BERLIN, November 17 /PRNewswire/ -- The next round of the Energy Efficiency Award starts: Up to 7 February 2010, companies in industry and trade that have achieved exemplary improvements in energy efficiency can enter the contest. The award, with prize money totalling 30,000 euros, is offered by the Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) - the German Energy Agency - in collaboration with Deutsche Messe and DZ BANK AG and forms part of the Initiative EnergieEffizienz. The winners will be presented on 20 April 2010 during the WORLD ENERGY DIALOGUE, attended by high-ranking experts, at the HANNOVER MESSE 2010. The application documents can be found at: http://www.industrie-energieeffizienz.de.

Stephan Kohler, Chief Executive of dena: Companies that have optimised the energy use in their production will in particular reap the benefits when the economy improves and the energy prices increase. We want to honour these pioneers in energy-efficient management with this prize.

The prize money of the Energy Efficiency Award 2010 is divided as follows: 15,000 euros for first place, 10,000 euros for second place and 5,000 euros for third place. The contest is international and open to entries from companies in industry and trade - of all sizes and from all fields - that have successfully implemented energy efficiency measures.

Since 2007, the Energy Efficiency Award has stood for innovative and efficient production solutions, says Dr. Wolfram von Fritsch, Chairman of the Board of Deutsche Messe As international platform for the newest efficiency technology, the HANNOVER MESSE is the appropriate stage for presenting the winners.

Hans-Theo Macke, member of the Board of Managing Directors of the DZ BANK AG: Small and medium-sized businesses are the motor of the German economy and as such also plays a significant role in increasing energy efficiency. Therefore small and medium-sized companies are particularly invited to apply.

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

Press relations:

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

SOURCE: Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena)

CONTACT: Press relations: Deutsche Energie-Agentur GmbH (dena) - theGerman Energy Agency - , ImmoZoch, Chausseestrasse 128a, D - 10115 Berlin, Germany, Tel:+49(0)30-72-61-65-771, Fax: +49(0)30-72-61-65-699, E-mail: zoch@dena.de