Zayed Future Energy Prize!! With India leading the pack, emerging market nations formed the largest share of submissions for UAE’s annual Zayed Future Energy Prize, the USD 4 million- award for innovative contributions to the future of energy and sustainable development. The prize received the highest combined number of 1,437 submissions and nominations in its eight-year history when entries to the 2016 awards closed on June 30. Led by India (67) and China (41), submissions from the Asia region rose 50 percent over last year to 186.

A total of 888 submissions to the Large Corporation, Small and Medium Enterprise, Non-Profit Organisation and Global High Schools categories and 549 nominations for the Lifetime Achievement award were received from 97 countries worldwide. The previous record was set in July 2014, when the 2015 prize registered 1,111 entries.

The global distribution of 2016 prize entries reflects rising investment in renewable energy in developing economies. In 2014, China increased its share of USD 270.2 billion global renewable energy investment to 31 percent. India saw a 14 percent annual rise in investment to USD 7.4 billion, while Brazil increased its share from 2 to 3 percent.
India saw a 14 percent annual rise in investment to USD 7.4 billion, while Brazil increased its share from 2 to 3 percent. The prize now embarks on the four-stage evaluation process that begins with due diligence by a research and analysis firm and culminates in a meeting of the prize jury to select the winner in each category. The winners of the 2016 Zayed Future Energy Prize will be announced at the annual awards ceremony in Abu Dhabi on January 18 next year during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE minister of state and director general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, said the prize is contributing to a cleaner, more sustainable energy future and has already touched the lives of more than 150 million people.