The first annual Zayed Future Energy Prize was awarded on Monday by Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to Dipal Chandra Barua, founding managing director of Grameen Shakti for his visionary efforts to bring renewable energy solutions to the rural population of Bangladesh. Zayed Future Energy Prize finalist, Dr. Martin Green, was also recognized at the award ceremony for his groundbreaking research in photovoltaic (PV) technology that will result in increased efficiencies, bringing solar energy closer to grid parity. The Prize was launched in January 2008 at the inaugural World Future Energy Summit to honor the legacy of environmental stewardship of the UAE's late ruler and founding father, Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Barua and Green will receive $1.5 million and $350,000, respectively, to accelerate the development of their innovations. Barua's organization, Grameen Shakti (GS), has installed more than 200,000 solar PV systems that currently provide power for more than two million rural people. Under Barua's leadership, GS has developed a number of other innovative initiatives, including a biogas technology that converts cow and poultry waste into gas for cooking, lighting and fertilizer. GS has installed more than 6,000 biogas plants and plans to construct 500,000 more by 2012. In addition, GS has trained rural women to be solar technicians hereby enabling green entrepreneurs through a highly successful micro-credit program. “It is a great honor to receive this recognition inspired by the vision of HH the late Sheikh Zayed,” said Barua. “I consider myself a global Ambassador of the Prize, and would like to carry forward the message of environmental sensitivity that is being championed by the leadership of Abu Dhabi.” “We share this award with the rural people of Bangladesh who have demonstrated incredible ambition and innovation in adopting clean, renewable technologies to solve their daily energy challenges in the rural areas,” he added. Green is a leading researcher in the field of PV. He is currently developing “third-generation” solar cells that will help decrease costs to less than $0.50/W, to potentially $0.20/W or better, which will drastically increase the economic viability of this technology. “I firmly believe that many of our future energy needs can be addressed by photovoltaic technology,” said Green. __
