Masdar times issue 11 2.39 MB

TheMasdarTimes
TheMasdarTimes
Q4 2013 - Issue 11
Inside this issue:
Powering progress.......................................... 4
Man of action.................................................... 5
Milestone moments......................................... 6
Become an energy star with Etisalat............... 7
From polluter to protector.............................10
CCUS commercial-scale project
first for Middle East
Record ADNOC and Masdar joint venture ploughs US$122 million into state-of-the-art
sequestration project as the emirate demonstrates commitment to decarbonising its
economy.
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company
(ADNOC) and Masdar have signed a joint
venture agreement focused on exploring and
developing commercial-scale projects for
carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS).
This follows the recent joint awarding of a
US$122 million contract to the Dodsal Group
to build a CO2 compression facility and a
50-kilometre pipeline as the initial step in
bringing the region’s first commercial-scale,
CCUS facility to life.
Up to 800,000 tonnes of CO2 will be
sequestered annually with completion set for
the first quarter of 2016 under the Abu Dhabilocated joint venture, which is 51 per cent
owned by ADNOC and 49 per cent by Masdar.
Three core components will drive the
operation. The CO2 will be captured onsite at
the UAE’s largest steelmaker, Emirates Steel,
before it is compressed and transported
along the 50-kilometre long pipeline to
ADNOC-operated oil fields. The CO2 will then
be injected into the oil fields to enhance oil
recovery, making hydrocarbon gas available
while storing the injected CO2 underground.
generation. In 2009, ADNOC became the first
national oil company in the region to pilot CO2
injection in collaboration with Masdar.
“This joint venture is a major step forward
in demonstrating the commercial viability
of CCUS technology,” said His Excellency
Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar,
adding: “What makes [it] truly unique is
capturing anthropogenic CO2 – which would
otherwise be released into the atmosphere
–and injecting it into wells where it will be
sequestered. We hope this first project will
serve as a proof of concept and encourage
other hydrocarbon-rich nations to adopt
similar technologies to reduce their carbon
emissions.”
“The UAE is a responsible hydrocarbon
producer,” said His Excellency Abdulla
Nasser Al Suwaidi, Director General of
ADNOC. “We believe CCUS has tremendous
potential to both reduce our carbon footprint
and enhance our oil and gas production.
We are committed to finding and adopting
real-world solutions that have economic and
environmental returns.”
The UAE has traditionally used hydrocarbon
gases in some of the Abu Dhabi fields to
enhance oil production. However, with the
nation’s rise in energy demand, this CCUS
project will allow the UAE to preserve its
hydrocarbon gases for domestic power
The joint venture is the first phase of an
industrial-scale CCUS network planned
as part of Abu Dhabi’s commitment to
decarbonise its economy and create a lowcarbon power generation industry. It will
also collaborate with ADNOC’s Petroleum
Institute and the Masdar Institute of Science
and Technology in developing leading-edge
technologies to optimise CO2 management in
Abu Dhabi.
“This joint venture is a major step forward in demonstrating
the commercial viability of CCUS technology”
H.E. Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber
CEO of Masdar
Ambassador Highlights
Colombia’s Large
Untapped Hydro and Wind
Power Potential at Masdar
Institute Seminar
Colombia’s Total Hydropower Potential
Estimated at 93GW, Enough to Meet
National Demand Seven Times Over
Colombia has large untapped hydro and
wind power potential that can not only meet
its entire energy requirements but also
supply sustainable energy to many of its
neighbors in South and Central America,
according to His Excellency Roberto Vélez,
Ambassador of Colombia to the UAE.
His Excellency Roberto Vélez’s remarks
came during a lecture titled ‘Colombia
– a growing country and committed to
sustainability’ that was held at Masdar
Institute campus. The event was part
of the Masdar Institute Lecture Series
that specifically focuses on widening the
knowledge horizons of the students who
are set to become future leaders in clean
energy and advanced technologies. Several
students, faculty and staff as well as other
senior officials attended the lecture. Later,
the Colombian envoy was presented with a
Masdar Institute memento.
According to a World Bank study, 70% of
Colombia’s power generation is achieved
through hydropower. Even though
hydropower is the most popular power
source in the country, it remains largely
untapped. The total hydropower potential
within Colombia is estimated at 93GW,
enough to generate sufficient power to
meet the national demand seven times
over. The current hydropower usage totals
only 9GW. Colombia’s other power sources
include natural gas which provides 26%,
coal at 3%, and other/wind power at 1%.
His Excellency Roberto Vélez commended
Masdar Institute for its cutting-edge
research in sustainable clean energy and
advanced technology areas. He urged
the students and faculty to continue their
work and contribute to finding solutions to
humanity’s toughest challenges such as
climate change and energy security.
Printed on %100 recycled paper made with post consumer fibre.
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TheMasdarTimes
International cleantech news
CEO Message
2013 was a banner year for renewable
energy. The global solar and wind-power
sectors reaped double-digit growth and
are projected to continue an upward trend
though the decade. In fact, the IEA predicts
that by 2016, renewables will surpass
natural gas and become the world’s second
biggest source of electricity.
Even more telling is the fact that most of
the world’s investment in clean energy and
energy efficiency projects, totaling $254
billion in 2013, has come from the private
sector. And with improved efficiency – and
grid parity being achieved in more and more
countries – investments in the sector will
naturally continue.
The economic benefits of renewable energy
are promising, and Masdar has been a driver
to accelerate its adoption globally. In 2013,
Masdar’s projects added 750 MW of reliable,
renewable power to the world’s energy
portfolio.
In March, we proudly turned on Abu
Dhabi’s Shams 1 – the Middle East’s
largest renewable energy project. We
also partnered with DONG and E.ON to
launch London Array, the world’s largest
offshore wind farm. And our special
projects division has made a difference to
developing nations through the integration
of renewable energy. Through small-scale
projects, including the Sheikh Zayed Solar
Power Plant in Mauritania and the Port
Victoria Wind Power Plant in the Seychelles,
Masdar is proving that access to energy can
deliver tremendous economic, social and
environmental benefits.
Masdar wrapped up the year with an
investment in the Kingdom of Jordan to
build the 117-megawatt Tafila Wind Farm.
Breaking ground in 2014, Tafila will be the
first utility-scale, wind-energy project in
the Middle East – increasing Jordan’s total
power capacity by 3 percent and helping the
nation avoid future energy shortfalls.
While 2013 was a big year for Masdar, we
must maintain the momentum and build a
robust pipeline of projects for the future.
And let’s not forget the pressing need
to diversify the global energy mix. With
exponential population growth – putting
pressure on our resources and increasing
energy demands – the world must balance
traditional sources of energy with new ones.
Masdar is not only striving to be a leader
in the renewable energy market, but also
a company playing a key role in delivering
energy security for both Abu Dhabi and
the world. This will be a pivotal year as we
continue to make smart investments, add
renewable energy capacity and create global
impact.
Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber,
CEO and Managing Director
Tasmania sets renewables
target
The Australian island state of Tasmania has
launched a new climate action plan with the
goal of switching to 100 per cent renewables
by 2020 and a 35 per cent reduction in
emissions. Following the recent release of
its Climate Smart Tasmania: A 2020 Climate
Change Strategy document, the government
said that its plan is the most comprehensive
of any Australian government to reduce
carbon emissions and help communities
adapt to a changing climate. The LaborGreen Coalition in Tasmania is aiming to
lift its hydro-rich state from an average 87
per cent renewables penetration to 100 per
cent, thereby eliminating the importation of
coal-fired power from Victoria on mainland
Australia, which constituted 15 per cent of
total energy use in 2007. Looking longer term,
Tasmania has also set a goal of reducing
emissions by 60 per cent below 1990 levels by
2050. The plan focuses on energy efficiency
in existing buildings, monitoring emissions
and biodiversity, water use efficiency, reducing
barriers to utilising renewable energies,
training Tasmania’s workforce, looking into
electrification of public transport as well
as managing and reducing natural hazard
risks in the state. Tasmania says that it
has enough renewable energy resources to
support local electricity demand with the
capacity to export additional capacity to the
mainland. The government has outlined its
top ten actions for carbon abatement and net
benefits, which includes constraining urban
growth, carbon smart farming, a light rail and
smart transport network, seven- star rated
buildings, the Tasmanian energy savings
initiative, replacement of the metro bus fleet,
a North-South metro transit corridor and
influencing travel behavioural change.
Innovation on the up in
renewables sector
New research from the Massachusetts
Institute of Technology (MIT) and the Santa Fe
Institute (SFI) has revealed that the number
of patents issued for renewable energy
technologies has risen substantially over the
last decade. The study shows that investments
in research and development, as well as in the
growth of markets for these products, have
helped to spur this sharp growth. Jessika
Trancik, assistant professor of engineering
systems at MIT and report co-author, worked
with SFI’s Luís Bettencourt to create a
database of energy-related patents issued in
more than 100 countries between 1970 and
2009, using keyword searches of the patents
themselves, rather than the classifications
assigned by patent offices. The research
examined more than 73,000 patents issued
for energy-related technologies. Further
statistical analysis showed a clear correlation
between the rise in patents and prior
investments in research and development,
along with growth in the markets for such
renewable technologies. The increase
was most noticeable in patents related to
solar and wind while patents in fossil-fuel
technologies showed a more modest increase,
and nuclear technology was flat. The report
also showed that
the cumulative, long-term effect of research
investment is extremely relevant with both
investment in basic research and investment
in implementation of technologies also playing
an important role
Counting the cost of
carbon
A report issued by CDP has found that
large corporations in the US are utilising an
internal carbon price as part of the business
planning process and in preparation for
future regulation. The organisation found that
around 30 companies spanning all sectors
of the economy from airlines and energy to
technology and finance had implemented
the measurement tool, which is a method of
recognising the external costs of a company’s
2
operation on the environment and society. It is
also used to incorporate the effects of climate
change into risk assessment and long-term
business planning. According to CDP, the
majority of companies surveyed also indicated
that they were accounting for their impact now
ahead of an eventual regulatory approach to
prevent climate change. The CDP report noted
that the actual price set has huge variations
with the Walt Disney Company, for example,
disclosing a price range of between US$1020 per metric tonne while other companies
put the range at anywhere between US$6
and US$60. “Many companies across the
US have come to recognise that there is a
price associated with the carbon they emit
and an economic opportunity in factoring
a carbon price into their business model,”
said Tom Carnac, president of CDP North
America.”Companies view the establishment
of an internal carbon price as both an
evaluation of risk and a business opportunity if
they take steps to limit carbon pollution before
others do.”
