Abu Dhabi Opens Worldwide Nominations and Submissions for Zayed Future Energy Prize
Abu Dhabi, July 6, 2008: 2007 Nobel Laureate Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri and Masdar CEO, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber today announced the official call for nominations and submissions for the Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP), an international awards program to recognize individuals, companies, organizations, and NGO’s who are leading the global search for future energy solutions.
Named after the UAE’s Founding Father late HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the Zayed Future Energy Prize was launched in January this year at the inaugural World Future Energy Summit by HH General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to encourage innovations in the field of clean energy and sustainable development. The prize is a Masdar initiative, which is Abu Dhabi’s landmark program to develop sustainable solutions to meet the world’s future energy demand.
The winner and finalists of the first Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP) will be announced at the World Future Energy Summit on January, 19th 2009. The winner will receive US$1.5 million and two finalists will receive US$350,000 each to take their ideas and ambitions forward.
The jury, who will be responsible for selecting the winners, was also announced today and includes some of the world’s leading experts in future energy and climate change. The full jury includes:
Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Chairman of the Jury for ZFE; HE Olafur Grimsson, President of Iceland; HE Khaled Irani, Environment Minister of Jordan; HE Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar); Lord John Browne, Managing Director, Riverstone Holdings; Lord Norman Foster, Founder and Chairman, Foster + Partners and Jeremy Rifkin, President of the Foundation on Economic Trends.
"Climate change is one of the most significant challenges we face today. Over the past two decades we have seen some incredible advancements in the development of alternate sources of energy, but there is still a long road ahead. The Zayed Future Energy Prize will be an important symbol for creating future energy choices, as it will be honoring the contributions of energy pioneers and inspiring others to seek and create innovative solutions for a sustainable future,” said Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Chairman of the Jury for ZFEP.
“In establishing the Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP), Abu Dhabi honors and continues HH Sheikh Zayed’s environmental legacy and advocacy for sustainable development. This vision is for a new energy future, whereby the world has access to energy that is sustainable, accessible, and affordable. This can be achieved by driving the best minds to explore science and technology, and develop evolutionary solutions,” added Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar and Director General of ZFEP.
A dual language, Arabic and English website was designed specifically for the prize and is now live. The website, www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com, will be a focal point for information and updates on The Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP) and will be a portal for entering nominations and submissions.
Nominations and Submissions for the Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP) will be open until July 31, 2008 and September 30, 2008, respectively.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP) is the preeminent award in field of clean energy supported by the Government of Abu Dhabi and announced at the World Future Energy Summit in 2008. It recognizes and aspires individuals, organizations and companies--making contributions in clean energy research, engineering, theoretical advancement, and/or in the areas public policy and public awareness.
Projects and innovations in one or more of the following fields are eligible for nomination:
- Renewable and sustainable energy
- Efficient use of traditional sources of energy
- Conservation
- Sustainable energy policy
- Communication and public awareness.
The selection process for the Prize is modeled on the Nobel Prize. The finalists will be selected by global experts in clean energy. The winner will be awarded a prize of $1.5 million and the two finalists will be awarded a $350,000 each.
About Masdar
The Masdar Initiative is Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar investment in the development and commercialization of innovative technologies in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies as well as sustainable design. Masdar is driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), a wholly owned company of the government of Abu Dhabi through the Mubadala Development Company. In January 2008, Abu Dhabi announced it will invest $15 billion in Masdar, the largest single government investment of its kind. For more information about the Masdar Initiative, please visit www.masdaruae.com.
Media Contacts:
Zarmineh Rab
Corporate Communications Manager
Masdar
Tel: +971-2-6988049
Fax: +971-2-6988123
Mob: +971-5-4502315
zrab@masdar.ae
Mohammed Kharroubi
Group Account Director
Asda'a Public Relations
Tel: +971-4-3344550
Fax: +971-4-3344556
Mob: +971-5-4289678
m.kharroubi@asdaa.com
Announcement WFES 2008
Abu Dhabi’s Masdar Initiative Launches $2.2 Million Zayed Future Energy Prize
2007 Nobel Laureate Dr. R.K. Pachauri to Chair the Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, 21 January 2008 - The government of Abu Dhabi announced today the establishment of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, awarding $2.2 million annually to honour individuals and organizations for their excellence in the innovation, development and implementation of sustainable energy solutions.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize will be awarded to three individuals or organisations that have made significant contributions in the global response to the future of energy. The award is named after UAE founding father Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan who fostered the UAE’s commitment to sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The winner of the prize will receive $1.5 million; two additional finalists will be awarded $350,000 to take their ideas and ambitions forward.
Finalists and winners will be chosen by a jury composed of the world’s leading experts in future energy and the mitigation of climate change. The jury will be chaired by Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, who, with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to raise public awareness of the dangers of climate change.
The criteria for the prize and the process for nominations will be developed by the jury. More details on the nomination process and jury composition will come with the April 2008 call for nominations.
The inaugural prize will be awarded in 2009 under the aegis of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multi-faceted, multi-billion dollar investment in renewable and alternative energy. Projects and innovations in one or more of the following fields are eligible for nomination:
• Renewable and sustainable energy;
• Efficient use of traditional sources of energy;
• Conservation;
• Sustainable energy policy;
• Communication and public awareness.
Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of the Masdar Initiative said, “Today, climate change is one of the biggest issues we face and new solutions are needed to meet the ever increasing demand for energy. His Highness the late Sheikh Zayed’s environmental leadership and Abu Dhabi’s role as a leading energy producer creates a natural foundation for this prize. Masdar is designed to be an incubator of innovation and the Zayed Future Energy Prize will recognise – and in many ways nurture – these ideas to protect our planet and provide for the future,” he said.
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