE has assumed the role of a platform for new, efficient technologies" said Dr. Wolfram von Fritsch, Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Messe.

Application-forms and more information can be seen at: http://www.industrie-energieeffizienz.de.

The Initiative EnergieEffizienz is supported by dena and the companies E.ON, EnBW, RWE and Vattenfall Europe and is promoted by the Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology.

Press Contact:

Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) - German Energy Agency, Immo Zoch, Chausseestrasse 128a, 10115 Berlin

Tel: +49(0)30-72-61-65-771, Fax: +49(0)30-72-61-65-699, E-Mail: zoch@dena.de, Internet: http://www.dena.de

Press Contact: Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) - German Energy Agency, Immo Zoch, Chausseestrasse 128a, 10115 Berlin, Tel: +49(0)30-72-61-65-771, Fax: +49(0)30-72-61-65-699, E-Mail:zoch@dena.de