Zayed Future Energy Prize recognises innovation pioneers

Above all, these solutions will be driven by innovation, one of the key criteria used in the judging of the Zayed Future Energy Prize.

The contest, which awarded its first prize in 2009, is currently open for nominations and submissions. It is unique amongst its peers in that anyone can enter or be nominated, making Zayed Future Energy Prize the most equitable and non-partisan award in the renewable energy field.

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

"Finding clean energy solutions to meet our growing energy needs is fundamental to preventing the effects of climate change and ensuring sustainable growth. However, such solutions will require an unconventional approach that bring into play not only technological innovation, but social growth and economic viability as well."

The Zayed Future Energy Prize was launched in 2008 by His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed forces of the United Arab Emirates. The prize honours the memory and legacy of the founding father and President of the country, the late His Highness, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, who championed environmental stewardship.

This annual award, which recognises innovation, long-term vision and leadership in renewable energy and technologies, is worth $2.2m in total, with $1.5m going to the winner and $350,000 each for up to two finalists.

Zayed Future Energy Prize is supported by Masdar, which is a global cooperative platform for the open engagement in the search for solutions to some of mankind's most pressing issues: energy security, climate change and the development of human expertise in sustainability.

The award is open to any individual, company or non-governmental organization (NGO) that can demonstrate a tangible clean energy solution. Any party can be nominated or enter directly by visiting the website Once a nomination is received, the organisers of Zayed Future Energy Prize invite the nominees to submit a formal entry according to specific criteria.

Last year the Zayed Future Energy Prize attracted 204 nominations and 150 submissions from over 50 countries. This year, over 350 nominations from more than 60 countries have been received thus far - eight weeks remain to the closing date - and 225 parties have registered, with the intent to make a submission.

This year, the closing date for submissions is 16 October 2009. Entries will be reviewed by the Zayed Future Energy Prize Selection Committee and Jury, and the prize will be awarded on 19 January 2010 during the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

The jury comprises a number of individuals who are experts and leaders in the areas of sustainability and renewable energy. It is chaired by Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, who is also Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and a Nobel Prize Laureate.

The winner of the 2009 Zayed Future Energy Prize was Dipal Chandra Barua, Managing Director of Grameen Shakti, an organisation that is introducing renewable energy solutions to rural communities in Bangladesh and has benefited 2m people to date. Grameen Shakti was also recognised for training women in the rural areas of Bangladesh to be solar technicians and for supporting "green" entrepreneurs. Mr. Barua used the prize money to establish the Zayed Future Energy Prize Scholarship in Bangladesh to teach rural women to establish their own small sustainable energy businesses.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber says: "As in the case of Dipal Barua's initiative, it is important that renewable energy solution can be scaled for wide-spread implementation. Zayed Future Energy Prize is particularly interested in recognising those ideas that have wide and affordable application in any community. The prize is not only about acknowledgement but promoting such ideas to the rest of the world."