Schneider Electric, the global specialist in energy management, was recognised, on January 17, at the Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP 2012) in the category of Large Corporations for leading efforts in renewable energy and sustainability. General Sheikh Mohamad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, presented the award to Jean-Pascal Tricoire, President and CEO, Schneider Electric.
The fourth edition of the Prize was hosted on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES 2012) at the Emirates Palace Hotel, in Abu Dhabi. ZFEP also rewarded winners in the categories of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and Lifetime Achievement awards for individuals who received a total prize fund of US$4 million which includes a $500,000 prize that will be awarded to High Schools in 2013.
Speaking on the occasion, Jean-Pascal Tricoire said: “We are delighted on winning the ZFEP Award for Large Corporations. This award is a testimony to our commitment to sustainable development and reaffirms that we are moving in the right direction. We hope to continue leading the effort in resolving the global energy challenge with innovative and efficient solutions that curb energy waste, promote clean generation and influence consumption habits that respect and help resuscitate the environment.”
Schneider Electric was recognized for its work on clean-tech projects, which transcended beyond the companys core business. Such initiatives include BipBop, the companys pioneering corporate social responsibility (CSR) program that is based on Business, Innovation, and People at the Base of the Pyramid and aims to develop access to reliable, affordable and clean energy for poor countries with limited or no access to electricity.
While the company is not subject to CO2 quotas, Schneider Electric publicly reports its CO2 performance through the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP). For the CDP program, the company focuses on three sources of emissions: energy consumption at corporate sites, reduction of SF6 gas, and efficient freight control. Schneider Electric also offers industry-leading solutions such as EcoStruxure, which optimizes energy management by combining electrical distribution, critical power and cooling services, automation and industrial as well as building control systems. Schneider Electric has additionally contributed to the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica station – a zero emission scientific research station.
Members of the jury panel of the Zayed Future Energy Prize present at the ceremony included His Excellency Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland; Ahmed Al Sayegh, Chairman of Masdar; Cherie Blair, Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation, and Timothy Wirth, President of the United Nations Foundation and the Better World Fund. Panelists who were unable to attend included actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio, Tennis Grand Slam champion and education advocate Andre Agassi, and Dr Susan Hockfield, President of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).