The International Resource Journal: Al Masdar

Al Masdar
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admin on 13 November, 2009 04:02:00
 
The Masdar Initiative of the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company is a multifaceted
initiative advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of
renewable and alternative energy technologies and solutions.
Masdar is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Mubadala Development Company
(Mubadala). Through the Masdar initiative, Abu Dhabi is utilizing its wealth of
resources experience in the global energy markets in order to advance the
emerging technologies of the future. The initiative will place Abu Dhabi as a
leader in research and development for future energy technologies, equal to its
current footing in the growing world energy market.
“Masdar will also drive the commercialisation and adoption of these and
other technologies in sustainable energy, carbon management and water
conservation to play a decisive role in Abu Dhabi's transition from a technology
consumer to a technology producer,” Masdar’s press release states.
IRJ takes a closer look at Masdar’s unrivalled portfolio of projects from
the Masdar City, from the Institute of Science and Technology, to the range of
Masdar Units, and beyond.
Making Masdar
The late Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the United Arab Emirates,
spoke of the environment as “an integral part of our country, our history
and our heritage.”
Abu Dhabi has a great history of environmental awareness and action. The late
Sheikh Zayed himself created a sanctuary for endangered species, including the
Arabian Oryx and sand gazelle. In 1995, he received the World Wildlife Fund
(WWF) “Golden Panda” Award; their highest accolade given only to
those with the greatest commitments to nature.
Today, in his memory, Abu Dhabi has created Masdar. The initiative is made up of
five units build around a foundation of human capital, financing, technology and
infrastructure.
On March 16th the Executive Affairs Authority (EEA) of Abu Dhabi officially
launched ‘Al Masdar.’
The launch took place in a presentation to General Shaikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al
Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE. The
launch was attended by a host of global energy players including BP, Shell,
Mitsubishi, Total and a great many ministers and Sheikhs who are all members of
the initiative.
"We recognise that the future of sustainability and renewable energy lies in
both increased scale and commercialisation. Our approach is therefore about
creating a significant initiative; one borne out of partnership with commercial
entities that already do, or will, lead the sector," Khaldoon Khalifa Al
Mubarak, Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Affairs Authority, told press.
Murabak explained that Masdar consists of four key elements; a research and
development (R&D) center focusing on all aspects of sustainable energy
technology, a University equipped to educate 350 graduates specializing in
renewable energy, a company focused on commercializing carbon emissions
reduction and Clean Development Mechanism solutions corresponding to the Kyoto
Protocol.
Murabak also announced that General Shaikh Mohammed pledged $100 million towards
the creation of a Clean Technology Fund. This fund was aimed at working with
private sector Abu Dhabi companies and foreign bodies focusing on emerging
sustainable technologies.
The Masdar CCS Unit
Masdar's Carbon Management Unit focuses on the development of emission reducing
project.
“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),” Masdar explains.
In November 2008, Masdar awarded the design contract for their flagship CCS
project, Mustang Engineering, based in Houston, Texas. A subsidiary of
international energy services company, John Wood Group PLC, was selected to
provide front-end engineering and design (FEED) for the Abu Dhabi CCS plant. In
addition, J P Kenny, also a Wood Group company, was selected to oversee FEED
services for the CO2 pipeline network that will connect the capture sites in Abu
Dhabi to the oilfield injection sites.
“This project marks a major milestone in our leadership’s vision to
provide clean energy, reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainable
development,” Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Al Jaber told press.
“We selected Mustang Engineering because of their industry-leading
position in CO2 recovery, conditioning and injection projects, as well as their
expertise in energy production projects worldwide. This series of projects will
reduce our carbon footprint, and position Masdar and Abu Dhabi as global leaders
in clean power.”
This project entails a roadmap network to connect major CO2 emitters with oil
reservoirs, and is aimed at significantly slashing Abu Dhabi’s carbon
emissions by 2020.
Today Masdar plans to install CCS technology at two existing power plants in
addition to this project.
Masdar City
Abu Dhabi is embarking on a truly awe-inspiring mission: In 2006, the Abu Dhabi
Future Energy Company (ADFEC) began work on a USD$22 billion city, taking eight
years to build, powered entirely by renewable energy with a zero carbon ecology.
With Foster and Partners, a British architectural firm, and project managers
CH2M HILL, based in Oregon in the United States, the project is set for its
first stage of inhabitants in 2009. It is located approximately 17 kilometres
from Abu Dhabi airport, 30 kilometres east of Abu Dhabi city, and will house the
headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). Masdar city
will span six square kilometres and house up to 50,000 residents and 1,500
businesses.
The project has caught the attention of many major energy players around the
world, including the Consensus Business Group, Credit Suisse and Siemens Venture
Capital who are all partners in the city through the Clean Tech Fund.
“It’s going to be wider than just Masdar,” Khaled Awad, Masdar
city property development unit director told press in 2008.
“We’re going to challenge conventional theories on urban development
and we want input from all stakeholders from day one, regionally and
globally.”
In October 2009, Masdar announced that the Masdar City will take part in a pilot
program with GE Consumer & Industrial to assess ways to reduce peak power
demands through smart-technology, demand response home appliances.
A number of Masdar City’s first residents will road test GE’s
products including specially designed refrigerators, washer/dryers and cooking
hobs.
“This is a significant milestone in the realization of our vision to see
Masdar City become not only a global center of research and development in
renewable energy and clean technologies, but also a unique metropolitan-scale
test bed for these new technologies,” Sultan Al Jaber told press.
“The GE smart appliances used in the pilot will be the first in the world
to provide two way communication and built-in advanced energy management
functionality that will reduce power demand in response to notification of
changing utility prices and energy demand, while also measuring and transmitting
real time power consumption data,” James Campbell, CEO and President  of
GE said.
Masdar continues
On September 6th 2009, the first classes at the Masdar Institute of Science and
Technology began.
On October 28th, Masdar signed up to join with the Seychelles government and
investigate the wind power potential of the holiday honey pot. On November 4th,
Energy Innovations Inc., of Pasadena, California, a manufacturer of solar
modules and systems, was awarded the contract for installing their sunflower
system in Masdar City.
The initiative continues to grow and adapt, to embrace the latest in sustainable
technology and exemplify the implementation of this in our future.