Zayed Future Energy Prize open for nominations

Nominations will be accepted online at Zayed Future Energy Prize website. Earlier this year, the inaugural winner was recognised, Mr. Dipal Barua, Managing Director of Grameen Shakti, for his innovative approach to scaling renewable energy for two million residents of rural Bangladesh.

The winner of the 2009 award will be announced at an event on January 19, 2010 at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

The Zayed Future Energy Prize was launched in January 2008 at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi to honour the legacy of the UAE's late President, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Zayed Future Energy Prize recognises individuals, companies or organisations that have demonstrated innovation and leadership in their contributions to the global need for future energy solutions. Each year, a winner is selected for deploying real world solutions that are scalable and meaningful.

The call for nominations comes as the Zayed Future Energy Prize released the findings of a survey on the future of energy. The survey, which polled attendees of the World Future Energy Summit, suggests that solar technology and energy efficient buildings are some of the challenges that most need innovation and further research and development and that governments and small businesses have the biggest role to play in advancing the adoption of solutions.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Director General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, explains:

"There is no question that innovative engineering and dedicated research and development of promising technologies will bring us closer to realizing future energy solutions. The Zayed Future Energy Prize is a distinctive honour that can bring many emerging solutions to light and help expand their adoption; the next generation of leaders must take an active role in solving our global energy challenges."

"Since a change in the mix of different sources of energy supply is essential and urgent, innovation in this field would be critical for bringing about a transition to a truly renewable energy future," said Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Chairman of the jury for the Zayed Future Energy Prize.

"Consequently, visionary efforts and innovations need to be recognised and rewarded adequately. It is, therefore, with great honour that we open this year's nominations, and we look forward to celebrating some of the great advancements being made across the world to ensure a sustainable energy future," Pachauri added.

Everyone is called to submit a viable candidate for the 2009 Zayed Future Energy Prize today. Once a candidate is nominated, he or she will be invited to submit their credentials starting June 9, 2009. All nominations and submissions for consideration will be open until October 16, 2009.

The winner of the Zayed Future Energy Prize will receive $1.5m and will be chosen by a panel of jurors who are champions in the fields of renewable energy and sustainability. The prize money will assist winners in expanding and scaling their innovations. In addition, Masdar, the supporting organisations of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, will offer winners access to a wide network of resources.

Nominations will be ranked using the following criteria:
• Innovation: proof of cutting-edge concepts and solutions that solve today's energy and sustainability challenges.
• Long-term vision: demonstration of ability to scale through a commercially viable or sustainable business model.
• Leadership: championing the vision in order to advance clean energy and sustainable solutions.