A total of 30 regional organisations have made it to the final list of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, an annual award given by the UAE government to celebrate achievements that reflect impact, innovation, long term vision and leadership in renewable energy and sustainability.

The finalists were selected from a record number of 1,678 entries to the current edition this year.

International energy, sustainability and education experts met in Abu Dhabi on Wednesday and Thursday at the third in a four-stage evaluation process to pick the finalists of the ninth cycle of the Zayed Future Energy Prize from a record number of 1,678 entries this year.

The finalists will be scrutinised by the jury on October 23, and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the opening of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week in January.

The finalists in the Small and Medium Enterprise category are silicon wafer manufacturer 1366 Technologies and energy storage firms, sonnen and 24M.

These three are representative of two intertwined growth markets in the industry: solar photovoltaics and battery storage technology.  

In the Non-Profit Organisation category, We Care Solar, Practical Action and Solar Sister, organisations that aim to alleviate energy poverty and empower women in developing countries, were successful.

In the remaining categories, there are three finalists in the Large Corporation category and six individuals, renowned for their achievements in the renewable energy industry or for advancing the field of sustainability, in the Lifetime Achievement category.

Moreover, 15 schools from across five world-regions (Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania) have been selected as finalists in the Global High Schools category.

On the final list, Dr Nawal Al Hosany, the director of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, said: "The UAE is at the fore-front of the international dialogue on sustainable development, and through initiatives like the Zayed Future Energy Prize, our leadership demonstrates the ambitious and collaborative approach needed to confront our future challenges."

“The prize continues to further the legacy of our nation’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, by empowering individuals and organisations across the world that strive for a sustainable future for all. The fact that this was a record-breaking year for the prize, in terms of entries, underlines the growing global momentum behind achieving a sustainable energy future,” he stated.

The prize annually convenes its selection and global high schools committees, where members examine entries over two-days before agreeing on a shortlist of finalists that are deliberated on by the jury, said Al Hosany.

The second stage of this critically important evaluation process, the Review Committee, met earlier this month.

Speaking after the selection committee meeting, chair Dr Behjat Al Yousuf, Provost, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, said: "The quality of entries continues to increase, which makes it more challenging for us to choose the best ones. But this is a challenge we embrace, as it demonstrates the strength of the Zayed Future Energy Prize and the relevance of its focus on renewable energy and sustainability."

"The finalists this year are among the most innovative we have seen. Come January, we look forward to seeing the winners deliver real and lasting change to the world through their achievements," he stated.

The finalists in the Global High Schools category are:
*Mfantsipim School (Ghana, Africa)
*St. Mary’s Sosio Girls Secondary School (Kenya, Africa)
*Starehe Girls Centre and School (Kenya, Africa)
*Green School Bali (Yayasan Kul-Kul) (Indonesia, Asia)
*British International School Riyadh (Saudi Arabia, Asia)
*Hankuk Academy of Foreign Studies (South Korea, Asia)
*Escuela Secundaria Tecnica 67 Francisco Díaz de León (Mexico, Americas)
*Unidad Educativa Sagrado Corazón 4 (Bolivia, Americas)
*Public School Dimas Mozart e Silva (Brazil, Americas)
*Belvedere College (Ireland, Europe)
*Instituto Politécnico Escuelas San José (Spain, Europe)
*Institut Educació Secundària Cotes Baixes (Spain, Europe)
*Sangam Sadhu Kuppuswamy Memorial College (Fiji, Oceania)
*Aana College 2 (Samoa, Oceania)
*Huonville High School (Australia, Oceania)

The chair of the Global High Schools Committee, Dr Abdulla Ismail Alzarouni, assistant to the president, Rochester Institute of Technology Dubai, said: "The establishment of the Global High Schools category in 2012 was a significant moment for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, not only did it underline the prize’s commitment to the Sustainable Energy for All agenda but also provided a platform to encourage young people to become leaders for the future of sustainable development."

"What is truly inspiring is that each year we are seeing tremendous growth in the number and standard of proposals in this category, which makes choosing the finalists extremely difficult," he added.

In total, more than 10,000 submissions and nominations have been made to the Zayed Future Energy Prize over its nine cycles.

Launched in 2008, the Zayed Future Energy Prize honours the legacy of Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the founding father of the UAE, and his passion for environmental sustainability. Through its five categories, the international awards celebrate the pursuit of a sustainable energy future.-TradeArabia News Service