This year’s Zayed Future Energy Prize for the Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) category was awarded to Kopernik, an Indonesia-based organisation. The award-giving ceremony was held in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates on Monday, 18 January 2016, during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
The Zayed Future Energy Prize was established in 2008 to honour individuals, companies, non-profits, and schools from all over the world that bring contributions and innovations in renewable energy and sustainability. The prize was established in honour of the founding father of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.
Kopernik is a non-profit organisation that connects clean energy technologies such as solar lights, solar home systems, clean cookstoves, and water filters with last mile communities to reduce poverty. Since 2010, Kopernik has distributed more than 65,000 units of clean energy technologies, reaching over 320,000 people.
Kopernik is also empowering Indonesian women to become micro-social entrepreneurs through its Wonder Women Initiative. Women in remote areas sell simple, clean energy technologies in their communities, boosting their income and expanding access to these technologies.
The non-profit organisation received a US$1.5 million prize. Ewa Wojkowska, Kopernik’s Co-founder and Chief Operating Officer (COO) said that the prize will enable Kopernik to scale its operations. “We are so honoured to receive the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Winning the prize means that we can transform the lives of a million people by providing access to simple, yet life-changing clean energy technologies.” Kopernik is the first Indonesian organisation to receive this prestigious Prize.
Other three finalists who were competing in the NPO category are SNV World, Solar Aid, and Rural Services Foundation. Finalists were chosen for their innovation, impact, leadership and long-term vision in expanding access to reliable and affordable modern energy services.
Besides the non-profit category, the Zayed Future Energy Prize were also awarded to individual (Lifetime Achievement), large corporation, small and medium enterprise (SME), and global high schools.
Click through this link to watch the splendid, Academy-awards like, award giving ceremony.
Submissions for the next cycle of the prize are now open
