A former fellow of ICTP's Training and Research in Italian Laboratories (TRIL) programme has won an award in recognition of his work in advancing renewable energy in Africa. Vinod Kumar Sharma, currently a senior scientist at the Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA) Trisaia research centre, received the award during the “2nd international workshop on renewable energy for sustainable development in Africa” held at Abuja, Nigeria, from 27 to 29 July 2010.

The three-day conference, attended by more than 100 people, was sponsored by the Energy Commission of Nigeria, the National Centre for Energy Research and Development (NCERD) at the University of Nigeria in Nsukka, and ENEA Trisaia. Sharma was a member of the international advisory committee for the meeting, and gave a keynote lecture on “Solar Thermal Technology: Water heating (Market, Barriers and European standards) and electricity generation”, as well as a short presentation on ICTP's TRIL programme.

Sharma, who received a PhD in solar energy from the Indian Institute of Technology, is interested in research on energy and the environment. His TRIL fellowship ended in 2007. His past research on anaerobic digestion and seawater desalination has won accolades similar to his current award.