This is the second year that Masdar has hosted Green Prophet at the World Future Energy Summit (WFES). Last year we visited Shams I, the world’s largest CSP plant, more state-of-the art green buildings at Masdar City, and we saw an Estidama green villa prototype.

Read on to find out what is on this year’s agenda.

This is the 7th year that Masdar has hosted WFES in Abu Dhabi. Last year, a record 30,000 people from 155 countries attended what has become known as one of the most influential gatherings of industry, policy and thought leaders.

In addition to the Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP) awards ceremony, which Jordan’s Queen Rania attended last year, and the second International Water Summit (IWS), a couple of new items have been added to this year’s program.

For the first time, Masdar is hosting EcoWASTE – a new regional platform designed to bring together local and international providers, buyers, and industry professionals from the waste management and recycling sector in order to support the burgeoning problem of waste disposal and recycling in the Middle East.

This is particularly interesting for us at Green Prophet, since we have observed how poor waste management in Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and elsewhere has wrought devastating social and environmental consequences.

The Zabaleen fill a gap in Cairo by recycling waste in Garbage City, but it isn’t certain that such a model can be implemented throughout the region or that it should be. So we are very excited to see and share what innovative ideas and waste management policies are in the pipeline.

This year we have also been invited to attend the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)’s General Assembly Meeting on Saadiyat Island. (With any luck, we will catch a glimpse of Louvre Abu Dhabi, which finally broke ground last year.)

In addition to presenting REMAP 2030, a program designed to increase the global renewable energy share to 30 percent by 2030 and achieve the United Nation’s goal to provide “Sustainable Energy for All,” IRENA will announce the first six recipients of loans from the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD).

The UAE has committed to spend up to $350 million on renewable energy projects in developing countries, a process that is moderated by IRENA.

The group, which is building its new headquarters at Masdar City, conducts a thorough selection and review process that ensures the funds will go to projects that have both technical and commercial merit and will have a substantial socio-economic impact. These projects are expected to be transformative, replicable and innovative.

After the meeting, we hope to compile an overview of IRENA’s selection process so that other innovators might be inspired to present their projects for future funding cycles.

We hope to pop into GE’s new Ecomagination Center and Siemens recently completed headquarters at Masdar City and meet with the next generation of renewable energy experts at the Green Career Fair.

Stay tuned as we bring daily reports from this year’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).

Lead image via WFES photo gallery

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Richard Branson’s recent commitment to this year’s Zayed Future Energy Prize jury speaks volumes not only about Abu Dhabi’s leadership in energy innovation, but also the faith world leaders place in the emirate’s (many) initiatives.

Leonardo DiCaprio has moved on from the ZFEP jury after serving for two years, Vesela Todorova from The National reports, and this year Richard Branson and Indian industrialist Ratan N Tata will take his place.

The President of Iceland, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, will continue to act as chair of the jury.

Every year since 2008, the Abu-Dhabi funded competition has recognized NGOs, small and medium businesses, large corporations and an individual who have made meaningful contributions to the pressing clean-energy conversation.

Last year for the first time, global high schools were invited to submit their projects for consideration, and this year, the number of global submissions in that category doubled – a good sign that the next generation is thinking hard to find solutions for their future on this imperiled planet.

“We believe we have come to a critical point, where encouraging, rewarding and awarding innovation in renewable energy through funding and investments is vital for the industry’s growth and success,” Dr Sultan Al Jaber, director general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize and chief executive of Abu Dhabi’s sustainable energy company Masdar, told The National.

Winners from each of the five categories divvy up $4 million in prize money, which is awarded in January at the now popular annual World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi.

Green Prophet attended the 2012 ceremony as part of a Masdar-funded media tour. You can learn more about last year’s winners and see photographs of the event here.

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