SBRC gets new director
The Sustainable Bioenergy Research
Consortium (SBRC), the organisation
tasked with identifying commercially viable
means for the production of sustainable
aviation fuel and other forms of energy from
converted plant material, has named Dr
Alejandro Ríos Galván as the new Director of
the Consortium.
SBRC founding partners include the Abu
Dhabi Government, Etihad Airways and
Boeing. Commenting on the appointment,
Dr Steve Griffiths, Executive Director,
Institute Initiatives, Masdar Institute, said:
“The appointment of Dr Ríos Galván is a key
milestone for the Consortium. His expertise
and track record in the field of sustainable
aviation biofuels will ensure that ongoing
projects gather momentum.” A Mexican
national, Dr Ríos Galván was previously the
Director of ASA Fuel Services, where he
oversaw the operation and management of
a network of over 60 fuel farms. He was also
the architect of ‘Plan de Vuelo’ (the Flight
Plan Towards Sustainable Aviation Biofuels
in Mexico), an initiative promoting the
development of sustainable aviation biofuel
in the country. The SBRC’s flagship project is
the Integrated Seawater Energy Aquaculture
System (ISEAS), which focuses on the
development of potential fuel feedstock. In
meeting its objective to become a worldclass research consortium, the SBRC is
also concentrating on optimising pathways
to deliver sustainable alternative fuels for
aviation.
Climate action support
for Africa
With African Development Bank (AfDB)
support, six African nations – Burkina Faso,
Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana,
Kenya, Mali and Mozambique – have made it
through a global competition run by Climate
Investment Funds (CIF) to provide dedicated
funding to engage the private sector in
effective climate solutions. The seven
project concepts endorsed for full project
development in Africa focus on forests in
Burkina Faso, DRC and Ghana, renewable
energy in Kenya and Mali, and climate
resilience in Mozambique. The selected
African project concepts – a third of the 15
final winning concepts globally – will now go
forward for further development by the AfDB
as their CIF implementing partner.“At AfDB,
we believe that private sector engagement
in climate action is critically important to
stimulate markets, increase investment
potential, develop climate-friendly business
models, and ensure a sustainable shift for
effective climate solutions,” said Mafalda
Duarte, AfDB’s CIF co-ordinator. The CIF,
along with AfDB and the other multilateral
development bank partners, launched the
competition in order to help alleviate the
large number of risks preventing private
sector’s entrance into renewable energy,
energy efficiency, forestry, and climate
resilience investments, particularly in
developing countries. Selected project
concepts under the competition will now be
fully prepared and will be presented for final
funding to the CIF governing bodies in 2014.
UK’s Co-op Group opts for
CHP technology
The UK’s Cooperative Group new Manchester
headquarters building has been dubbed
the ‘world’s most environmentally friendly
building’, and is using combined heat and
power (CHP) technology to meet its energy
efficiency goals. The Building Research
Establishment Environmental Assessment
Method (BREEAM), an internationally
acclaimed system of assessing buildings,
gave the HQ a score of 95.16 per cent - the
highest ever awarded. The building’s many
environmentally friendly features include
power generated from crops grown on the
Group’s farms; heating and cooling of the
premises by drawing air below the basement
and redistributing it at the earth’s core
temperature; and a double skin façade that
acts as a ‘duvet’ to insulate in winter and
ventilate in the summer. The One Angel
Square building is phase one of NOMA, a
major scheme to redevelop 20 acres of the
northern part of Manchester city centre
with the 10-year programme planning to
create a world-class, mixed-use district.
Commenting on the announcement, Gavin
Dunn, Director of BREEAM, BRE Global, said
“This achievement of the highest score ever
under BREEAM reflects an ambitious vision
and commitment from The Co-operative
Group and their project team. They have
created a highly sustainable, extremely
low carbon space. An excellent working
environment with deep green credentials.”
The use of cogeneration technology at The
Co-operative’s new HQ in Manchester,
England, was incorporated as part of the
building design. The building’s CHP units
are driven by pure plant oil or rapeseed oil,
provided by the Group’s own crops with up
to 6,000 litres of rapeseed biofuel on site
at any one time. In addition, the building’s
computer systems also recycle waste heat.
US re-asserts ‘20/2020’
commitment
The Obama administration has issued a
presidential memorandum following up on
its commitment to climate change plans
announced this summer, significantly
boosting the US federal government’s
support of renewable energy to supply 20
per cent of its energy consumption by 2020.
The document also instructs all federal
agencies to take specific steps to better
manage building performance, enhance
energy efficiency and reduce energy
waste. The Obama administration-issued
executive order focuses on the expansion
of the federal government’s electricity
consumption from renewable sources to
nearly triple that of its current 7.5 per cent.
The ‘20/2020’ edict directs agencies to
achieve the renewable energy consumption
target through a number of approved
actions with the installation of agencyfunded renewable energy on-site at federal
facilities and retention of renewable energy
certificates through to purchasing renewable
energy certificates. It also sets a number of
interim targets for renewable energy usage
with the first of these a 10 per cent target
for 2015. In terms of energy efficiency, the
document instructs federal agencies to take
a number of measures, such as installing
building energy and water meters and
publicly disclosing annual benchmark energy
performance data through the Department
of Energy Web-based tracking system.
TheMasdarTimes
Masdar news
ZFEP hosts book launch
The UAE launch of “The World We Made”, a part history, part
personal memoir authored by Jonathon Porritt, eminent
international environmentalist, Founder Director and Trustee
of the Forum for the Future Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP),
took place recently at the Masdar Institute of Science and
Technology. Set in 2050 and viewed through the eyes of a history
teacher, the book looks at how the world could look in 40 years.
Based on extensive factual research, the book examines how
technological innovations and lifestyle revolutions have the
potential to transform the world to place renewable energy and
solar-powered electricity at its core, creating a truly vibrant,
sustainable world. The book’s innovative ideas are brought to
life with futuristic photographs, infographics and hand-drawn
sketches, while an extensive index provides the tools and tips
needed to prepare for the future. The launch event was followed
by a panel discussion, with panellists including Porritt; Dr Fred
Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute and David Sandalow,
Inaugural Fellow, Center on Global Energy Policy, Columbia
University and member of the Zayed Future Energy Prize
Selection Committee. Commenting on the launch, Dr Sultan
Ahmed Al Jaber, Director General of the Zayed Future Energy
Prize, said: “Porritt’s book indicates a strong hope for the future,
even as we face escalating energy and resource demand.”
BOLDtalks focus on bio-fuels
Masdar Institute Professor of Practice and Director,
Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) Dr
Alejandro Ríos Galván, spoke at the recent BOLDtalks
Innovation 2013 event in Dubai on the topic of how biofuels and new generation technologies, coupled with known
operations and infrastructure measures, can help the aviation
industry substantially reduce carbon emissions. He noted
that the main challenge is being able to sustainably produce
enough feedstocks at industrial scale without falling into
the common debates of food versus fuel or indirect land use
change. “By improving fleet fuel efficiency by 1.5 per cent a
year from now until 2020 and by capping net emissions from
2020 through carbon neutral growth, the aviation industry is
moving towards reducing its carbon emissions. Our key focus
is sustainable bioenergy production with emphasis on arid
land utilisation and the development of aviation biofuels,” said
Galván. Held at the Dubai Community Theatre & Arts Centre,
the event also generated substantial interest about the SBRC’s
activities among the delegates. Established by the Abu Dhabi
Government through Masdar Institute, with founding partners
including Etihad Airways, The Boeing Co. and Honeywell’s UOP,
SBRC is mandated with identifying commercially viable means
for the production of sustainable aviation fuel and other forms
of energy from converted plant material.
UAE Solar Atlas project bags tech award
The “UAE Solar Atlas”, which was developed by the Research
Center for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment
(ReCREMA) at Masdar Institute, in collaboration with the
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), has been
named recipient of the Technology of The Year award from the
Middle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA). The award,
which was presented to Dr Hosni Ghedira, Director, ReCREMA
at a gala ceremony in Abu Dhabi, was part of the Middle East
Solar Awards programme. The programme acknowledges and
celebrates exceptional talent and achievements in the solar
sector in the MENA region. Officially commissioned during the
Rio+20 Summit in June 2012, the UAE Solar Atlas was made
publicly available to the international community through the
Global Atlas online portal developed by IRENA. Commenting
on the award, Dr Ghedira said: “An accurate assessment of
the spatial distribution of solar resources, with detailed and
bankable data for specific potential sites, is designed to help
attract investments for creating new solar energy capacity.”
Officially launched in April 2012, ReCREMA was mandated by
the UAE Government to develop national-level solar and wind
resource-mapping tools. It is actively engaged in research in
solar resource assessment in desert and arid environments,
solar technologies, climate modeling and remote sensing
fields.
