2025 KARL W. BÖER
SOLAR ENERGY MEDALS
Honoring advancements in renewable energy


Karl W. Böer
The Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medals are awarded every two years for pioneering advancements in renewable energy. These distinguished awards include a bronze medal and monetary prizes. Nominations are due July 15, 2025.
In 2025, two medals will be awarded: the traditional Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit, carrying a $100,000 prize, honoring a world-renowned individual who has made pioneering advancements in renewable energy as an alternative source of energy; and the newly endowed Karl W. Böer Renewable Energy Mid-Career Award, carrying a $25,000 prize.
The medals are named in honor of Dr. Karl Wolfgang Böer, a trailblazing scientist in the field of renewable energy who founded the Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) at the University of Delaware. Since its founding in 1972, IEC has been a leader in photovoltaic research. It is the oldest solar cell institution in the world and a U.S. Department of Energy-designated University Center of Excellence for Photovoltaic Research and Education.
Dr. Böer, who passed away on April 18, 2018, at the age of 92, was a visionary scientist whose work led to significant progress in the field of renewable energy. The medals he so generously endowed through the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit Award Trust, established at the University of Delaware in 1991, have become the most prestigious awards for the global solar energy community and now honor leadership in all forms of renewable energy. The first Böer Medal was awarded in 1993 to former President Jimmy Carter.
The Böer Medals will continue to honor those who have, through their vision and inventiveness, made enduring progress toward the evolution of a more sustainable future for our planet.


Karl W. Böer
Funding for the Awards comes from the Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit Award Trust which was set up at the University of Delaware in 1991. The Böer Medal has been awarded every two years with the first Medal awarded in 1993 to former President Jimmy Carter and the last Medal given out in 2018. The Boer Medal has become the most prestigious award for the global solar energy community and is now expanded to honor leadership in all forms of renewable energy.
In 2022, there will be two Medals awarded – the traditional Karl Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit to honor individuals who have made significant, pioneering advancements to renewable energy as an alternative source of energy and the newly endowed Karl W. Böer Renewable Energy Mid-Career Award that will be awarded for the first time in 2022. These Medals will continue to honor those who have, through their vision and inventiveness, made enduring progress toward the evolution of a more sustainable future for our planet.
PREVIOUS RECIPIENTS

1997
Adolf Goetzberger

1999
Stanford R. Ovshinsky

2001
Allen M. Barnett

2003
Martin A. Green

2005
Yoshihiro Hamakawa

2007
Lawrence Kazmerski

2009
Hermann Scheer

2011
Richard M. Swanson

2013
Zhores I. Alferov and Viacheslav M. Andreev

2015
Antonio Luque

2016
D. Yogi Goswami

2018
Alex Zunger

2020
No award made

2022
Vasilis Fthenakis
For pioneering research at the interface of energy and environment that provided the underpinning of energy lifecycle impacts and catalyzed photovoltaic technology advancement and deployment worldwide.

2022
Anke Weidenkaff
For visionary leadership and pathbreaking in renewable energy and sustainability technologies with seminal contributions to materials for solar fuels, thermoelectric converters, catalysts, and self-regenerative functionalities.
NOMINATION APPLICATION
- The Awards
- Guidelines
- Panel of Judges
- Award Ceremony
The Awards
The 2025 Nomination
Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit
Cash award: $100,000
Purpose: The medal will be awarded to a world-renowned individual who has made significant pioneering contributions in solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy as an alternate source of energy through research, development, or economic enterprise, or to an individual who has made extraordinary valuable and enduring contributions to the fields of solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy.
Karl W. Böer Renewable Energy Mid-Career Award
Cash award: $25,000
Purpose: The Mid-Career Award will be presented to an individual who is actively making significant contributions with promise for an enduring impact in solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy through research, development, or economic enterprise, or to an individual making extraordinary valuable and enduring contributions to the fields of solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy.
Guidelines
Panel of Judges
Award Ceremony
Questions? Please contact Cherie Conrad.
ASSISTANCE
Compliance Hotline
Phone: (302) 831-2792
Research Administration
Phone: (302) 831-2136
Fax: (302) 831-2828
HOURS OF OPERATION
The University of Delaware Research Office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Research Office is closed Saturday and Sunday and observes all University closings and holidays. See the Academic Calendar for more information.