Zayed Future Energy Prize finalists selected

The awards aim to honour the pioneering work done by international organisations in energy and sustainability.

ABU DHABI // The 29 finalists for the 2016 Zayed Future Energy Prize have been selected.

The eighth cycle of the awards aims to honour the pioneering work done by international organisations in energy and sustainability.

“This has been a record-breaking year for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, which is a testament to the leadership shown by the UAE in seeking long-term solutions that will meet our future climate and energy challenges,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of State and director general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize.

“This continued growth reinforces the prize’s influence in inspiring and rewarding the world’s innovators and creating a robust, shared-knowledge economy.”

This year there were a record 1,437 submissions and nominations, which had to be whittled down to the finalists.

The shortlist was selected following a two-day meeting in Abu Dhabi last week.

Now a jury panel will scrutinise those on the shortlist on October 29 with the winners to be announced during the annual Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week from January 16 to 23.

The categories include entries for large corporations as well as small and medium enterprises.

These finalists are joined by others in the non-profit organisations.

This year there is also a new global high schools committee, which will select three project proposals by schools from the Africa, Americas, Asia and Oceania regions and two from the Europe for final evaluation in late October.

The selection committee has also put forward five finalists as potential winners of the Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Zayed Future Energy Prize was established by the UAE leadership in honour of the nation’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed.