Google wins Zayed Future Energy Prize

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, presented the Large Corporation award of the 2018 Zayed Future Energy Prize to Google at an awards ceremony during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. 

Google was awarded for its leadership in implementing renewable energy projects and reducing carbon emissions. The company powers all of its data centres and offices from renewable energy, while the company is the largest overall purchaser of renewable energy globally. 

Joe Kava, VP for Global Data Centers of Google, said: "Receiving the Zayed Future Energy Prize is a greater honour because sustainability is part of everything we do. We approach sustainability as we would any other challenge - with a healthy disregard for the impossible in creating technology that improves as many lives as possible." 

"By winning the Zayed Future Energy Prize, we hope to inspire other organisations to join us in finding innovative ways to practise sustainability," Kava added. 

Google has invested US$2.5 billion in large-scale renewable energy projects since 2010, totalling 3.7GW in capacity. Google's expertise in data analysis and digital innovation led to the development of the world's leading "'smart" thermostat through its subsidiary Nest, and the utilisation of machine learning to optimise the integration of renewables in electricity grids. 

Google also pioneered Project Sunroof, an online tool that encourages homeowners to adopt solar energy. Project Sunroof has mapped over 43 million rooftops and has been accessed by 2 million users to date. 

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany, Director of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, said: "We would like to congratulate Google for winning the Zayed Future Energy Prize. As one of the world's largest and best-known companies, Google is a brand that continues to push the boundaries for innovation. In recent years, it has set a benchmark for the private sector, with its application of renewable energy and energy efficiency, investment in clean technology, and sustainability awareness efforts." 

"Google is a worthy recipient of the Zayed Future Energy Prize as we celebrate the 10th anniversary of this prestigious award," Dr Al-Hosany added. 

Out of 66 winners since 2008, Google is the sixth Zayed Future Energy Prize winner from the US; General Electric was named Large Corporation winner last year. Other US winners have included 

Lifetime Achievement Award winner Dr Ashok Gadgil, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Director of the Environmental Energy Technologies Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in 2012; solar lamp manufacturer d.light in the Small & Medium Enterprise category; and environmental advocacy group Ceres in the Non-Profit Organisation category. 

Former US Vice President Al Gore received the Zayed Future Energy Prize's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015. 

The Zayed Future Energy Prize, the world's preeminent sustainability and renewable energy award, recognises outstanding businesses, non-profit organisations, schools and individuals. This year, the 10th edition of the prize's awards ceremony, also marks the Year of Zayed, commemorating the centenary of the birth of the United Arab Emirates' founder, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. 

Established by the UAE leadership in 2008, the US$4 million Zayed Future Energy Prize has positively impacted the lives of an estimated 307 million people through the projects and activities of its winners. The prize received a record 2,296 entries in its latest awards cycle. 

Zayed Future Energy Prize | www.zayedfutureenergyprize.com