In a bid to raise awareness on the scope and global stature of the Zayed Future Energy Prize in Asia and invite a stronger participation for the 2013 edition of the awards, Dr Nawal Al-Hosany, Director, Zayed Future Energy Prize, met with leading industry leaders and global corporations in Japan during a recent visit to Tokyo.

The visit was part on an ongoing outreach campaign undertaken by the Prize administration to ensure that the Prize reaches as many regions as possible in the lead up to close of submissions on July 16, 2012.

Over the past 4 months, the Zayed Future Energy Prize has been actively engaging in platforms around the world to better reach possible entrants and establish relationships with key stakeholders including the International Water Forum in Marseilles, the Clean Energy Ministerial meeting in the UK, and the Energy Innovation Summit in Washington, DC.

An outcome of a partnership between the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan (IEEJ), Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s multifaceted renewable energy company, and the Zayed Future Energy Prize, Dr Al-Hosany’s visit to Japan helped articulate the Prize’s objective to extend participation opportunities to a larger number of countries and organizations worldwide. During the discussions that took place at the IEEJ headquarters, Dr Al-Hosany delivered a presentation on the Prize and its categories to an elite audience comprising top-tier Japanese organizations.

Asia is poised to play a major role in contributing to the global target of increasing the use of renewable energy from 10 per cent in 2008 to 15 per cent in 2035.

On a more country-focused scale, Japan has been demonstrating a strong commitment to renewable energy. Initiatives taken in this direction include the recent passing of a Bill to promote investment in solar and other renewable energy sources, as well as steps to ease rules for the construction of geothermal, wind and hydraulic power plants. Furthermore, Japan also introduced a feed-in-tariff system in 2012, which is anticipated to spur investment into the renewable energy sector.

“The Zayed Future Energy Prize fully understands the impact of actively and directly engaging with its stakeholders around the world. This is an engagement Prize that promotes dialogue and open discussions and encourages innovators from around the world,” she said.

“Taking into consideration the newly launched Global High School Prize, it was imperative that we conduct these outreach activities throughout the year, which have already yielded results and are reflected in this year’s submissions.”

For 2013, the Zayed Future Energy Prize has expanded its categories to include separate awards for an NGO, SME, Lifetime Achievement and Large Corporation. On January 15, 2013, the Prize will also award the first Global High School Prize to five high schools from five different geographic regions including the Americas, Europe, Africa, Asia and Oceania.

During her trip to Japan, Dr A-Hosany also paid a visit to the headquarters of the Toyota Motor Corporation, toured their museum, plant and Ecoful town. Other visits to Japanese large corporations took place including a tour of Toshiba and Panasonic.

Dr Al-Hosany also toured the Japan Private High School Federation and held a dinner for interns to Japan of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology.

In 2013 the Zayed Future Energy Prize is set to give away a total prize fund of US$4 million. Submissions for the awards opened on March 5, 2012. Following close of submissions on the 16th July, the entries will be reviewed by the Prize’s research and analyses partners followed by the Review and the Selection Committees rigorous evaluations. The winners will be chosen by the Zayed Future Energy Prize esteemed Jury members on 17October 2013. However, the results will only be announced at the Awards ceremony on 15 January 2013
The Jury of the Zayed Future Energy Prize is comprised of Chairman of the Jury, HE Olafur Ragnar Grímsson, President of Icelandas well as Dr. Han Seung-soo, Former Prime Minister of Korea, Mr. Adnan Amin, Director General of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), HE Elizabeth Dipuo Peters, Minister of Energy for South Africa, Mohammad Nasheed, Former President of the Republic of the Maldives, HE Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of Masdar, Dr. Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Leonardo DiCaprio, award winning actor and environmental activist.

For more information on the Zayed Future Energy Prize, please visit: www.ZayedFutureEnergyPrize.com

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