Today NESTA - the National Endowment for Science Technology and the Arts - has announced the top 100 competitors for the its "Big Green Challenge". Watford-based C-Green Solutions has been selected to compete for one of the top ten positions and stands a chance of winning a £20,000 prize if successful in the next round.

The Big Green Challenge is described by NESTA as "the people powered innovation prize". Its purpose is to encourage and reward people working together to reduce C02 emissions in their communities. The projects judged most effective will share a £1m pot to make their vision a reality.

Over 350 groups applied at the first round. The 100 Challengers who have made it through the first stage include seven projects in the East of England of which C-Green Solutions Carbon Cycling is the only one in Hertfordshire.

The aim of C-Green Solutions Carbon Cycling is to implement a cyclic method of utilising wasteland or deserts for cultivating extremely fast-growing energy crops for producing bio-fuel. The process will be trialled with a group of young people in Watford to enable them to grow vegetables for their local community.

C-Green founder, social entrepreneur and visionary Greg Peachey said;

"We now have to submit details plans about our approach for implementing, monitoring and demonstrating the reduction of CO2 emissions and other associated factors in the community."

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the team including the students at St Michaels College and our participating project sponsors, Ocean Grown and Great Stuff Hydroponics. The £20,000 would be a huge boost to our quest to resurrect the huge amount of scientific research work that was done by the Green Desert movement in the 1970's."

C-Green Solutions has been successful in attracting the support of young people in the Watford Area. Last month a party at the Area night club in the town centre attracted 500 young people and raised £2000.

Greg Peachey is appealing to the local community, and anyone who cares about the future, to unite around the ambitious project, which aims to solve several of the world's problems through the technological develop of one simple process - the absorption of Carbon Dioxide by fast growing algae.

To find out more about the NESTA BIG GREEN CHALLENGE visit www.biggreenchallenge.org.uk.