Looking at recent local and international commitments, it is our view that the world has reached a tipping point in the acceptance of renewable energy generation technologies.

Considering the commitments by the Governments of Australia and the United States to make significant investments in renewable energy technologies, a commitment by the European Parliament to reduce carbon emissions by 20 percent by 2020, and international efforts led by the Governments of Germany, Denmark and Spain to establish an International Renewable Energy Agency, dedicated to the widespread adoption of renewable energy on a global scale. It is quite a step forward in the global quest to invest in the clean energy generation and development, for a more sustainable energy future.

Out of all major renewable energy projects  developed  across the  globe, Masdar clean energy initiative is no doubt the most well planned, well invested, highly ambitious and currently the new hope for the adoption of renewable energy technology as an alternative source of energy in the near future. The well established structure of the multi-faceted initiative, in one of the global business hub  and the huge amount invested, makes it looks sustainable and to be a gate-way to more bigger global renewable energy initiatives that will positively solve the serious threat and bad signal being flash by the oil-peak and climate change phenomenon.

MARDAR CITY INITIATIVE

The project is a global cooperative platform for the open engagement in the search for solutions to some of mankind's most pressing issues: energy security, climate change and the development of human expertise in sustainability. Situated in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, the project’s objective is to position Abu Dhabi as a world-class research and development hub for new energy technologies, effectively balancing its strong position in an evolving world energy market. And to drive the commercialization and adoption of these and other technologies in sustainable energy, carbon management and water conservation.

The City will be built over seven years at an investment in excess of US$20 Billion. Its master plan design meshes the century-old learning of traditional Arabic urban planning and architecture with leading-edge technologies to create a sustainable, high-quality living environment for all residents. It will be built in seven carefully designed phases, incorporating the latest technological advances generated in its clean-tech cluster and globally.

STRUCTURES AND STRANDS OF THE PROJECT

The project differs with other renewable energy projects in several ways and hence looks more sustainable than any other renewable energy initiative globally at present time. Apart from designing and developing a zero carbon, zero waste environment which is the first element of the initiatives, the project include establishment of  different strands to fully support, empower and sustain the innovation. These strands include the development of

1.       Masdar carbon management unit: Masdar’s Carbon Management Unit develops greenhouse gas emissions reduction projects. It creates value by monetizing greenhouse gas emission reductions under the provisions of the United Nations’ led Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) framework of the Kyoto Protocol. The unit also develops sustainable technologies, including large-scale projects that generate sizeable carbon emission reductions, with a particular focus on CO2 Capture and Storage (CCS).

2.       Masdar Energy, utilities and asset management unit: The unit’s strategy is to develop renewable energy projects with in-country partners. Torresol Energy, a joint venture between Masdar and Spanish engineering group Sener, already has three solar power plants in Spain with an approximate combined value of €800 million, one of which will be a CSP Central Tower Receiver System. This technology will feature the first-ever commercial deployment of projects across the Sunbelt countries by 2012. The Utilities team is positioned as Renewable Energy power project developer, in bridging the gap between the equipment manufacturers that lack project development capital and local utilities that lack the Renewable Energy economics, knowledge and know-how. The team is committed to making direct investments in projects in all areas of renewable energy and sustainability. The unit is currently focused on Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), Photovoltaic (PV), Wind and Waste-to-Energy.

3.       Masdar institute of science and Technology: Another strand to the Masdar initiative is the Institute of Science and Technology. This is being developed in Masdar City in co-operation with MIT. The Institute launched its first Master of Science programmes in September 2009, and aims to have PhD programmes going by 2011. Recruitment of faculty staff has been carried out with MIT’s assistance, and research will take place both in the US and in Abu Dhabi. Among the topics to be looked at will be hybrid solar energy conversion, high performance PV cells, wave power and integration of renewable energy into grids.

4.       Masdar Industrial unit: Masdar PV is Abu Dhabi’s first high-tech manufacturing company. Starting with facilities in Erfurt, Germany (followed by Abu Dhabi) producing amorphous thin film photovoltaic modules of an annual capacity of 210 MW. Applied Materials has been chosen as the main equipment provider.
Masdar PV’s Executive Management is renown in the solar industry for decades and is headed by the CEO Dr. Rainer Gegenwart and COO Joachim Nell.
This first phase of the development (at an investment of US$ 600 Mn) is merely the starting point of Masdar’s Gegawatt (GW) ambitions with a number of planned expansions into the US and other markets. The High-Tech Manufacturing Cluster is currently being developed in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, north of Abu Dhabi City. The cluster will span an area of approximately 4km2 and together with the planned Masdar City, will represent the center for high-tech development and deployment in the Region. And Given its location, economic growth and low cost base, the cluster will attract not only companies from the solar industry but also from related supply areas such as gas, glass, and many more. The most innovative companies in the world are arriving in Abu Dhabi to partner with us and be part of the journey to create, work and live in Masdar City.

5.       Masdar property development unit: Masdar City will feature all of the modern conveniences, services and benefits of living in one of the great cities of the world, but in a carbon-neutral environment. The City is a free zone clean-tech cluster. Academics, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and financers and more than 1,500 visionary companies will have offices, research centers and operations within city walls, benefiting from 100% foreign ownership, zero taxes, zero import tariffs, zero restrictions on capital movement and among the strongest intellectual property protection in the region.

The coming of all these strands together would no doubt make Masdar as the global renewable energy hub. And makes the initiative a more sustainable and well developed project that will re-shape the future energy demand positively.