MASDAR ZERO EMISSIONS CITY

Masdar still matters
Dallas Kachan, January 21, 2010 (Cleantech Group)

"…One could be numbed by the excess [of the World Future Energy Summit (WFES) in Abu Dhabi of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)]. Or inspired by the essential question it raises: Can clean technologies indeed preserve, or even improve, the extravagant way of life that many of us have grown accustomed to? Does sustainability have to mean scarcity, as it has started to for many? The UAE appears to be gambling on a grand scale that, no, it doesn't.

"Masdar City—the intended jewel in the crown of the Masdar initiative— is taking form…Prestigious multi-million dollar cleantech innovation prizes being given out by the government dwarf those in North America, with dollar values 10 times those at the Cleantech Open…A commitment is being made to education, with the new Masdar Institute for Science and Technology attracting its first 80 students…"

Masdar City will not have cars but will have Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) electric vehicles guided by a citywide system of magnets embedded in the streets. (click to enlarge)

"The scale of Abu Dhabi's bet to attract scientists, large corporations and investors to help transform the oil-rich region into a clean technology center is becoming clear. A lot of capital is obviously in play, and it feels real…But there have been cracks showing...

"Masdar City is behind schedule; builders still call 2016 the official completion date, but media reports suggest it's been delayed four or more years…Speculation has risen in recent months that Masdar may be struggling to raise the capital to finish Masdar City and attract enough tenants to fill it…The WFES attracted fewer attendees this year than previous years…Abu Dhabi's audaciousness at making such big moves towards renewable energy is not earning it many friends elsewhere in the petroleum-centric Arab world, some local residents confide…"

Because the city will have no cars, its streets can be narrow and sheltered by architecturally-innovative buildings. (click to enlarge)

"Abu Dhabi is late to cleantech, compared to Europe, North America and China. But don't underestimate the depth of its pockets and the resolve and efficiency of authoritarian governments. The region is off the beaten path, but it has been drawing bright talent to its fledgling new industry, rewarding them amply. And China's cleantech rise is evidence of how quickly things can move when 'unencumbered' by democracy.

"The Emirates are clearly eyeing the profits to be made in next generation energy. But there's perhaps no better motivation than knowing your lifeblood, the fuel of your very existence, is about to run dry. The Emirates' rulers know just how much oil remains in their fields, and when they should ratchet up alternatives and at what cost…And for that reason, if nothing else, the smart money would likely be on the UAE and the region overall indeed emerging as a significant cleantech player in time…"