Zayed Sustainability Prize

Introduction

The Zayed Sustainability Prize ‘Ecothon’ is searching for concrete solutions to address and try to tackle the challenge of energy storage within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Participants should propose viable solutions that leverage creative thinking, innovation, and new approaches to tackling the issue on hand.

The suggested impact of the solution (s) and their likelihood for success will be evaluated by a panel of judges who are subject-matter experts on the proposed topic.

The Challenge

Increasing energy storage capacity in the MENA region to contribute to greater climate action & self-sufficiency

Solar and wind installations continue to break new records around the world every year with many countries developing ambitious plans for the accelerated incorporation of renewable power-generation technologies that can be effectively integrated into the grid, and subsequently, contribute to greater climate action.

Electricity storage, which is the capture of energy produced at one time for use at a later time to reduce imbalances between energy demand and production, is one of the key options available to manage variability and ensure reliable, round-the-clock supply, according to major global industry players. Declining costs and improving capacity have made batteries and other storage technologies increasingly practical for upgrading existing power systems.

In the short term, battery storage can aid the transition from diesel-based generator sets to renewable options for isolated systems, such as on islands or in remote areas. For larger systems, pumped-storage hydropower supports the integration of variable renewables. In the longer term, the coupling of storage technologies to rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) panels or wind turbines could revolutionise electricity production, facilitating localised power supply and challenging utilities’ existing revenue and grid-management models.

In the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), renewable energy usage has grown significantly over the past four years, with the last 12 months showing even more notable growth, according to the 2021 MENA Solar and Renewable Energy Report. This trend will continue to increase as solar power prices reach grid parity and with many countries in MENA looking to energy storage for their future power needs.

However, energy storage remains a barrier to the ability of the sector to flourish due to the following reasons:

The cost of producing batteries for energy storage is very high
The current commercially available batteries have a limited lifespan
The current process of battery manufacturing requires chemicals and processes that pose a danger to both humans and the environment

How to Submit

Please email your submission in one of the formats listed below to info@zayedsustainabilityprize.com

Submissions Format

All submissions must be made in English and other languages will be not be accepted
In addition to the submission materials, the email should contain the following information:
- • Full Name of Project Lead, Date of Birth and Phone Number
- • Full Name of 1-2 Project Members and their Dates of Birth
- • Full Name of Adult Guardian (if applicable), their Email Address, Contact Number and Date of Birth
Participants can submit their proposed ideas/solutions in one of the following forms:
- • Word document (word count should not exceed 500 words)
- • PowerPoint Presentation (should not exceed 5 slides)
- • Pre-recorded video (maximum of 5 minutes, file: mp4 or mov file)

Awarding & Benefits

The winning group will be awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to attend Expo 2020 Dubai for a weekend trip.

Conditions & Criteria

Any application to the Zayed Sustainability Prize Ecothon – Challenge Call will be reviewed against the conditions and criteria described below. Projects that fail to meet the conditions and criteria will be automatically disqualified.

Status of the Applicants

The group of youth applicants must be within the identified age range of 15 to 24 and comprised of groups of two to three individuals
The awards and benefits of this Ecothon Challenge are non-material as stipulated in the overview and does not include any financial benefits or compensation, under any circumstances
The identified groups of youth may apply once and multiple applications will not be accepted
Applicants must adhere to all guidelines provided for their application including deadlines, format of documents and inquiry process
The prize needs to be taken before end of EXPO in March 2022 and no alternative prize will be provided.

Documentation

Finalists will be requested to share their passport copies and IDs for logistical purposes
Teams containing any members who are under the age of 18 would need to be accompanied by an additional adult who will act as a guardian and be responsible for the member(s) under the age of 18 at all times during their prize-winning visit to Dubai

Project Eligibility Criteria

As outlined in the overview and any project that does not follow the set methodology will be rejected

Selection and Prioritisation Criteria

The evaluation will be conducted by a judging panel
It will be carried out on the basis of administrative eligibility and technical suitability

Other

Participants in the Ecothon will be expected to appear in potential written and recorded content that support the Challenge’s marketing communications activities to promote and create awareness globally. This might include newspapers, magazines, and the Zayed Sustainability Prize’s formal social media platforms.
By applying to the Ecothon, participants are agreeing to be recorded for the purposes listed above.

FAQs

Where can I apply for the Ecothon Challenge?

You can apply by sending an email with your submission to info@zayedsustainabilityprize.com For more information, including conditions and criteria, please visit www.zayedsustainabilityprize.com/ecothon.

Which countries are eligible?

The Challenge is open to all countries within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

Can individuals apply?

No. The Challenge is open to groups of 2-3 youth between the ages of 15-24 only.

Can small and medium enterprises or non-profit organisations involved in clean energy apply, similar to the Zayed Sustainability Prize itself?

No. The Ecothon Challenge is a short-term initiative in nature, and exclusively open to eligible groups of youth.

Do I need to have background on the Zayed Sustainability Prize and its work to be able to compete/participate?

No. We request participants to think independently and creatively about the proposed subject matter.

Is there flexibility on the deadline provided?

All applicants must operate based on the given deadline to avoid disqualification and any changes will be communicated to all applicants directly and ahead of time.

Do I need to have a UAE visa to apply?

The Prize will support winners in applying for a visa to the UAE. However, the Prize does not guarantee that a visa will be approved for winners as visa acceptance is subject to UAE Government rules and regulations.

Will I need to pay for my travel and accommodation if I win?

No. The Prize will cover all reasonable costs and logistics related to members of the winning team (including, where applicable, one guardian adult for winning groups under the age of 18) including economy-class travel, hotel accommodation in Dubai and entry to ExpoDubai2020 event.