Record entries for Sheikh Zayed Future Energy Prize

ABU DHABI // This year’s Zayed Future Energy Prize has received a record number of submissions and nominations.

A total of 1,437 submissions and nominations were handed over when entries to next year’s awards closed on Tuesday.

Ninety-seven countries submitted 888 contributions to the Large Corporation, Small and Medium Enterprise, Non-Profit Organisation and Global High Schools categories, and 549 nominations for the Lifetime Achievement award.

“Named in honour of the UAE’s Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed, the prize is contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future and has already touched the lives of more than 150 million people,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and director general of the awards.

“This year’s record number of entries and the steady growth over the last eight years demonstrates that the Zayed Future Energy Prize can help innovators in renewable energy and sustainability bring even more positive change to people’s lives.”

Emerging market nations provided the largest share of submissions, led by India at 67 and China at 41.

Asian submissions rose 50 per cent from last year to 186, while there was a 100 per cent increase from Africa with 102 submissions.

Submissions from Latin American countries increased 103 per cent to 241.

“The extraordinarily large number of submissions demonstrates how the prize is now firmly established as the leading international honour for those who are shaping the energy landscape of our times and building a new foundation for the future of energy,” said Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, president of Iceland and chairman of the awards’ jury.

The competition has a four-stage evaluation process before a winner is selected in each category.