2025 KARL W. BÖER

SOLAR ENERGY MEDALS

 
  NOW ACCEPTING NOMINATIONS FOR 2025 AWARDS

Honoring advancements in renewable energy

The Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit
Karl W. Böer

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 August 1, 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.

The Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal of Merit

Karl W. Böer

Karl W. Böer

The Karl W. Böer Solar Energy Medal Awards are named in honor of Dr. Karl Wolfgang Böer, a pioneering scientist in the field of renewable energy who founded the UD Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC). Since its founding in 1972, IEC has been a leader in photovoltaic research and is the oldest solar cell institution in the world. It is 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 pioneering work led to significant progress in the field of renewable energy.

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

NOMINATION APPLICATION

The Awards

The 2025 Nomination


Energy collage solar

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.

 

Karl Boer Solar Energy Medal of Merit
  • Nominator Info
  • Nominee Info
  • Citations
  • Justification
  • Letters of Support
    • Submit

    NOMINATION APPLICATION -- DEADLINE AUGUST 1, 2025

    NOTE: Applications should be completed in one session as information is not saved until form is submitted.

    Select one *

    Please check for which Medal the nominee is being considered.

     

    Guidelines

    Award Guidelines

    1. Nominations must be submitted on the form provided in this announcement. Please note that only electronic submissions of the nomination form and supporting documents will be considered.
    2. Everyone is eligible, without any discrimination by profession or discipline. The Award Committee seeks individuals of great distinction who by their research, development, application, economic enterprise, or policies have made or are making extraordinary contributions to the fields of solar energy, wind energy, or other forms of renewable energy that are recognized nationally and internationally.
    3. The nomination must be accompanied by a complete curriculum vitae of the nominee and the names, addresses, and phone numbers of up to five references. Do not send copies of the publications, nominee’s patents, press releases, or other materials.
    4. The medals and cash awards will be presented in 2025.
    5. Nominations, with accompanying curricula vitae and references must be received by August 1, 2025. No nominations for the 2025 medal will be considered after that date.

     

    NOTE: Applications should be completed in one session as information is not saved until form is submitted.

     

    Panel of Judges

    The Award Committee

    2022 Böer Award Presentations and Institute of Energy Conversion (IEC) 50th Anniversary Celebration.

    Anke Weidenkaff (center left), director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Materials Recycling and Resource Strategies in Germany, and Vasilis Fthenakis (center right), founding director of the Center for Life Cycle Analysis at Columbia University, were the 2022 Karl Böer award recipients in recognition of their contributions to renewable energy.

    The Award Committee is composed of the presidents of the International Solar Energy Society, the American Solar Energy Society, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the American Physical Society, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, the director of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the U.S. Secretary of Energy, or their designated representatives, a representative of the Böer family, and the executive director of the Trust.

     

    Award Ceremony

    The Ceremony

    Karl W. Böer Solar Medal of Merit 2018 Ceremony

    A ceremony to honor the award recipients will be held at the University of Delaware.

    Registration information and additional details coming soon.

     

    Questions? Please contact Cherie Conrad.

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