The WEX Global Awards are now open for entry!

The Categories

The WEX Global Awards are open to any recent water or wastewater project which includes a smart circular economy component, and to all companies and organisations who have made a significant contribution to the sector. This years categories are:

1. Innovation in Water Circularity

Sustainable water use is the foundation of a successful circular economy. This award will recognise outstanding contributions from the water sector, in the application of circular economy principles, across the entire spectrum of water and wastewater treatment. Examples include but are not restricted to, innovative water resource planning, process optimisation, water reuse, desalination, waste to value, pollution abatement, and AI initiatives which rationalise resources and promote efficiency.

Entrants should demonstrate innovative applications of existing or new processes, technologies, management and/or governance, which can include references to projects currently operating or at the research and development stage.

2. Innovation in Decarbonising

The sustainable management of water and wastewater is inextricably linked with energy and carbon emissions. This award serves to highlight ideas, applications and solutions that will bring about a significant contribution to realising a net zero future for the water industry – examples could include, although are not restricted to, waste to energy, digital technologies, new membranes or the generation of new energy resources such as hydrogen or biogas.

We want to hear about projects, processes, technologies and applications which demonstrate innovation in renewable energy, alternative energy sources, efficient energy use and new methods of production that will make a significant contribution to mitigating the impact of climate change.

Judges are looking for case-studies showing cost-centres turning into profit-centres, and those projects which unlock important energy potential, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and make water infrastructure efficient and resilient.

3. Innovation in Digitalised Water Management

The digital transformation of water management is at the heart of smart city initiatives which aim to deliver sustainable development for the benefit of citizens across the globe.

This award recognises best-in-class digital infrastructure projects and AI initiatives within the water industry, which demonstrate unique or outstanding features to establish the models and living systems needed for a thriving planet and ecosystem.

The winning entry will ideally demonstrate the “twin transition” of green and the digital in a manner which delivers de-carbonisation allied to optimal resource management, whilst also showing excellence in the innovative application of technology, social, economic and environmental design considerations.

4. Innovation in Building Healthy Watersheds

This award will recognize projects, technologies and organisations that have made significant contributions to the improvement and sustainability of watershed ecosystems. Entries should reference tangible and measurable impacts in the health and functionality of a watershed with specific references to measurable positive, ecological, hydrological and water quality outcomes.

Entries may include innovations in science, technology, finance, nature-based strategies, public policy and practice that have significantly contributed to the sustainable developments of watersheds. The inclusion of climate change resilience and adaptation measures should be highlighted as well as the importance of customer and stakeholder engagement.

The judges may also assess the adaptability and scalability of the innovations and their potential broader impact in terms of transferability to other regions for the development of healthy watersheds.

The Judges

Our esteemed panel of eight judges is represented by experts in the water and energy sectors. Once all entries and nominations have been received our panel carefully considers them. The panel compiles a shortlist from which the winners are decided in a closed round of judging. Winners are announced at the WEX Global Awards Ceremony. They are used to promote an innovative future in the industry and will demonstrate excellence through outstanding achievement in relation to innovation, sustainability, efficiency and collaboration.

Submit your entry now

Entries for the WEX Global Awards 2024 close on January 26th 2024. You may submit your entry online at https://wex-global.com/enter-awards/. For companies attending WEX Global 2024 entry is free of charge. For companies not attending WEX may enter projects into relevant award categories for the sum of €200 plus VAT per project.

To find out more about the awards please visit https://wex-global.com/wex-global-awards/ To see last years winning entries please visit https://wex-global.com/awards-winners-2023/