GEOFFREY BALLARD

Canada

The winner of the first ever WIN WIN Gothenburg Sustainability Award 2000 was the entrepreneur and geophysicist Geoffrey Ballard.

Dr. Geoffrey Ballard recieved the award because of his meaningful and creative contribution to the development of the fuel cell and its usage. The fuel cell was a big step toward transforming the transport system to a more sustainable system, through a more effective use of natural resources and less impact on the environment on both globally and locally. 

With a doctorate in earth and planetary sciences from Washington University in St. Louis, and a belief in the transformation from petroleum to hydrogen-based fuels, he worked progressively in business with several companies and projects to promote this transformation.