Masdar scoops trio of Emirates Energy
Awards
Masdar has been recognised for its achievements in developing
large-scale renewable energy projects, designing buildings
with high levels of energy efficiency and cultivating young
professionals in the clean-energy sector at the recent Emirates
Energy Award programme. The award,, which is organised by the
Dubai Supreme Council for Energy, recognises and encourages
best practices and leading initiatives in energy efficiency,
alternative energy, sustainability and environmental protection.
Masdar’s 100-megawatvvt concentrated solar power (CSP)
plant, Shams 1, received an award in the Large Energy Project
category; Masdar City was recognised in the Energy Efficiency
category, and Abdulaziz Al Obaidli, a process performance
engineer at Shams 1, was feted in the Young Professional
Energy category. “We are proud to have been recognised for
our achievements in developing large-scale renewable energy
projects, our work to create energy-efficient buildings and –
most importantly – our commitment to fostering future energy
professionals,” said Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar.
ADWEA and Masdar Institute team up on
scholarship
ADCCI and Masdar MoU
Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ADCCI) has
signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Masdar
to promote Abu Dhabi, and in particular Masdar City, as a
key investment destination in the UAE and with the goal of
aiming to ease the registration process for companies and
investors. Signed by HE Mohammed Helal Al Muhairi, ADCCI
Director General, and Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Masdar
COO, the co-operation supports a common goal of increasing
commercial activities in the emirate and at Masdar City.
“Masdar is keen on establishing a formal framework with
ADCCI to offer world-class services and unite our efforts to
promote commercial development and investments in Abu
Dhabi. The One-Stop-Shop at Masdar City, in co-operation
with ADCCI, will allow us to cater to the commercial needs
of companies and investors at the City in a convenient and
efficient manner,” said Al Ramahi. Both parties will also
participate in conferences, workshops and roadshows to
showcase the emirate’s unique commercial offerings and
contribute to attracting international investors to the capital.
ADCCI will also assign a representative to Masdar City’s
One-Stop-Shop facility to issue all necessary procedures and
documents related to establishing a business in Abu Dhabi.
YFEL team head to Northern India
Members of Masdar Institute’s Young Future Energy Leaders
(YFEL) outreach programme spent time in North India recently
as part of a 10-day workshop on Energy Access. Ethics and
Development, working on a real-life data collection project
with villagers in the Ladakh region of the country. Jointly
organised by YFEL with the Dalai Lama Center for Ethics and
Transformative Values at MIT and the Jamyang School in the
Himalayan foothills, the week’s events included a visit by Helena
Norburg Hodge, Director, International Society for Ecology and
Culture (ISEC), and theory and hands-on sessions by Dr Scott
Kennedy, Dean of Research. The group also visited nearby areas
of interest including Saspol village, caves with 1,000-year old
Buddhist temples, a recently opened hydroelectric plant and
trekking near SECMOL. Dr Kennedy said: “We hope the course
will enrich YFEL members and motivate them to build expertise
in sustainable technologies that benefit remote communities.”
Part of the Masdar Institute’s Outreach programme, YFEL offers
young professionals and students from the UAE and abroad an
opportunity to become more engaged in finding solutions to the
world’s biggest challenges – achieving energy efficiency and
tackling climate change.
The Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and
Masdar Institute have signed an agreement that officially
expands their strategic collaboration to jointly contribute
to human capital development. The agreement formalises
the terms and conditions under which ADWEA scholars will
be sourced, admitted, supported, funded and supervised
for post-graduate courses at Masdar Institute. Dr Fred
Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, and His Excellency
Faris Obaid Al Dhaheri, Business Support Director, ADWEA,
signed the agreement. After the signing, HE Al Dhaheri said:
“The scholarship agreement is designed to create learning
opportunities for our national employees and enhance their
skill set through post-graduate study, including Master’s and
Doctoral programs. In addition to the ADWEA Scholarship
Programme, we believe this agreement will further expand
ADWEA’s contribution and commitment to human capital and
knowledge development – one of the fundamentals of Abu
Dhabi’s Vision 2030 plan.” The ADWEA Scholarship Program
recognises the need to encourage UAE nationals to pursue
postgraduate qualifications, with a special focus on water
and power. Since its inception, a total of 425 students have
benefited from the programme.
Gulf Business recognises Masdar Institute
President
Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, has been
named recipient of the Education CEO of the Year award at
the annual Gulf Business Industry Awards. The Gulf Business
Industry Awards aim to recognise the most successful
businesses and leaders from sectors including banking, real
estate, aviation, retail, media, energy, tourism, education
and technology. The judges selected Dr Moavenzadeh for his
extraordinary contribution to knowledge and human capital
development in clean energy and sustainable technologies. The
eminent jury panel included Ibrahim Al Ansari, CEO of Dubai
First; Husam Hourani, Managing Partner from regional law
firm Al Tamimi & Co.; YS Shashidhar, Managing Director of
Frost and Sullivan’s business in Middle East and North Africa
region; and Peter Cooper, Editor and Publisher of the Middle
East’s independent subscriber-based website and investment
newsletter ArabianMoney. Widely recognised for his innovative
role in building global institutions and developing new models
of teaching and research through international initiatives in
education, science and technology, Dr Moavenzadeh has a
long and distinguished career at the Massachusetts Institute
of Technology (MIT). He was named the President of Masdar
Institute in July 2010 to support the mandate of transforming
the emirate into a leading source of advanced technologies
and highly skilled human capital. He remains instrumental in
driving multi-disciplinary research in science and engineering
at the Institute.
Double win for Masdar Institute students
Two UAE national students from Masdar Institute have been
named among the five winners of this year’s Akoun Business
Ideas Competition, organised by Abu Dhabi Council for Economic
Development (ADCED). Saeed Al Menhali, a Master’s student
in the Engineering Systems Management program, has won
the award for his ‘E-Bakalah’ concept, an electronic grocery
that aims to fulfill the needs of busy residents in Abu Dhabi
and the UAE. Mohamed Al Musharrekh, a Master’s student in
the Mechanical Engineering programme and YFEL member,
won with his ‘Beauty touch 3D paint centre’ project. The two
Masdar Institute students’ proposals were selected from over
100 entries. Akoun awards the best business proposals with
funding to help students on the way to successfully start-up their
businesses. Commenting on the awards, Dr Fred Moavenzadeh,
President, Masdar Institute, said: “The Akoun award illustrates
the outstanding entrepreneurial spirit of our students. With the
support of the country’s leadership, we contribute to developing
new entrepreneurs while supporting Abu Dhabi’s human capital
development in clean energy. We congratulate our students for
being among the top five winners and hope other youth in the
UAE will emulate these successful examples.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Masdar
Collaborate to Make UAE Diplomatic
Buildings More Efficient
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ministry of Foreign Affairs
and Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, have
signed two contracts whereupon Masdar will audit the energy,
waste and water efficiency of the UAE Ministry Foreign Affairs
headquarters, and provide an assessment on the sustainability
elements of the new UAE embassy design in Doha, Qatar.
Under the agreements, Masdar will provide its expertise on
sustainability and building efficiency to the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs. Masdar will conduct an audit to ensure that the
Ministry’s headquarters in Abu Dhabi and the UAE diplomatic
mission in Doha benefit from increased operational efficiency
through measures to reduce waste, and conserve energy and
water. The work in Doha will ensure that the embassy meets
the energy performance and indoor air quality standards of Abu
Dhabi’s Estidama Pearl Rating System.
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TheMasdarTimes
In focus
Powering progress
Energy experts at 22nd World Energy Congress in South Korea discuss action plan to accelerate pace of global renewables
development as UAE announces bid for 2019 event
Daegu, Korea was the venue for the 22nd World Energy Congress, which took place this past
October, with more than 5,000 energy experts, industry leaders and politicians gathering under
the theme ‘Securing Tomorrow’s Energy Today’.
Prompting discussion among the 250 energy leaders present was the newly released World
Energy Council (WEC) 10-point action plan for how governments, industry, and key decisionmakers should refocus their efforts and resources to achieve real progress in resolving the
energy ‘trilemma’.
The report, which was the culmination of a two-year WEC study, provides a detailed guide
to creating a global policy framework that addresses the energy trilemma: energy security,
energy equity and environmental sustainability.
Recommendations from 24 months of research were the result of interviews with over 100
energy leaders in 41 countries, including chief executives, ministers, and heads of development
banks.
“Over the last two years our study has identified what governments and energy leaders believe
is needed to balance the energy trilemma. These leaders say they are ready to act now, but
acknowledge that they need more guidance and support. Our analysis provides the basis for
countries to assess their political and institutional risk, and our new ‘Agenda for Change’
report describes how they can mitigate such risk and unlock the investment to deliver the
required energy infrastructure,” said Joan MacNaughton, Executive Chair of the WEC’s World
Energy Trilemma studies.
The global pressure facing the renewable energy industry, where subsidies have been
the main drivers of both development and investment in renewables, but where economic
instability and stop-start politics in developed countries are unsettling investors, was also
hotly debated.
Participants agreed that renewables still offer enormous potential in terms of growth and
green jobs and international efforts to make renewables a fact of life rather than a ‘fashion’
are gaining momentum. Dolf Gielen, director general of the International Renewable Energy
Agency (IRENA) confirmed that agency membership currently stands at 118 nations, with China
and India about to join.
The upbeat mood was tempered by the realities of the actual pace of development. “We’re not
going to be totally renewably powering the world any time soon,” said Jeremy Leggett, founder
and chairman of Solarcentury from the UK.
