The Zayed Future Energy Prize announced on Wednesday that it is now open for nominations. Nominations will be accepted online at www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com. Earlier this year, the inaugural winner was recognized, Dipal Barua, managing director of Grameen Shakti, for his innovative approach to scaling renewable energy for two million residents of rural Bangladesh. The winner of the 2009 award will be announced at an event on January 19, 2010 at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi. The Zayed Future Energy Prize was launched in January 2008 at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi to honour the legacy of the UAE's late President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Zayed Future Energy Prize recognizes individuals, companies or organizations that have demonstrated innovation and leadership in their contributions to the global need for future energy solutions. The call for nominations comes as the Zayed Future Energy Prize released the findings of a survey on the future of energy. The survey, which polled attendees of the World Future Energy Summit, suggests that solar technology and energy efficient buildings are some of the challenges that most need innovation and further research and development and that governments and small businesses have the biggest role to play in advancing the adoption of solutions. “There is no question that innovative engineering and dedicated research and development of promising technologies will bring us closer to realizing future energy solutions. The Zayed Future Energy Prize is a distinctive honor that can bring many emerging solutions to light and help expand their adoption; the next generation of leaders must take an active role in solving our global energy challenges,” said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, director general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize. “Since a change in the mix of different sources of energy supply is essential and urgent, innovation in this field would be critical for bringing about a transition to a truly renewable energy future,” said Dr. R.K. Pachauri, chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and Chairman of the jury for the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Once a candidate is nominated, he or she will be invited to submit their credentials starting June 9, 2009. All nominations and submissions for consideration will be open until Oct. 16, 2009. For nomination, visit www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com. __
