The Zayed Future Energy Prize, the world’s preeminent award for innovation in renewable energy and sustainability, will open for submissions on March 4, 2013 for the 2014 awards. Entries are invited in the categories of large corporation, small and medium enterprise (SME), non-governmental organization (NGO), the individual lifetime achievement and global high schools. The closing date for submissions is August 5, 2013.
In the large corporation, SME, NGO and global high schools categories, submissions can be made by each company, organization or school. However, for the lifetime achievement category, individuals must be nominated by a third-party.
All categories will be able to submit or nominate for the Prize on its website.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize is an annual US$ 4 million award, which recognizes individuals, companies and organizations that have made significant contributions in the fields of renewable energy and sustainability. High Schools, however, are asked to submit a proposal for funding consideration.
“Based on the legacy of sustainability left to us by our Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Zayed Future Energy Prize is fast creating that much needed ripple effect around the world,” said Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Director General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize. “From China to Mexico and from Germany to Tanzania; over the past five years, the Prize has continued to award and reward the innovators of our time in the hope that the impact of the Prize will enable the world to address our collective future energy challenges.” Launched in 2008, the Prize has gained global recognition and built a strong reputation as the most influential award in the renewable energy and sustainability community. Submissions and nominations have increased 300 percent over the past five years as recognition of the value of the Prize grows. The 2013 winners of the prize were selected after a careful evaluation of 579 submissions. The eight winners included Siemens (Large Corporation), d.light design (SME), Ceres (NGO), Dr. Jose Goldemberg (Lifetime Achievement), and four high schools representing various regions of the world (Global High Schools Prize).
“The Zayed Future Energy Prize invites the global community to join forces and strengthen its commitment to renewable energy and sustainability. Our previous winners have collectively reduced the plight of 140,000 displaced persons, provided hundreds of thousands of jobs and provided clean water and electricity to over 8 million people in villages and rural parts of Africa and Asia. We encourage companies, individuals and schools from across the world to join us in solving the energy challenge and participate by submitting their applications before August 5,” continued Dr Al Jaber.
The winners of the Prize are chosen according to a stringent four-stage selection process, including a shortlisting by an independent research and analysis firm and evaluation by the Review committee and Selection committees respectively. In the fourth and final stage, the jury comprising heads of state, leading academics, energy experts and world renowned personalities with an interest in sustainability, discuss and select the winners and runners up in each award category. Evaluations and eliminations are made using a scoring matrix based on the Prize’s four main criteria: impact, long-term vision, leadership and innovation.
Winners will be announced on January 20, 2014, at an award ceremony to be held in Abu Dhabi as part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