Jorge Cruz Morais, head of the international unit of Portuguese energy company EDP, called
for power markets to be “redesigned” to create a more balanced portfolio of energy sources to
cope with increasing demand from a rapidly accelerating global population.
The industry consensus at the closing plenary session was that the world needs to revamp
much of its thinking to meet the energy challenges of the 21st century, from fostering new
energy sources to structuring the best mix of public and private incentives to curb carbon
emissions.
The UAE Minister of Energy, Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, also confirmed on
the final day of the event that the UAE will bid to host the 2019 World Energy Congress.
Hosting the congress in Abu Dhabi would mark the first time in the event’s 90-year history that
it has been held in one of the OPEC member countries.
The UAE has a strong heritage of energy leadership. We have partnered without interruption
with the world’s leading energy companies to ensure reliable oil and gas supply, and we are
taking the same approach in new energy sectors, both domestically and globally,“ he said.
His Excellency Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Masdar CEO, said the UAE
has been a leader in the new energy sector.
“As a nation, we were regional first movers within the renewable energy space, forging ahead
with pioneering investments in wind and solar power,” HE Dr. Al Jaber said. “And today, we
are exporting clean energy expertise to nations that have identified a need to accelerate their
renewable energy portfolios.“
WEC Agenda for Change action plan
•Connect the energy trilemma to the
broader national agenda
•Provide leadership to build consensus –
nationally and globally
•Improve policymaker dialogue
•Increase engagement with the financial
community
•Minimise policy and regulatory risk and
ensure optimal risk allocation
•Adopt market-based approaches to carbon
pricing to drive investments
•Design transparent, flexible and dynamic
pricing frameworks
•Drive (green) trade liberalisation
•Meet the need for more research,
development & demonstration (RD&D)
•Encourage joint pre-commercial industry
initiatives, including early large-scale
demonstration and deployment
State of sustainability
With a commitment to environmental and economic sustainability spanning more than four decades, Abu Dhabi and the UAE
have always placed conservation atop their agenda, from wildlife to urban development
The late president of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al
Nahyan, was a well-documented pioneer of conservation issues and, along with the rulers of
the other emirates, set the wheels in motion for the sustainable development of the nation.
From a fledgling public afforestation programme in 1969 that has seen more than 150 million
trees grow and flourish along with the UAE economy, to the launch of Masdar in 2006, the
emirate has been addressing both environmental and economic sustainability challenges for
more than 40 years.
Renewable energy alternatives are a relative newcomer to the table, with Masdar
spearheading the awareness, advancement and implementation of these resources through
education, R&D, investment and commercialisation. However, the UAE has been charting a
sustainable course since 1971.
Flora and fauna
Under the emirate of Abu Dhabi’s forestry programme, forests account for 70 per cent of the
total greenery in the emirate, covering over 360,000 hectares, while farms account for 28 per
cent.
Municipalities across the UAE are also involved in the annual nationwide tree planting week
programme, which was created to drive community awareness about the importance of
planting trees, proper cultivation and each individual’s commitment to preserving the natural
landscape.
4
The mangrove forests that proliferate the country’ shoreline are an important part of the
coastal ecosystem, providing a rich natural habitat and breeding grounds for various species
of fish and turtles. Abu Dhabi is home to more than 75 per cent of the total mangroves in the
UAE, from the Easter Mangroves on the outer perimeter of the city to Saadiyat Island and vast
tracts in the Western Region.
As part of the Saadiyat Island development project, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi
partnered with the Tourism Development and Investment Company (TDIC) to plant 750,000
saplings of mangroves covering over 25 per cent of the island.
The past and current UAE leadership have also launched a number of programmes targeting
the protection of the sensitive desert ecosystem through the regeneration of a number of
natural habitats and wildlife reserves.
On the former private island of Sir Bani Yas, whose Arabian Wildlife Park is now a controlled
tourism destination, Sheikh, Zayed launched a programme of captive breeding and
reintroduction of rare species, including the endangered Arabian Oryx and Houbara bustard,
saving the former from near extinction.
The UAE is now home to the largest population of Arabian Oryx in the world, with an estimated
4,500 living in natural reserves and on private farms from Sir Bani Yas and Al Ain Zoo to Al
Wathba and Al Jarf.
TheMasdarTimes
Inside Masdar
Man of action
Masdar City’s newest recruit, Amier Al Awadhi, is preparing to take the high profile business unit to the next level with a
dynamic approach to driving new business
A relatively new member of the Masdar family,
Amier Al Awadhi, joined the team just two
months ago as Head of Business Development
for Masdar City.
The designated Special Economic Zone is a
high profile component within the landmark
Masdar site, and Al Awadhi takes on the mantle
of growing the number of renewable energyrelated companies housed within Masdar City.
With 14 years’ experience in business
development and relationship management
across a variety of industry sectors, he was
previously with National Bank of Abu Dhabi
(NBAD), where he led the establishment of
the company’s real estate arm – Abu Dhabi
National Properties.
The move to Masdar is something that Al
Awadhi says is a combination of opportunity
and challenge, as he explains: “I really like the
direction that the company is going in and I see
[the vision] as something attainable.
secure new clients and identifying strategic
business development opportunities to
ensuring commercial and leasing prospects
meet clearly defined targets.
Motivation is clearly not an issue as his
rapid-fire responses show. “The team here
is incredibly friendly and made me feel like a
member of the family from day one. Everyone
has been extremely responsive, helpful and
informative. It makes me feel like I want to be
here every day!”
His own personal interest in renewable
energy and environmental issues is also on an
upswing since joining Masdar. “The concept of
renewable energy is all around us, even in our
simple electronic gadgets, but nobody really
knows how much it can truly add to what we
are doing. I like the fact that I now have the
“The switch from finance to future energy could
be viewed as something completely different,
but I wanted to be directly involved in making
real change for the long term; effectively
‘changing the world’.”
opportunity to actually explain to people about
It isn’t the first time that he has switched
industry sectors, following key roles at Dubai
Maritime City where he headed up the special
projects team, and in sales with Dubai World –
Nakheel.
anything but routine, as he explains: “There is
Al Awadhi sees his role at Masdar, and his
change in direction, as another link in the
career chain connecting his skillset and
banking, maritime and real estate world
experience. “This completes the puzzle and
links my different fields of expertise with this
role covering everything from development and
planning to sales,” he remarks.
brought together in one place. It really is quite
His multi-disciplinary expertise is already
standing him in good stead as he gets into the
intricacies of the job where his responsibilities
extend from increasing awareness about
Masdar City’s unique value propositions to
how we can reduce our carbon footprint and
find real alternatives to fossil fuels,” he says.
As with other senior executives, his day is
no typical day and that’s very exciting. There is
always something new and innovative coming
into the picture. I really like the dynamics
of the different minds that have all been
extraordinary.”
The complete immersion into his new role
may sound overwhelming, but for this selfproclaimed ‘man of action’, who can be found
quad biking, jet skiing or pursuing other
fast-paced pursuits when not at his desk, it’s
the perfect balance between professional
responsibility and priceless leisure time.
“I want to be able to explore the energy
concept in more depth and grow with it”
Amier Al Awadhi
Head of Business Development, Masdar
Science on show
Behind closed doors
Masdar Institute’s new cleanroom facility is set to open up new areas of scientific exploration
as well as give visitors a behind-the-scenes window on the latest research
human hair, requiring advanced techniques
to keep microscopic particles out of sensitive
equipment.
This highly specialised facility will be used for
both teaching and multidisciplinary research
in the fields of Material Science, Mechanical
Engineering and Microsystems Engineering.
“This facility is a strong asset to research
in advanced technology, and the only such
cleanroom in the GCC, ” said Sami Issa,
Executive Director at ATIC. “The research
taking place in this cleanroom is guided by
targeted industry and academic collaboration,
playing a key role driving technology
development while laying the foundations for
a thriving research hub in the region.”
The newly unveiled Advanced Technology
Investment Company (ATIC) Cleanroom
represents the next phase in development for
the prestigious Masdar Institute of Science
& Technology, with next generation lab
building and support facilities designed to
benefit students and allow the general public
a unique insight into the groundbreaking
research being conducted on campus.
The facilities include a built-in cleanroom,
which has two Class 1000 bays, plus two
additional Class 100 bays as well as a softwall cleanroom, providing an ultra-clean
environment and the photolithography tools
needed for advanced microelectronics
research and small-scale production.
One major advantage of the new cleanroom
design is its visibility through sections of
the enclosing walls, which will allow it to
serve as an important facet of the institute’s
community outreach programme and
educational tour stop.
Up to 10,000 times cleaner than a medical
operating theatre, cleanrooms are critical to
maintaining the sterile environment needed
for semiconductor manufacturing. Research
in the facility can occur on parameters over
1,000 times smaller than the width of a
It will provide a privileged glimpse into the
research conducted at Masdar Institute with
viewing access to the type of equipment,
operators, and a tangible understanding
to those unfamiliar with micro and
nanofabrication technology.
