The jury for the 2016 Zayed Future Energy Prize has selected the winners for the international renewable energy and sustainability awards, which will be formally announced at the awards ceremony on January 16th, 2017 during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
(L-R) His Excellency Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of Global Marketplace, Abu Dhabi; Dr Han Seung-Soo, Former Prime Minister of the Republic of Korea and Vice-Chair of the Prize Jury; Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Former President of the Republic of Iceland and Chair of the Prize Jury; and Adnan Z. Amin, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency
The Zayed Future Energy Prize awards are in five categories, which are Large Corporation, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Non-Profit Organisation (NPO), Global High Schools, and a Lifetime Achievement Award, and the winners of this year’s awards were selected from among 30 finalists. For the Global High Schools category, one school from each of the regions of the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Oceania are selected, for a total of 9 awards for the Prize.
“For nine years, the Zayed Future Energy Prize has been an influential platform for the much-needed action to resolve sustainability challenges facing our planet. Through the Zayed Future Energy Prize, the UAE has issued a call to action on a global scale. Today, we see that call has been answered by true industry pioneers, innovators and young people that are forging a path to sustainable prosperity.” – Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Chair of the Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury and Former President of the Republic of Iceland
Although no finalist details were released for the Large Corporation and Lifetime Achievement Award categories, the finalists for the SME category were named as 1366 Technologies, sonnen, and 24M. 1366 Technologies is a silicon wafer manufacturer for the solar industry, and both sonnen and 24M are energy storage companies.
For the NPO category, the finalists are Solar Sister, We Care Solar, and Practical Action. Practical Action “uses technology to challenge poverty in developing countries,” Solar Sister “eradicates energy poverty by empowering women with economic opportunity,” and We Care Solar promotes safe childbirth in developing countries with its Solar Suitcase devices.
In the Global High Schools category, the finalists are:
- Mfantsipim School (Ghana, Africa)
- St. Mary’s Sosio Girls Secondary School (Kenya, Africa)
- Starehe Girls Centre and School (Kenya, Africa)
- Green School Bali (Yayasan Kul-Kul) (Indonesia, Asia)
- British International School Riyadh (Saudi Arabia, Asia)
- Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies (South Korea, Asia)
- Escuela Secundaria Tecnica 67 Francisco Díaz de León (Mexico, Americas)
- Unidad Educativa Sagrado Corazón 4 (Bolivia, Americas)
- Public School Dimas Mozart e Silva (Brazil, Americas)
- Belvedere College (Ireland, Europe)
- Instituto Politécnico Escuelas San José (Spain, Europe)
- Institut Educació Secundària Cotes Baixes (Spain, Europe)
- Sangam Sadhu Kuppuswamy Memorial College (Fiji, Oceania)
- Aana College 2 (Samoa, Oceania)
- Huonville High School (Australia, Oceania)
The Zayed Future Energy Prize awards a total of $4 million, with $1.5 million each going to the winners of the SME and NPO categories, $500,000 going to the Lifetime Achievement Award winner, and each of the five Global High Schools winners receiving $100,000. The Large Corporation award has no monetary value, and is a recognition award only. The fund comes from the government of Abu Dhabi as an honoring of the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founding father of the United Arab Emirates, and is managed by Masdar.
“Our wise leadership established the Zayed Future Energy Prize to be a springboard for partnerships and innovations that will help solve global energy and sustainability challenges. Today, this mission has positively impacted the lives of more than 200 million people worldwide through an international community of prize-winners.” – His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Director General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize
The jury for the Prize is chaired by Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, vice-chaired by former PM of the Republic of Korea Dr. Han Seung-Soo, and includes His Excellency Felipe Calderón, former President of Mexico; Her Excellency Dr. Amal Al Qubaisi, President of the Federal National Council; Adnan Z. Amin, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency; Kathy Calvin, President and CEO of the UN Foundation; His Excellency Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of Global Marketplace, Abu Dhabi; Ratan Tata GBE, Chairman of Tata Trusts; and Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group.
More information can be found at the Zayed Future Energy Prize website.
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