From artificial intelligence-supported energy grids to clean cooling systems for small businesses, finalists in the Zayed Sustainability Prize energy category are trying to bring hope to communities that need it most.
Three businesses are competing to scoop the main prize that will be announced on December 1 at the Cop28 climate talks in Dubai.
There are six categories: health, food, energy, water, climate action and global high schools.
Since the prize was established in 2008, 106 winners have helped 378 million people through sustainability solutions and school projects.
The prize has a total of $3.6 million up for grabs, with $600,000 going to the energy category winner.
Here The National profiles the three finalists in the category, who are trying to ensure access to affordable and reliable clean energy.
Clean mini-grids
Husk Power Systems aims to transform lives in rural Asia and Africa through 100 per cent renewable mini-power grids.
It established its first rural clean energy mini-grid in India in 2008 and since then it has operated them in more than 200 communities and reached half a million people.
“Husk works in some of the most challenging regions in the world and, due to the complexity of electrifying rural communities, finding a viable business model has been a journey of trial and error,” said Manoj Sinha, its chief executive.
Electrifying remote villages
Hundreds of millions of people are without access to electricity in Africa, the UN has said. Ignite Power, headquartered in Rwanda, uses a pay-as-you-go model to offer affordable access to clean electricity in the most remote villages across sub-Saharan Africa.
Its service includes systems for households, small businesses, solar irrigation and health facilities. It says the company aids about 2.5 million people.
“Once you see the immense impact that one solar system or one solar irrigation system has on a family, when you see the kids smile when the light goes on, you are forever motivated to keep going, to take on the challenges, to reach as many people as possible, and to constantly innovate and find new solutions,” said Ignite Power's president, Angela Homsi.
Off-grid refrigerators
Koolboks, headquartered in France and focused on Africa, is trying to revolutionise refrigeration.
Its off-grid refrigerator is powered by renewable energy and can be bought through a lease-to-own arrangement, eliminating the need for major upfront investment.
The organisation also provides power for electronic devices and lighting solutions for African small businesses.
To date, Koolboks said it has prevented 407 tonnes of food wastage, reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 1,688 tonnes and empowered 2,081 women-owned businesses.
“Our enduring vision involves raising awareness about solar freezers to empower businesses in reducing costs, increasing profitability and minimising their environmental impact,” said Natalie Casey, chief business officer.
Special edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week
The prize will be part of a special edition of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at Cop28.
The centrepiece will be the ADSW summit on December 4, addressing three crucial climate themes: unlocking financing, enabling the energy transition, and making business sustainable.
Cop28 runs at Expo City Dubai from November 30 to December 12.
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2023 – in pictures
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Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation, unveils the Cop28 logo with President-designate Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Victor Besa / The National -
The Masdar display at the event. Victor Besa / The National -
The Mohamed Bin Zayed University stall. Victor Besa / The National -
Visitors walk past the Masdar stall. Victor Besa / The National -
The Adnoc display. Victor Besa / The National -
The National signage on display at the event. Victor Besa / The National -
The government of Fujairah's stall. Victor Besa / The National -
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy's display. Victor Besa / The National -
Another view of the Adnoc stand. Victor Besa / The National -
Another view of the Masdar display. Victor Besa / The National -
Visitors at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Victor Besa / The National -
Day two of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week aims to accelerate sustainable development and advance economic, social and environmental progress. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The Envision stand at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Masdar's stand at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The Tadweer stand. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The event brings together heads of state, industry leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and senior policymakers. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
A solar energy diorama on Day 2 of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at Adnec in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week plays host to some very big names in international business, including Huawei of China. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Saeed Al Tayer, managing director and chief executive of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, delivers a speech. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Mahmoud Mohieldin, executive director of the IMF, left, in discussion on Day 2 of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at Adnec in Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Visitors at the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority stand at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in Adnec, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Awaidha Al Marar of the Abu Dhabi Department of Energy, an Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member and Member of Enec's board of directors, delivers opening remarks on Net-Zero Ambitions in Energy on Day 2 of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week at Adnec. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) stand at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in Adnec, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The Aldar stand at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in Adnec, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
The Bee'ah stand at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in Adnec, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Mariam Al Mheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, and Ahmed El Hoshy, chief executive of Fertiglobe, right, in a panel discussion titled A Manifesto for Food Systems at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in Adnec, Abu Dhabi. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Sharif Al Olama, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, delivers a speech promoting solar power at the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Laurent Fabius (2nd L), president of the constitutional council of France, speaks to guests at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Photo: Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed speaks to John Kerry, US presidential envoy for climate, at a reception before the opening ceremony. Photo: Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed meets Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia. Photo: Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed meets Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana. Photo: Presidential Court -
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, right, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology Group, chief executive of Adnoc and chairman of Masdar, receives Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Energy. Photo: Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed greets Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan. Photo: Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed stands for a photograph with heads of state and government. (Front row: R-L) presidents Surangel Whipps Jr of Palau, Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev of Kazakhstan, Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea, Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, Joao Lourenco of Angola, Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique and Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia. (Back row: R-L) Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of Morocco, Wavil Ramkalawan, President of Seychelles, Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia, Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, Tiemoko Meyliet Kone, Vice President of Ivory Coast and Dr Sultan Al Jaber. Photo: Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed greets a guest. Photo: Presidential Court -
Dr Al Jaber with Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan. Photo: Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed greets Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia. Photo: Presidential Court -
(Back row L-R) Siaosi Sovaleni, Prime Minister of Tonga, Aziz Akhannouch, Prime Minister of Morocco, Wavil Ramkalawan, President of Seychelles, Hakainde Hichilema, President of Zambia, Surangel Whipps Jr, President of Palau, Nana Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan, Yoon Suk Yeol, President of South Korea, President Sheikh Mohamed, Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, Joao Lourenco, President of Angola, Filipe Nyusi, President of Mozambique, Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, former president of Iceland and chairman of Arctic Circle, Tiemoko Meyliet Kone, Vice President of Ivory Coast, and Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. Photo: Presidential Court -
President Sheikh Mohamed presents the 2023 Zayed Sustainability Prize for East Asia & Pacific Global High Schools to a representative from Kamil Muslim College, Fiji. Photo: Presidential Court -
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of Kazakhstan (L), and President Sheikh Mohamed present the 2023 Zayed Sustainability Prize for Americas Global High Schools, to a representative from Fundacion Bios Terrae in Colombia. Photo: Presidential Court -
(L-R) Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, Kim Keon Hee, first lady of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, President of South Korea, President Sheikh Mohamed, Ilham Aliyev, President of Azerbaijan, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Presidential Court, Joao Lourenco, President of Angola and Ana Dias Lourenco, first lady of Angola. Photo: Presidential Court -
Guests stand for the national anthem during the opening ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Photo: Presidential Court -
Children sing the UAE national anthem . Photo: Presidential Court -
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Cop28 President-designate and the UAE's special envoy on climate change, speaks at the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Mr Yoon, a keynote speaker at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
US climate envoy John Kerry, centre. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
From left, Phillip Cornell, senior fellow of Atlantic Council Global Energy Centre; Christian Bruch, president and chief executive officer of Siemens Energy; Lorenzo Simonelli, chairman, president and chief executive of Baker Hughes; and Marisa Drew, chief sustainability officer of Standard Chartered. Khushnum Bhandari / The National