The Class 100 section of the cleanroom
lab will house:
• Lithography tools including a UV mask
aligner and electron-beam lithography
scanning electron microscopy, photoresist
processing benches for applying
developing and baking the films and
inspection microscope
• High temperature/cleaning stations with
stack furnaces for oxidation and annealing
and RCA cleaning tools, plus plasma
etchers
The Class 100 cleanroom bays will be
equipped with:
• Metal/dielectric deposition tools including
an atomic layer deposition, ebeam
evaporator, pulsed laser deposition,
sputterer and plasma enhanced chemical
vapour deposition (PECVD),
• Dry processing equipment with a deep
reactive ion etcher (DRIE) for silicon/
silicon nitride, barrel asher (for PDMS
plasma bonding), three reactive ion
etchers (RIEs) for both dielectric and
semiconductor materials and rapid
thermal anneal
• Wet processes including wet benches
with spin dryers for acids, solvents and
bases, scanning electron microscope,
thin film measurement tools, device test
equipment, probe station, a C-V and I-V
metre and a microfluidic test system
5
TheMasdarTimes
Community
Milestone moments
In seven short years, Masdar has transitioned from cleantech dream to operational reality, with projects on three continents
and a growing roster of groundbreaking initiatives that are changing the perceptions and practicalities of renewable energy
adoption
2006
•Clean energy grabs international
headlines with the official launch of the
Masdar Initiative
• Announcement of first US$250 million
Masdar Clean Energy Fund with Credit
Suisse
the world’s largest offshore scheme
upon completion
sun’s heat to cool Masdar City buildings. It
is one of just a handful in the world
• The US$2.2 million Zayed Future
Energy Prize, an international awards
programme designed to recognise
individuals, companies, organisations
and NGOs leading the global search for
future energy solutions, is announced
• Masdar launches second cleantech fund
with Deutsche Bank, valued at US$265
million
• Shams 1, the UAE’s first CSP plant,
goes out to tender
2007
2009
• Masdar launches the first ever World
Future Energy Summit, a global cooperative platform in the search for
solutions to energy security, climate
change and sustainable human
development
• Masdar City Special Economic Zone
welcomes first company registration
• Master plan for Masdar City starts to
takes shape
2008
• Masdar City connects first
10-megawatt photovoltaics (PV) plant to
Abu Dhabi’s electrical grid, with 87.000
PV panels and capacity to supply 17,500
megawatt-hours per annum
• Masdar City selected by the
International Renewable Energy Agency
(IRENA) to serve as the interim - and
ultimately - permanent location for its
global headquarters
2010
• Masdar and UK’s E.ON join forces to
partner in the London Array offshore
wind farm project; which will become
• Shams 1 construction begins
establish EMIC - a new carbon project
development joint venture
• Masdar City celebrates reaching 50
registered companies
• 100 companies registered as Masdar
City tenants
• Construction of Masdar and IRENA
flagship headquarters building begins
• Torresol Energy’s Valle I & II projects
fully commissioned and operational
• Phase one of Masdar Institute campus
inaugurated
• ZFEP prize fund purse increased to
US$4 million; records a 300% growth in
number of submissions
• Pilotless Personal Rapid Transit
transport system (PRT) commissioned
• Masdar Institute enrolls 336 students
as of Q3 2012; 42% are UAE nationals
• Construction of Siemens regional
headquarters at Masdar City commences
and Siemens-Masdar partnership signed
• 13 patents filed by Masdar Institute
students and faculty with more than
20 invention disclosures awaiting filing
decisions
2011
• Incubator Building construction
commences
•Geo-thermal wells completed
• Masdar Institute welcomes first intake • Masdar City sees number of
of 89 students
registered companies jump to 75
• Torresol Energy – a joint venture
between Spanish engineering group
SENER (60%) and Masdar (40%) – is
created, with the aim of becoming
the world leader in the Concentrated
Solar Power (CSP) sector through the
development and operation of large CSP
• Masdar and E.ON Climate & Renewables
plants around the world
• Construction on first phase of Masdar
City begins, along with the launch of the
onsite materials recycling centre
• Shams 1 joint venture between Masdar
(60%), Total (20%) and Abengoa (20%)
announced; project receives approval
from the United Nations to become a CDM
project eligible for carbon credits
2012
• Torresol Energy’s Gemasolar CSP
project in southern Spain inaugurated
• Testing and commissioning of Shams
1 begins
• Masdar logs 492 employees with over
36 nationalities represented
• First Gulf Bank and Masdar launch
UAE’s first eco-friendly credit card
2013
•Initiation of sustainable transport
pilot project using Mitsubishi electronic
vehicles
•Shams 1 officially inaugurated
• Shams 1 installs first 20% of its solar
collectors (mirrors) at the Western
Region site
• Mauritania 15-megawatt solar PV
project officially inaugurated
• Masdar City reports 120 companies
registered
• Seychelles six-megawatt wind farm
officially inaugurated
• London Array 630-megawatt wind
farm officially launched
• First Gulf-sited proprietary double-effect
solar thermal cooling system activated;
created to test the viability of using the
Sustainability in motion
The development of a world-class transportation system for Abu Dhabi is the driving force behind the Department of
Transport’s sustainability-focused master plan
Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport (DoT)
was established in 2006 with a mandate to
support and regulate the development and
growth of a world-class transport system for
the emirate.
In addition to increasing the operational
capabilities and reach of the existing public
transport system, DoT is also investing in new
infrastructure to support a modal shift and
accommodate projected future demand.
Investment areas include development of a
new light rail metro service, the construction
of major roads and highways, and support for
the development of the Etihad federal railway
system.
6
Road
Rail
Charge and go
In 2012, a project was initiated to create a
new transport artery between Abu Dhabi
and Dubai to reduce congestion on the
current busy E11 highway. One of the largest
infrastructure projects that DoT has worked
on as part of its sustainable transport master
plan, the 62-kilometre E311 road will run
parallel to the existing E11 highway, extending
from Mohammed bin Zayed Road in Saih Sheib
through Al Maha Forest and Khalifa Industrial
Zone Abu Dhabi (Kizad). It is also designed to
create new gateways to Abu Dhabi city, the
airport and both Yas and Saadiyat Islands. The
project is due for completion in 2017.
The proposed Abu Dhabi Metro and Light
Rail system will also ease road congestion
with the DoT, and will cover approximately
131 kilometres of rail track. DoT anticipates
that, along with current public transportation
services, the expanded network of travel
options will eventually serve 823,000 new
daily commuters and eliminate 400,000 daily
road trips. It will potentially make 105,000
cars redundant by 2030. DoT also estimates
that it will save up to 102 million hours of
travel time annually and eliminate 23,000
accidents. Connectivity will run from the city
out to surrounding neighbourhoods, including
Saadiyat Island, Yas Island and Al Raha Beach.
The contract for the US$7 billion first phase
of the project is set to be awarded by March
2014, with the network becoming operational
by 2016/7.
DoT has also been trialling two new electric
buses as part of its citywide coverage with the
Ankai-branded vehicles operating in various
locations in the metropolitan Abu Dhabi area
and selected suburbs for a six-month trial
period.
The fully electric bus uses cost-effective,
plug-in technology, with the option of battery
change and en route charging. The battery can
reach 80 per cent of capacity within a threehour period, and at fully charged capacity
can cover up to 200 kilometres. The buses
are being subjected to a rigorous internal
performance assessment through multiple
route selection and different trip scenarios
from city-based urban frequent start-stop
profiles and longer suburban journeys. Other
benefits of the electric vehicles include
reduced vehicle noise and faster acceleration.
TheMasdarTimes
Community
Become an energy star with Etisalat
Telecoms provider Etisalat is targeting companies across the UAE as part of its ongoing Emirates Energy Star initiative, which
aims to substantially reduce both the country’s energy consumption and its carbon footprint by 2015
designed to increase energy efficiency
through Managed Energy Monitoring Services
is retrofitted into participating buildings.
This helps audit energy consumption,
deploy optimisation measures, and monitor
consumption over a period of time.
Through Etisalat SIM cards, the Global
Command Control Centre assesses the
electricity consumption of chillers and
electronic devices at participating buildings
with round-the-clock monitoring.
At the last count, some 131 companies are
currently part of the UAE-wide programme.
It covers low to high-rise buildings across
commercial and residential towers, hospitals,
hotels, shopping malls, mixed-use facilities
and academic institutions.
While new buildings present a unique
opportunity to integrate environmentally
conscious design and cutting-edge
technologies, the issue of retrofitting existing
office towers, commercial spaces and
residential properties has previously played
second fiddle to creating state-of-the-art
workplaces.
The Emirates Energy Star programme was
launched in 2011 as a joint initiative between
Etisalat and the award-winning, Dubaibased green company Pacific Controls.
The programme focuses on bringing older
buildings up to par by optimising energy
usage through 24/7, real-time monitoring and
control. It has the ultimate goal of reducing
both the country’s energy consumption and its
carbon footprint by 20 per cent as of the year
2015.
Implemented under the patronage of the
Ministry of Environment and Water and the
United Nations Environment Programme,
the initiative also seeks to enable the UAE
government to be the first in the world not
only to reduce its carbon footprint but also to
monitor and report on its carbon footprint in
real time.
Machines to Machines (M2M) technology
Companies that have signed up include
Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, First Gulf
Bank in Dubai, DP World, Deyaar’s Dubai
headquarters, the Al Rostamani 21st Century
Tower and a host of government and related
entities such as the Ministry of Social
Affairs, Dubai Municipality’s Al Twar Centre,
the Ministry of Justice, the Department of
Economic Development and Silicon Oasis.
The project is also being implemented by the
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific
Research across six of its campuses.
In addition to the obvious cost savings for
the end-user in the form of lower utility bills,
the Emirates Energy Star programme is also
helping to decrease pollution, reduce water
consumption, and reduce the resultant waste.
Participating companies pay for the service
via monthly subscription, with plans tailor-
made to suit specific customer needs
following a comprehensive energy survey
of the building. This involves an in-depth
analysis of the equipment and building
occupancy pattern, equipment ratings and
usage, and historical energy consumption
data.
Customers are rated with an Energy Star
Award, with five successive levels to strive for
based on the energy efficiency improvements
achieved through the programme. There is a
10 per cent minimum to receive a single star,
and five stars are awarded for 30 per cent
savings or more.
