A pioneering new system that saves the waste of natural gas as it is transported via pipeline and transforms it into electricity that can be put back into the grid, was crowned the overall winner of the Sustainable Energy Innovation Award. EGPT Ltd, who picked up the Award at the second day of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland’s (SEAI) Energy Show at the RDS yesterday, was set up in 2009 by Dr Paul Sikora to develop an efficient gas depressurisation system via the Expanding Gas Power Transformation (EGPT) process. The system also negates the need to burn gas for heating.

EGPT Ltd beat tough competition from companies including AERIAQ Filtration Ltd, Climote, Ecoscan Ltd, Road Recycling Ireland and Terawatt Ireland for its innovation, energy performance and environmental impact and the business potential of EGPT system. Each of the six finalists had to pitch their product to a 'dragons' den' style panel of four judges in an open forum at the Energy Show.

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On receiving the Sustainable Energy Innovation Award, Dr Paul Sikora said: "It’s a great endorsement to have won this Award and I’m delighted at our success here today. There are approximately 100 pressure reduction centres in Ireland – on average, each one of these has the potential to provide enough energy to heat a hotel or supermarket by using our system. Ireland has the skillset to see this system implemented at these centres so we hope that by gaining recognition as we have here today that we will be able to create jobs, reduce the waste of natural gas and provide a new, efficient and clean energy source for the country.”

According to SEAI Chief Operations Officer Brian Motherway: “Sustainable energy is fundamental to Ireland’s economic recovery and these technologies offer business opportunities to every type of company in every sector. It is really encouraging to see the level of creativity that is flourishing in the energy industry in Ireland, and all the finalists here embody that. In particular I would like to congratulate EGPT on their success here today. Innovative ideas such as EGPT’s are needed now more than ever and I commend Dr Paul Sikora, James Byrne and their team for all their work and wish them the best in their future endeavour."

The Sustainable Energy Innovation Award winners will receive financial support towards their business development costs.

(PM/GK)