Amitabha Sadangi, CEO of IDEI awarded US$ 350,000 as Runners Up for Zayed Future Energy Prize 2010 by His Highness General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

The Zayed Future Energy Prize was created in honour of the legacy of the late Ruler of Abu Dhabi and Founding Father of the United Arab Emirates, HH Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. The Zayed Future Energy Prize aims to inspire the next generation of global energy innovators, creating solutions for the future. The Zayed Future Energy Prize is awarded annually to up to three individuals, companies, organisations and/or NGOs that have made significant contributions in the global response to the future of energy, climate change and sustainability.

IDEI was selected for its successful deployment of low-cost irrigation technology to farmers in India. The technology has been designed for small-scale farmers, rather than commercial entities, with over one million smallholders in India having invested in the energy-saving systems to date. This has resulted in over 500 million litres of diesel being saved, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 1.8 million tonnes.