According to Abdullah Hashim, Etisalat
Senior Vice President, Information and
Communication Technology, building owners
are able to recover their investment into the
programme from the savings that they make,
with the payback period averaging anywhere
from 18 to 24 months.
He also said that Etisalat has seen a major
shift in demand from the government sector
in particular over the last year, with more
departments eager to sign up after seeing the
potential savings returns, and wanting to be
part of the greening of the economy.
Three years on from its launch, the Emirates
Energy Star programme has saved 29,137
tonnes of CO2 – the equivalent of planting
6,257 trees – as well as recording impressive
cash savings of AED 17.6 million. In energy
output terms, this represents around 49.2
million kilowatts per hour across a total
managed area of 16.2 million square feet, and
a cumulative18 per cent savings across all
participating facilities.
Energy for change
The renewables movement is gathering momentum across the GCC as governments commit to sustainable solutions to
address rising energy demand
KUWAIT
the use of renewable energy in rural areas.
The Kuwaiti government plans to power 15 per
cent of the nation’s grid through alternative
energy sources by 2030. These plans
include the Shagaya renewable energy park
project. Headed up by the Kuwait Institute
for Scientific Research, the Shagaya project
will involve the integration of energy storage
technologies alongside solar-thermal, solarphotovoltaic, and wind-energy generation.
According to a study conducted by the
German Aerospace Center, Oman’s daily solar
radiation average of 2,500 to 6,000 kilowatts
per hour offers huge potential for renewables
development, as it has one of the highest
solar energy densities in the world. The
country’s extended coastline and exposure
to strong summer and monsoon winds also
means it is well-suited for wind energy project
development.
With the goal of generating approximately
two gigawatts of renewable energy to power
up to 100,000 homes by 2030, the project will
include a 50-megawatt concentrated solar
power (CSP) plant, a 10 megawatt photovoltaic
plant and a 10 megawatt wind energy facility,
with a scheduled 2016 launch.
The proposed, 100-square-kilometre CSP
plant, which will be located in the Shagaya
desert region – 100 kilometres west of Kuwait
City – is expected to be a 50-megawatt
parabolic trough facility with thermal energy
storage.
The first phase of the project will be
government-financed, with the subsequent
second and third phases offered to investors
on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis for
25 years, with the government committed to
procuring all output.
OMAN
The Sultanate of Oman has its own ambitious
plans for six alternative energy projects as it
approaches the midway point of its current,
five-year (2013-17) renewable energy plan.
A target of generating 10 per cent of Oman’s
electricity from the sun by 2020 is already
in place. In early 2013, the Authority for
Electricity Regulation announced that it
planned to issue new guidelines promoting
Four solar plants and two wind farms
are planned for development under the
auspices of the Rural Areas Electricity
Company (RAEC). The Musandam has been
confirmed as the location for one solar plant,
with the remaining three sited in Al Wusta
governorate. Al Dhofar province will be the
location of the two wind farms.
RAEC also recently signed an agreement with
US-based Astonfield to generate electricity
from renewable energy resources. A pilot
solar power plant located in the Al Mazyunah
area of Dhofar will begin commercial
operations in mid-2014 with a 303-kilowatt
capacity.
Another initiative will see Swiss private
investment fund Terra Nex collaborate with
the Middle East Best Select (MEBS) Group of
Funds on plans to invest US$2 billion in the
development of solar power for the Sultanate.
Solar power stations, solar panel and
aluminium frame factories and renewable
energy engineering institutes will be tapped
for involvement in the project, which is
awaiting sign-off at government level.
QATAR
Qatar plans to generate 20 per cent of its
energy from renewables by 2024 with Qatar
General Electricity and Water Corporation
(Kahramaa) set to tender the first phase of
a 200-megawatt solar project at the start of
2014.
According to Qatar’s Minister of Industry
and Energy, His Excellency Dr Mohammed
bin Saleh Al Sada, the initial phase of the
200-megawatt solar programme will
generate between five and 10 megawatts
through its pilot plants, at an estimated cost
of US$30 million.
The second phase will involve assessment
of the initial sites, with a view to bringing in
private investment to increase solar capacity
and install 1,800 megawatts of green capacity
by 2020.
Ahead of its hosting of the FIFA World Cup in
2022, which Qatar hopes to make a carbonneutral tournament, the Qatari government
is also working to develop efficient, solarpowered cooling technology for its stadia
as well as pioneering research in solar
desalination, manufacturing and supplying
polysilicon solar solutions.
In the real estate sector, over 2,000
photovoltaic panels and 37 inverters have
been installed on the Msheireb Downtown
Doha project buildings as part of a
sustainable regeneration initiative.
International companies are also involved
in research and development in the solar
sector with US energy giant Chevron investing
US$10 million in the Centre for Sustainable
Energy Efficiency (CSEE) at Qatar Science &
Technology Park, with local clean energy firm
GreenGulf also contributing US$10 million.
Texas A&M University’s Doha campus is also
currently working on a project using solar
energy to break down natural gas into carbon
and hydrogen for industrial uses.
SAUDI ARABIA
The King Abdullah City for Atomic and
Renewable Energy (KA-CARE) was launched
in 2010 with a mandate to contribute to
sustainable development in the Kingdom
through the use of science, research and
industries related to renewable and atomic
energy. The end goals are raising the
standard of living, improving the quality of
life in Saudi Arabia, and creating additional
employment and investment opportunities.
Located to the southwest of Riyadh, KACARE will be home to its own headquarters,
national laboratories and an innovation park
as well as residential and commercial real
estate. It will also include a well-planned
social infrastructure and entertainment
destinations in a network of public spaces
and gardens. This network will be served by
the latest information and communications
technology and transportation services.
KA-CARE has set a short-term goal of
generating around 5.1 gigawatts of energy
from renewable resources by 2018, and 23.9
gigawatts by 2020, rising to 54 gigawatts by
2032.
Almost 80 per cent of this renewable energy
is set to come from solar power, with the
balance generated through a combination
of wind, geothermal and waste-to-energy
resources.
Plans include a US$109 billion project to
provide solar capacity generating up to 41,000
megawatts, which will have the potential to
power one third of the country’s national grid
by 2032. Preliminary estimates report that
the solar panels will offset up to 44 million
tonnes of CO2 emissions – the equivalent of
10 million fewer cars on the road – with a
savings of approximately 523,000 barrels of
oil per day over a 20-year period.
7
TheMasdarTimes
Masdar in pictures
His Excellency Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy, with members of the Young Future Energy
Leaders (YFEL) program
Over 35 Experts Attend EU-GCC Event Organized by Masdar Institute that Highlights GCC’s Uptake
of Clean Energy Solutions
Ambassador Karan Bhatia, Vice President for Global Government Affairs & Policy at GE (NYSE:GE)
addressed students, faculty and staff of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology
Masdar participates in the ‘Flag Day’ initiative.
Masdar participates in GITEX 2013
Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov, Turkmenistan President, visits Masdar City
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Masdar Collaborate to Make UAE Diplomatic Buildings More Efficient.
From right -HE Sheikh Al Hamed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Mohamed Al Ramahi, Masdar’s
Chief Operating Officer
Researcher in ATIC Masdar Cleanroom
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TheMasdarTimes
Features
Living the green dream
A luxury sustainable lifestyle is already part of the Dubai real estate landscape, while Abu Dhabi is developing a first-of-itskind Emirati housing project built on Estidama principles
Al Barari, Dubai
Located off Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed
Road in the Dubai hinterland, the luxury Al
Barari community, whose name is derived
from the Arabic word for wilderness, is a
model development for high-end, sustainable
living.
The project was launched in 2005 by Emirati
businessman and developer Zaal Mohammed
Zaal, and positioned from the outset as the
Middle East’s first integrated, luxury ecoconscious development.
As a unique, environmentally sustainable
residential development for the region,
its limited-edition villas have all been
constructed according to a stringent
environmental management plan. The
plan incorporates landscaping featuring
a variety of local species of flora grown in
the community’s own 18-hectare onsite
Greenworks nursery.
While luxury is the keyword for the
development, which is set amidst 14
kilometres of landscaped lakes, streams and
gardens, it is one of the lowest density luxury
residential developments in the country, with
80 per cent of its total area dedicated to open
green spaces.
The four different styles of villas are grouped
in leaf-shaped clusters to minimise the
impact of the infrastructure on the land.
The master plan was designed to encourage
residents to walk and cycle rather than use
their cars.
Al Barari’s water management systems
incorporate a wide variety of applications
designed to optimise usage with smart
irrigation structures for villa gardens, an
on-site reverse osmosis plant that produces
Class A water for irrigation, and pollution
traps to prevent ground contaminants and
litter. Water run-off from villa rooftops is also
collected via a system of drainage trenches
and ‘soakaways’, and used to help replenish
groundwater reserves.
Villas also have individual energy-efficiency
home systems, and residents are encouraged
to recycle through the underground waste
system that separates organic from nonorganic waste.
Community facilities also include an organic
restaurant, The Farm.
Al Ain Ghareba, Abu Dhabi
An Emirati housing project situated close to
the city of Al Ain, the 1,000-villa community is
under development by the Abu Dhabi Urban
Planning Council (UPC) and Aldar Sorouh
Properties.
The first project of its kind that will be
constructed to comply with the Abu
Dhabi government’s stringent Estidama
sustainability guidelines, the resourceefficient community will be built to attain an
Estidama Pearl level two rating, based on a
rating system with a highest sustainability
level of four.
