https://arab.news/4crfd
RIYADH: The Austrian Embassy on Wednesday honored the winner of the Energy Globe Award Saudi Arabia 2021 at a business circle event titled “Green Tech Austria” organized by its commercial section, Advantage Austria, on Wednesday.
The award has been given annually since 2000 to showcase solutions that will protect the environment while promoting harmonious and productive cooperation between the business community and consumers.
Along with Advantage Austria, the Energy Globe Award is sponsored by the UNIDO, the Global Chamber Platform, Austria’s Federal Ministry for Climate Action, Environment, Energy, Mobility, Innovation and Technology, Amiblu and the Club of Rome.
Dr. Muhammad Wakil Shahzad, a research consultant at the water desalination and reuse center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, won this year’s Energy Globe Award in Saudi Arabia, for implementing a sustainable and outstanding project.
He was congratulated for his project that developed a “24/7 solar operated innovative desalination cycle for future sustainability.”
Shahzad, who is also a senior lecturer at Northumbria University, in Britain, told Arab News: “I won the Energy Globe Award in 2019 based on our innovative hybrid MEDAD cycle performance. I am deeply pleased and honored to receive this prestigious award again in 2021. It doesn’t matter how many times you win an award, it is always very special. I would like to thank Prof. Kim Choon Ng and other team members for this award. I also would like to thank KAUST and Northumbria University for their research support.”
He said that the proposed 24/7 solar operated innovative hybrid desalination cycle is a practical and feasible solution for future sustainability. It stores and utilizes solar heat for round-the-clock operation, minimizing carbon and marine pollution.
Christoph Pfeifer, Austrian commercial counsellor, told Arab News: “I am very happy to see this sustainable initiative and outstanding project coming from Saudi Arabia and congratulate Shahzad as this year’s national winner.” He added: “Additionally, it makes me proud that the Austrian Green Tech company HEI Technology International was presenting their innovative solutions related to solar smart lightning poles and talking about their activities in Saudi Arabia at the event.”