Abu Dhabi: The Zayed Future Energy Prize, which has established itself as a leading international marker for demonstrated renewable energy and sustainability solutions, closed its submissions process on July 16 after receiving a record 579 submissions.

Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar and director general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, said: “We are especially pleased about the quality of submissions for the prize in 2012 which have continued to evolve with every passing year due to the unwavering efforts of our alumni, committee members and our various stakeholders.”

The total number of submissions represents an increase of 36 per cent over last year and 386 per cent over 2009, the year the awards were instituted.

Submissions and nominations for the honour were received from all over the world including Southeast Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, Europe, North America, Central America and the Caribbean, South America, Sub-Saharan Africa as well as Australia and Oceania.

The Zayed Future Energy Prize seeks to honour and continue the legacy of environmental sustainability bequeathed by the UAE’s founding father Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan by rewarding demonstrated solutions that address the global challenges of climate change, energy security, energy access, and economic development.

The citations also aim to foster a community that encourages sustainable energy innovation among current and future generations primarily through the Global High Schools Prize, which was launched last year.

“With the initiation of the Global High Schools Prize and the substantial positive feedback we have received on the new category, the prize is well under way towards recognising achievements in sustainable energy and becoming a catalyst for innovation in sustainability,” Al Jaber said.

The awards ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of the Zayed Future Energy Prize on January 15 next year will be held to coincide with the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (January 13-17).

Awards will be presented in five categories: Large Corporation, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME), Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Lifetime Achievement Award (given to an individual) and the Global High Schools Prize (citations for up to five high schools from five regions worldwide).

Al Jaber added: “We are currently working with our research and analysis partners to identify the candidates that will be passed on to the review committee, which is scheduled to deliberate from September 9-10, 2012.”

Evaluation of candidates

The evaluation of candidates will be of based on four stages which commence with Bloomberg New Energy Finance conducting due diligence on all submissions to ensure that they meet the basic criteria of the prize to advance renewable energy and sustainability through innovation, impact, leadership, and long-term vision.

The second stage will involve a revision by the review committee which brings together national and international energy and industry experts and faculty members from several educational institutes in the UAE to assess the candidate submissions in greater detail and select the leading candidates for further evaluation.

The third stage of the evaluation will be based on selection of the top finalists by the selection committee comprising high-level energy and industry experts.

The fourth stage will see winners of the Zayed Future Energy Prize being declared by jury members who are distinguished world leaders and drivers of thought from around the world.