Key to the master plan is the fact that villas
will be sited within a walkable distance of 350
metres to local green spaces and community
facilities, with open areas and paths shaded to
encourage future residents to walk and cycle
throughout the year.
Features will include improved ventilation
design and increased natural daylight, with a
targeted 25 per cent efficiency improvement
on conventionally designed properties.
The improvement comes from special
thermostats located in all living and bedroom
spaces to optimise air-conditioning usage and
reduce energy consumption.
Water usage will also be 30 per cent lower
than average, thanks to the installation of
low-flow taps. Overall energy performance
targets of 20 per cent over regular homes
will be achieved through the implementation
of ultra-efficient window fittings and a solar
water-heating system that will produce 80 per
cent of total hot water requirements.
Insulation in the villas will be free from
ozone-depleting materials, and up to 20
per cent of all construction materials will
be regionally sourced with 50 per cent of
construction waste to be sent for recycling.
Viewpoint
Power grids so smart they can teach themselves
By Dr Wei Lee Woon, Masdar Institute Associate Professor of Computing & Information Science and Dr Hatem Zeineldin,
Associate Professor of Electrical Power Engineering
The future of electricity transmission depends
on two things – a renewable way to get energy
and an efficient way to get it where it needs to
go. The former is well underway, but the latter
has some distance to go.
the middle of the night, using their electronics
and appliances. To make matters even more
complicated, renewable sources of energy are
quite often physically spread out, such as solar
roof panels.
To make these adaptive and environmentally
friendly distribution systems, or smart grids, we
will need a number of significant advances in
the supporting technologies and systems.
Instead of a large single source, such as a
power plant, you have lots of small sources in
many places. Even power grids that include lots
of alternative energy sources would still require
conventional power plants to meet the peak
demand for electricity.
Today’s power grids are based on radial
topologies; they are one-way streets coming
from a single point. Electricity is generated at a
central source, then transmitted and distributed
to consumers in a one-way outflow. This is easy
to understand and easier to manage.
But soon, this simplistic configuration will no
longer suffice.
We expect in future that a large chunk of our
energy will come from renewable sources,
which are less predictable than current ones.
Sun and wind are the most obvious of these, but
unfortunately neither is constant, and the best
science in the world cannot control the weather.
Nor is the demand for electricity constant.
People will turn up their air-conditioning in the
heat of the day, but few people are awake in
As a result, we need grids in which power can
flow in both directions – individual users can be
either a net supplier or consumer at any given
time, depending on the conditions. Think of a
motorway system instead of one-way streets.
Consumers need to be able to tap the grid for
electricity when their own renewable energy
supply runs low, or supply it back to the same
grid when their rooftop solar panel or backyard
wind turbine generates excess.
A complex problem calls for a complex solution,
and among the most powerful computational
tools available to scientists today are machinelearning algorithms.
These are mathematical techniques that
enable computers to adapt and ‘learn’ to
handle specific and complex tasks. They have
been deployed in systems ranging from smart
phones to advanced robotics.
In the context of an electricity grid, we are
looking to design algorithms that can mitigate
the conflicts and problems resulting from
the complexities of a smart grid whose flow
changes with the flick of every light switch.
In particular, our team of researchers at the
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology has
been tackling the problem of fault detection.
Faults are abnormal occurrences in a power
grid that can choke or interrupt the supply of
electricity.
As they are used more, they will be able to
adapt and learn, constantly getting better.
By providing some of the smarts in a smart
grid, these systems will help keep future power
grids online so people have all the energy they
need without interruption.
The reliable and affordable supply of energy is
critical not only to living comfortably, but also
to economic strength and stability, which are
essential for any competitive and ambitious
country.
Beyond simply detecting faults, these intelligent
algorithms eventually promise more advanced
capabilities such as finding the locations
of faults, identifying their causes and even
predicting them before they happen.
These machine-learning techniques will be
used to design relays that can help to protect
a system and its users from these potential
dangers. And while these systems should work
from the moment we switch them on, that is
just the start.
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TheMasdarTimes
Features
From polluter to protector
A frontman for the UAE’s environmental movement on the global stage, Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi, known as the ‘Green
Sheikh’, is on a lifelong mission to make us all more ecologically aware
A frontman for the UAE’s environmental
movement on the global stage, Abdul Aziz bin
Ali Al Nuaimi, known as the ‘Green Sheikh’,
is on a lifelong mission to make us all more
ecologically aware
Eco-Systems was the first step for Al Nuaimi
towards making a 360-degree life change.
He later took on a high-profile role as official
environmental adviser for the emirate of
Ajman.
A degree in chemical and petroleum
engineering initially sent Abdul Aziz bin
Ali Al Nuaimi down a career path that
seemed destined to follow the petrodollar
fortunes of one of the world’s most valuable
commodities. However, a childhood dream
was the catalyst for a volte-face that took him
from polluter to protector.
A member of the Ajman royal family, he
is also CEO of Al Ihsan Charity Centre,
Chairman of the International Steering
Committee for the Global Initiative Towards a
Sustainable Iraq (GITSI), honourable president
of the Zayed Environmental Impact Network
and is involved with dozens of environmental
groups both here and abroad.
“My interest in the environment started when
I was six years old. My father, Sheikh Ali bin
Rashid Al Nuaimi, had a passion for falconry
and hunting, and I felt his connection to these
noble birds and nature, which was at the time
an unconsciousness learning experience,” he
says.
But it is the hands-on work he undertakes in
promoting environmental issues, especially
among young people, that marks him as a
true advocate for the cause, with an engaging
presentation style that is underpinned by his
own personal commitment to living a greener
lifestyle.
“What I remember most clearly is that he
said, ‘Don’t be a falconer like me, but become
the falcon yourself’. And when he passed
away in 1990, the falcon inside me appeared,
reigniting my dreams and passion,” he adds.
“We all face many challenges in our daily lives
involving carelessness, irresponsibility and
the unnecessarily high consumption of goods
in society,” he says.
His personal journey truly began to take
shape in 1996, as he explains: “For three
years, I worked in the oil industry and then
in natural gas liquefaction plants. I breathed
in sulfur dioxide from the air while I lived,
worked, and exercised; I was literally inhaling
low lethal doses of toxins. My lungs were
irritated and filled with toxic waste; my
breathing became laboured, and I saw people
psychologically and physically affected from
their exposure to the toxic environment.”
A PhD in Cleaner Production and Industrial
“I often use the term ‘Power Of Less’. With
less we can live better, healthier and more
sustainably. By ‘Living with Less’ and making
small changes at home, this will greatly
impact our lives, and behavioural change
starts at home and in schools,” he says.
Al Nuaimi has reduced his own carbon
footprint by around 30 per cent, significantly
reducing his personal plastic footprint by
eliminating plastic bags and plastic straws,
and using glasses instead. His children use
stainless steel bottles for their water, and
his showers last just two minutes, using the
equivalent of 15 litres of water.
“I am committed to reducing my own
ecological footprint each day. Living a
sustainable lifestyle will improve the quality
of life for our entire social circles, and
through these interactions we also enrich our
lives,” he says.
From personal commitment to the country’s
environmental agenda, Al Nuaimi praises
the efforts of the UAE in addressing its
sustainable future, as a young country
undergoing rapid development. “Our greatest
challenge is the source of our economic
success - the easy availability of fossil fuel,
the abundance of resources, shortages of
fresh natural water that make us dependent
on the desalinated seawater and almost taxfree opportunities.
“The country is working very intelligently to
raise awareness and application of clean,
renewable and alternative energies, such
as solar energy as seen with the recent
commissioning of Shams 1 (the world’s
largest operating concentrated solar
power plant), in order to instill a sense of
environmental responsibility and respect for
sustainability in our communities. This shows
that even a fossil fuel-rich country can be
committed to sustainable practices, and can
be a visionary for the future.”
As a role model for young people both in the
UAE and around the world, Al Nuaimi says his
advice to the next generation of environmental
game-changers is simple: “Be prepared for
responsibility, authority and accountability
for future challenges and, before that, define
the ultimate goal and identify your passion. It
is the plan that sets the action in motion; it is
the action that achieves results; and it is the
results that bring success.”
He shares a favourite quote from US General
George Patton, who said, ‘Never tell people
how to do things, but tell them what to do and
they will surprise you with their ingenuity’.
This is interwoven into his ‘5M’ approach
to preparing young leaders: modelling,
mentoring, monitoring, motivating and
multiplying.
“I respect youth and see them changing the
world. As a result of many years involved
in this area, I have come to one major
realisation, that the survival of our planet
and of us as people depends on inspiring the
young generation to get involved in addressing
these major issues, today. Young people
are powerful; they do not know what is not
possible,” he remarks.
While Al Nuaimi acknowledges that his work
is a lifelong commitment, he does have an
end goal. “I want to clone the Green Sheikh,
not in the sense of making an identical copy
of myself, but to create 1,000 new young,
talented sustainability-focused leaders for
our shared future,” he says, with a smile.
His goal is becoming a reality with the launch
of the Green Sheikh Academy™, which has
a ‘pay-it-forward’ approach to inspiring
and mentoring the first 1,000 individuals on
their journey to becoming future leaders
for environmental and social causes, as he
explains: “Each individual will in turn lead
the transformation of another 1,000 young
leaders through their lives, work and the
connections they create.”
“I often use the term ‘Power Of Less’. With less we can live better,
healthier and more sustainably. By ‘Living with Less’ and making small
changes at home, this will greatly impact our lives, and behavioural
change starts at home and in schools.”
Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi
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TheMasdarTimes
Did you know?
