Mohammed bin Zayed honours Zayed Future Energy Prize 2013 winners

Abu Dhabi, Jan 16, 2013 (WAM) - His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, reaffirmed yesterday, that under the leadership of the President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, sustainable development across all sectors has been placed at the forefront and the core of the national strategy and that, in the spirit of safeguarding the nation and its people, the leadership's international collaborations are aimed at securing peace and prosperity for humankind. His statements were made at the 2013 Zayed Future Energy Prize awards ceremony, held at the Emirates Palace yesterday. Marking the fifth year of the Prize, the eight winners included Siemens, d.light design, Ceres, Dr. Jose Goldemberg, and four high schools representing various regions of the world. His Highness General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan emphasised that the Zayed Future Energy Prize underscores the UAE's commitment to addressing the global energy challenge; adding "We believe that investing in people is the future of our collective prosperity. Through the Prize, we are not only recognising tremendous achievement, but also providing support to help accelerate promising technologies and fund organisations, schools and individuals committed to impacting communities around the world." His Highness congratulated Masdar on successfully managing the prize and commended each of the winners, saying "Through their innovative technologies and solutions, they are helping create a better future for all. Speaking at the awards ceremony; His Excellency the President of the Republic of Iceland and Chairman of the Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson said: Inspired by Sheikh Zayed, Abu Dhabi has become a centre for global dialogue on renewable energy and a sustainable future. In his opening remarks, Dr Sultan Ahmed AL Jaber, Director General of the Zayed Future Energy Prize welcomed His Highness General Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed al Nahyan; thanking him for his direction and support which have been "instrumental and the leading force behind its success." The Prize was awarded in five distinct categories: Large Corporation, Life Achievement, Small and Medium Enterprise (SME), Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) and the newly-introduced Global High Schools Prize. Siemens, the German multinational electronics and engineering company, was recognised in the Large Corporation category for its holistic and long-term approach to alternative energy and sustainability. In the Small Medium Enterprise category, US-based d.light design was awarded US$1.5 million for its pioneering solar-powered lighting solutions, which the company manufactures and distributes to the developing world. Ceres, a US-based non-profit enterprise, was awarded US$1.5 million as winner of the Non-Governmental Organisation prize category. The organisation was honoured for its work on clean-energy advocacy and encouraging companies to reduce their carbon emissions. Dr. Jose Goldemberg, professor of physics at the University of Sao Paulo and former Brazilian minister of environment, was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award, winning US$500,000. A profound voice and environmental leader, Dr. Goldemberg's achievements include introducing the Brazilian Energy Initiative, which called for 10 percent renewable energy worldwide by 2010, and co-authoring one of the first papers on the energy life-cycle analysis of sugarcane ethanol. He also coined the idea of technology leapfrogging in economic development. This year also saw the introduction of the Global High School Prize category, launched to recognise and encourage young people to incorporate renewable energy and sustainability into their schools. Schools from four regions were honoured with US$100,000 each as funding for their proposed sustainability projects. Representing the Americas region, Secundaria Tecnica 120 School from Cuernavaca, Mexico was selected for its project to upgrade the school's water, power and heating supply to use renewable sources, including a biogas digester and solar panels. From Europe, Okehampton College, in the United Kingdom, was honoured for its plan to become energy independent by installing two wind turbines and a biomass heating unit. From Tanzania, Africa, Kirya Secondary School was chosen for its project involving wind, solar and biogas plants and sustainable learning centres. Lastly, from the Asian region, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Bangladesh Islamia School, based in Abu Dhabi, UAE, was selected for its project to become carbon neutral through efficient cooling systems, solar panels and solar batteries. The awards ceremony culminated a year-long, four-stage evaluation process. Nominations for the Zayed Future Energy Prize were launched in January 2012 through a globally targeted campaign. In July, at the close of nominations, a record 579 entries from 88 countries had been received, marking a 36 per cent increase over last year. - Emirates News Agency, WAM