Zayed Future Energy Prize impacts the lives of more than 150 million people around the world

Over the past seven years, the Zayed Future Energy Prize has rewarded 39 innovators, awarded more than US$22 million in prize money and positively affected millions of lives in communities across the world.

Submissions and nominations are open for the 2016 Zayed Future Energy Prize. The Prize, an annual US$4 million award, recognises individuals, organisations and schools for advancing solutions that will meet the challenges of climate change, energy security and the environment.

Last year saw a Kenyan based company, M-KOPA Solar, win the overall SME category. Jesse Moore, managing director and co-founder of M-KOPA Solar says, “We were honoured to win the Zayed Future Energy Prize. The prize brings global attention to M-KOPA Solar's business model, which has brought clean, affordable solar power to 150,000 homes in East Africa in less than three years. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JDRww5KGw4)

Leading the call for submissions, His Excellency Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, director-general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize said, “Innovation is a driving force for change – we need clean energy innovators to find sustainable solutions to the pressing global challenges facing the world today. The Zayed Future Energy Prize recognises leaders, inventors, entrepreneurs and students who strive for change and rewards them for their achievements.

“In seven years the Prize and its ambassadors have positively impacted the lives of more than150 million people around the world,” said Dr. Al Jaber.

During this time, winners and finalists of the Zayed Future Energy Prize have generated 190,000 MWh from renewables, reducing 800 million tonnes of carbon emissions, providing safe drinking water to 6 million people and introduced 350,000 people to sustainable solutions and management best practices.

Africa is emerging as one of the most exciting spaces in this arena, and 2013 saw Nkhata Bay School Authority in Malawi being awarded US$100,000 for their proposal to create a solar demonstration and training centre. This programme now educates both the students and the community in the use of sustainable power and it is a bold and much-needed project for a country that is one of the least electrified in southern Africa.

Organisations, individuals and schools can visit the Zayed Future Energy website: www.ZayedFutureEnergyPrize.com for more information on how to submit for the 2016 awards or nominate candidates for the lifetime achievement category.