Over the last four years, the Sustainable Schools Initiative,
a joint Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi and Abu Dhabi
Education Council programme, has led to a 54% reduction
in water consumption and a 23% reduction in school waste
per capita among 130 participating institutions.
Seventy-two per cent of water used in the UAE comes from groundwater, 21 per cent from desalination and 7 per cent is treated
water. Per capita water usage is estimated at 550 litres per person
per day, compared to a global national average of 250 litres. Dubai
Municipality is working to reduce energy consumption by 50 per
cent per year across its 262 buildings, with the launch of an
initiative to switch from conventional lighting infrastructure to
energy-efficient, LED-based solutions.
Al Shohub School in Abu Dhabi has installed a 10-kilowatt wind turbine
that will provide energy to help power three science labs at its new
Khalifa City A campus. The turbine will also help the school to reduce its
carbon dioxide emissions by 2,400 kilogrammes per annum.
The Emirates Energy Star initiative, a joint collaboration between UAEheadquartered Pacific Controls and Etisalat, aims to reduce the carbon
footprint of buildings under its remit by 20 per cent, and will scale up the
programme to cover several thousand buildings across the UAE by the
end of 2014.
The UAE is home to the first landfill in the region that runs its
entire operation with electricity generated from landfill gas. Dubai
Municipality’s waste collection site in Al Ghusais currently
Events
Water, Energy, Technology and Environment
Exhibition (WETEX)
14-16 April, Dubai, UAE
Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice
President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, who has launched the initiative
to build a green economy in the UAE under the theme ‘Green Economy for Sustainable
Development,’ DEWA is working to realise the vision of His Highness to build a sustainable
future for the Emirate of Dubai. To achieve this, everyone at DEWA, from top leadership to its
frontline staff, aim to make DEWA become a sustainable world-class utility, and are actively
working to achieve this on many different levels. We are implementing a range of initiatives
to acquire global best practices in the field of renewable energy and environmentally-friendly
technologies as part of our overall strategy to develop a sustainable future for the Emirate of
Dubai, for generations to come.
www.worldfutureenergysummit.com
CityScape
22-24 April 2014, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Anchored by the World Future Energy Summit, this is the largest gathering on sustainability
in tAbu Dhabi’s only real estate investment and development event opened its doors again on
April 16th for the seventh edition of the most significant annual gathering of the real estate
professionals and investors. The exhibition, which ran concurrently alongside ecoConstruct
expo and Vision 2030 Conference Center, was a huge success with many of the key Abu
Dhabi based developers and government entities exhibiting, including Abu Dhabi Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, Abu Dhabi Department of Municipal Affairs, Abu Dhabi Urban
Planning Council, Abu Dhabi Education Council, Aldar Properties, Sorouh Real Estate,
Mubadala Real Estate & Infrastructure, Al Qudra, TDIC, Reem Island, Reem Investment, Al
Maabar and many more.
www.cityscapeabudhabi.com
UAE Green Festival
16 March – 16 April 2014, UAE
The inaugural UAE Green Festival will be a countrywide celebration specifically designed to
educate people across the seven emirates about a switching to a new way of life in an enjoyable
way. Held under the theme ‘live, learn and have fun in a low-carbon world’, the aim of the
festival is to promote the UAE’s sustainable identity as a leading green destination that provides
its residents and visitors with a better quality of life. Participants will gain firsthand experience
of various aspects of a green life including Green Shopping, Green Art, Green Fitness, EcoBreakfast, Eco-Fashion, and a Green Auto Show.
www.uaegreenfestival.com
produces one megawatt of electricity, which
powers the site offices and area lighting.
Officials want to increase this to 20 megawatts
by the end of the decade.
The Emirates Standardisation and Metrology Authority (ESMA)
Energy Rating system grades the energy consumption of household
products available across the UAE. The ratings are displayed on
labels to help consumers compare models and select the most
energy-efficient appliances for their needs.
The 4,000-square metre Change Initiative building, which provides
sustainable home and lifestyle solutions, has been named the most
sustainable commercial building in the world, following LEED Platinum
rating by the US Green Building Council. The building achieved 107
points out of a possible 110, beating the previous record-holder, Pixel, in
Australia.
Over 40 organic farms are now in business across the UAE, growing
a range of 62 products including date palms, tomatoes, green beans
and other vegetables and fruits. The Ministry of Environment and
Water has implemented a comprehensive training programme on the
fundamentals of organic farming for the agricultural sector, and is
currently working on a strategy for organic farming in the UAE.
The UAE’s long-term renewable energy goals are 5% of final energy from
renewables by 2030 in Dubai, and 7% of capacity from renewables by
2020 in Abu Dhabi.
Sources: Environment Agency Abu Dhabi, Dubai School of Government, WAM, IRENA,
Ministry of Environment & Water
Jargon buster
Cleantech terminology explained
DESERTIFICATION
The degradation of land in arid and semi-arid regions, which causes it to become increasingly
dry, and where it loses much of its vegetation and bodies of water. This is caused by a variety
of factors related to climate change, but also human activities such as the overexploitation of
grasses and other plant life.
Experts at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology are researching ways to increase
the organic carbon content of the UAE soil. This would allow for more productive and wider
agricultural activity, allowing us to grow more of our own food while removing carbon from
the air. It would also help reduce the problem of desertification. Eventually, without the
cover of plant life, topsoil that took aeons to produce could be picked up by the wind and
cause sandstorms, landslides, and even respiratory infections. The soil that carbon solution
researchers are studying will also help contribute to the UAE’s sustainability, waste and land
management practices.
E-CYCLING
The re-use or distribution for re-use of electronic equipment and related components, such
as computers, mobile phones and television sets, instead of discarding them at the end of
their lifecycle.
Interested in e-cycling some of your used electronics? Check out Ecyclex, an e-waste
management company based in the UAE. For more information on their services, visit their
website at www.ecyclex.com
GREEN PURCHASING
The buying of goods and services that minimise impact on the environment and are
socially responsible. Green purchasing also includes cost considerations, environmental
characteristics and the performance of a product through all the relevant stages of its
lifecycle from product design, development and production through to product use and the
actual handling of the item when it is no longer needed or is ready for disposal.
To learn more about green purchasing, pick up a copy of Green Purchasing & Sustainability by
Robert Menard.
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TheMasdarTimes
Green gifts
Go green in 2014
Book review
Start the year with environmental action front of mind and pick up
an at-home eco-solution to everyday living, or do your bit for the
region’s marine life, and pledge to protect an endangered species.
Footsteps of Thesiger
By Adrian Hayes; foreword by Sir Ranulph
Fiennes
It’s in the bag
A little green goes a long way with this
eco-friendly hamper containing all sorts of
goodies ranging from a reusable coffee cup
and designer shopping bag to biodegradable
sponges, all-purpose surface cleaners,
sandwich wrap and household eco reminder
stickers. Take the first step to living green
yourself: give it as a perfect housewarming
gift or surprise an environmentally aware
friend.
AED 288
Available at www.thegreenecostore.com
Adopt a turtle
Sign up to support the EWS-WWF Marine
Turtle Conservation Project and adopt
a turtle. The project is a collaboration
between the Emirates Wildlife Society
(EWS) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) .
By joining the cause, you will help to raise
the collective awareness of the turtles’
plight as part of a Gulf-wide, three-year
research and satellite-tracking programme.
The programme aims to conserve these
beautiful but endangered creatures. Your
pack includes an adoption certificate, cuddly
turtle toy, sticker, photo card with turtle
facts and programme brochure.
Available at www.thegreenecostore.com
AED 155
Renowned British explorer Sir Wilfred
Thesiger spent five years between 1946 and
1950 living in the deserts of Southern Arabia
and crossing the legendary Rub al-Khali, or
Empty Quarter. Some 65 years later, in 2011,
UAE-based British adventurer, business coach
and environmental sustainability advocate
Adrian Hayes attempted to retrace Thesiger’s
footsteps with his own 1,600-kilometre
crossing of the desert by camel and foot.
Hayes was accompanied by Emiratis Saeed
Rashid Al Mesafry and Ghafan Mohammed
Al Jabry. The 44-day trek harkened back to a
bygone era of outdoor adventure, with the trio
authentically recreating Thesiger’s journey,
from the use of handheld compasses and a
humble diet of dates, rice, flour and water, to
welcoming glimpses of local hospitality along
the route. This compelling narrative, which
also features captivating photographs of the
terrain and people who still inhabit this harsh
land, brings Thesiger’s original journey and
experience of the region’s stunning natural
landscape back to life, albeit in a world which
has since undergone dramatic change.
Available from www.booksarabia.com
If you have comments or
suggestions, we
would like to hear from
you, email us at:
themasdartimes@masdar.ae
AED 288
Got your own favourite green gadget?
Drop us a line at themasdartimes@masdar.ae with the details
and you could be featured in a future issue.
Kid’s corner
Colouring fun
Quick Quiz
Answer the following question and be one of 10
lucky winners to receive a Masdar goody bag!
Which of the
following
can you do
to help save
our beautifull
planet?
a.Turn off the water while you brush your
teeth
b.Ride your bike to school
c.Remind your parents to bring re-usable
bags when you go grocery shopping
d.All of the above
Send the answer, along with your name, age
and telephone number to:
themasdartimes@masdar.ae
Environmental
Tips for Kids
When you help your parents clean up, try to
use cloth instead of paper. That way, you can
just wash and reuse later. If you want to be
really creative, you can even make your own
cleaning rags from old T-shirts.
Stay connected
facebook.com/masdar.ae
twitter.com/masdar
youtube.com/masdarvideos
instagram.com/masdarofficial
The Masdar Times is a quarterly publication produced by Masdar’s Marketing and Corporate Communications Unit.
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