New Delhi, June 24: There is approximately two weeks left until the entry deadline for the 2015 Zayed Future Energy Prize. The Prize, an annual US$4 million award, recognizes individuals, organizations and schools who have made significant strides to advance the fields of renewable energy and sustainability. Submissions and nominations are now open for the 2015 Zayed Future Energy Prize. The deadline is 14 July, 2014. Applicants from the Indian renewable energy and sustainability sectors can apply in five different categories for the opportunity to win a game-changing prize pot and the prestige and opportunities that come with an internationally renowned prize.
Five categories:
o Large Corporation – Recognition Award (No monetary value)
o Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) – US$ 1,500,000
o Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) – US$ 1,500,000
o Lifetime Achievement (Individual) – US$ 500,000
(In the Lifetime Achievement category, nominations will also be accepted.)
o Global High Schools – European region – $100,000
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, with a growing number from Europe following recent successes by organizations from the region.
- Recent Indian winners include:
o Abellon Clean Energy who won the SME category of the 2014 edition is a for-profit company founded in 2008 by Aditya Handa. Its principal activity is the manufacture and sale of biomass pellets made from agricultural and sawmill residues. The agricultural residues are sourced from local farmers, in partnership with Poornakumbha, an NGO established by Abellon in 2008.
o Kalkeri-Sangeet-Vidyalaya (Kalkeri-Music-School) who won the Global High School Category from Asia in 2014 empowers children from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds to realise their full potential for a better life.
His Excellency Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, director general, Zayed Future Energy Prize stated, “Throughout history, prizes have proven to be a mechanism to encourage innovation. The Zayed Future Energy Prize is a commitment by the UAE’s government to incentivize people, organizations and schools to tackle today’s pressing energy and sustainability challenges. The world needs viable solutions that address issues such as energy access and sustainable development and now in its seventh year, we are proud of the impact the Prize is delivering.”
Call to action videos:
- Sir Richard Branson, entrepreneur, founder of the Virgin Group and a member of the Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury – here.
· Professor Jeffery Sachs, world-renowned professor of economics, leader in sustainable development, senior UN advisor, bestselling author, and syndicated columnist – here.
