IEA Executive Director awarded Melchett Award at UK Energy Institute

LONDON – The International Energy Agency’s executive director, Dr Fatih Birol, was presented with the Energy Institute’s prestigious Melchett Award at a ceremony in London yesterday.

The Melchett Award was created in 1930 by The Right Honourable Sir Alfred Mond, who later became Lord Melchett and Chairman of ICI. This award is now presented by the UK Energy Institute, a professional body for the UK energy industry, developing and sharing knowledge, skills and good practice towards a safe, secure and sustainable energy system.

The award is presented every two years for “outstanding contribution to the study or advancement of the science of fuel and energy, including original research or professional, administrative, or constructive work of an outstanding character involving the scientific preparation or use of fuel.” Previous recipients of the award include Prince Philip, Lord Rothschild, Sir William Hawthorne, Lord Brown and Lord Oxburgh of Liverpool.

Dr Birol also delivered the keynote Melchett Lecture at the ceremony, titled “How markets, technology and policy will shape the global energy landscape.” The lecture focused on key trends and strategic challenges in the global energy landscape.

The lecture was attended by over 300 dignitaries, industry executives, government officials, students and IEA alumni, including the UK Representative to the IEA Governing Board Mr Pete Betts, Lord Oxburgh of Liverpool and Baroness Brown of Cambridge.