Professor Menny Shalom from Ben Gurion University of the Negev has been awarded a $330,000 Climate Solutions Prize for his pioneering work on Rechargeable Zinc Air Batteries. Known for their exceptional energy efficiency and durability, Shalom's batteries aim to provide an alternative technology in the post-lithium-ion era.
The accolade is part of the $1 million 2023 Breakthrough Climate Solutions Prize, a collaborative effort by JNF-Canada and KKL-JNF, recognizing outstanding Israeli research projects dedicated to addressing the climate crisis.
In the words of Dr. Doron Markel, Chief Scientist of KKL-JNF, who led the selection process, “The winners of the Breakthrough Climate Solutions Research Prize have the potential to significantly impact the reduction of carbon concentration in the atmosphere either by enhancing the shift to renewable energies – hence reducing greenhouse gas emissions – or by carbon fixation – either through natural process or artificial one.”
Other winners of the 2023 Breakthrough Research Prize include Prof. Shanny Barath & Prof. Yechezkel Kashin from Technion, honored for their work on CyanoCementation, an eco-friendly technique that enhances building structures' durability while absorbing greenhouse gases. Prof. Brian Rosen from Tel Aviv University was recognized for his project on green ammonia as a sustainable, emission-free energy alternative.
Galith Levy, Chief Climate Solutions Prize Officer at the Jewish National Fund of Canada, stressed the significance of the prize in solidifying Israel's global leadership in climate change efforts. She stated, “The Breakthrough Climate Solutions Prize will help galvanize and solidify Israel's global leadership while working to alleviate the significant impacts of climate change which directly disrupt lives and the national security interests of countries.” Levy added that Israel's more than 850 climate change startups position the nation as a valuable contributor to the global conversation on climate action.
