By Adnan Z. Amin In 2011, while the cost of renewable energy technologies continued to fall, global total investment reached a record $257 billion, and global renewable power capacity exceeded 1,360 GW. With these investments, renewable energy has moved from a niche, environmentally driven option into an economically viable solution to meet the growing energy demand of a rapidly growing global population. Many nations are currently making critical decisions on how to supply their populations soaring demand for energy. For some, this involves expanding their existing infrastructure, whereas for others it…

By Eswar Mani Over the course of September 9th and 10th, the members of the Zayed Future Energy Prize Review Committee were faced with the daunting task of shortlisting the top 50 candidates for the 2013 Zayed Future Energy Prize out of a record 579 entries.  While this was my third year judging for the prize, it was by far the most challenging process, given the overall increase in quantity and quality of the applications.  Furthermore, in addition to the four categories of Large Corporations, Small/Medium Enterprises, Non-Profit Organizations and Lifetime Achievements,…

By Bader Al Lamki India’s recent power grid failure that left more than 600 million people – nearly 10 percent of the world’s population – without electricity and important services like running water, air-conditioning, traffic lights and the internet provided several important reminders. Yes, some of the reminders were stark doses of reality, most notably that India’s electrical grid and infrastructure is in need of vast improvements if the country’s ever-growing middleclass populations can expect regular, reliable power. But the massive blackouts also provided an encouraging reminder: that off-grid renewable…

by Ameera Horriyat Involved in the fight against energy poverty? If so, then the United Arab Emirates has a surprise for you! The UAE has positioned itself as a leading pioneer in the fight against energy poverty through its clean energy commitments. The country’s aim is to help economies accelerate their own transition to clean energy solutions by empowering the private sector through the Zayed Future Energy Prize. The Zayed Future Energy Prize honors the legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, who was always keen on…

Admiration at Zayed Future Energy Prize Winner and Finalists.

The Zayed Future Energy Prize represents the vision of His Highness, the late Founding Father and President of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan, who championed environmental stewardship.  This annual award celebrates achievements that reflect innovation, long-term vision and leadership in renewable energy and sustainability.  We invite you to be a part of this vision and our commitment to finding solutions that will meet the challenges of climate change, energy security and the environment. You are welcome to nominate a candidate, either an individual or an…