Masdar Zero Carbon Zero Waste
The World’s First Zero Carbon, Zero Waste City
Masdar City – the world’s first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city. A vibrant and beautiful city, powered by renewable energy, innovative building practices and new standards in sustainable living currently under construction in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Masdar City, soon to become home to 40,000 residents and 50,000 daily commuters, is being built around pedestrians, where open public squares intersect with narrow shaded walkways and connect to homes, schools, restaurants, theatres and shops. A city powered by solar cells and wind turbines, where 80% of the water is recycled. A city planned to be green. An urban environment being built in the desert. The 2.48 square miles (4 square kilometers), of city using micro-climate to both extract energy and keep the streets at comfortable temperatures.The architecture of the city is inspired by the traditional medinas, souks and wind towers of the Arab world.
The City is a free zone clean-tech cluster. Academics, researchers, students, entrepreneurs and financers and more than 1,500 of the most innovative visionar y companies in the world 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.
Phase One of Masdar City has already begun – The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is near completion and Masdar City will be home to 100 students and faculty this fall. Developed in cooperation with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology emulates MIT’s high standards and offers Master’s and Doctoral-level degree programs focused on the science and engineering of advanced energy and sustainable technologies. MIT is working with Masdar to establish a sustainable, homegrown academic and scientific research institute.
The Industries Unit invests globally and locally to establish a portfolio of production assets in renewable clean energy. The unit’s Solar Manufacturing High-Tech Cluster’s current flagship investment is Masdar PV, a $600 million phase-one investment that will fund the construction of plants in Germany and Abu Dhabi with a combined annual output of 210 megawatts. Further expansions are planned to allow the company to achieve 1 gigawatt of annual output. The unit is actively developing investments in other renewable and clean technologies, such as energy storage, efficiency, lighting, and wind.
Spanning four square kilometers, the cluster will house production facilities for th ree main PV technologies: crystalline-based PV; thin-film PV (including Masdar PV); and concentrated PV (CPV); as well as a supporting supplier base.
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 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).
The research center will focus on critical technologies for sustainable cities of the future including solar energy, energy efficient buildings, water, and desalination technologies, cooling technologies, intelligent electricity supply concepts, electro-mobility and carbon footprint measurement and evaluation.
Masdar City – the world’s first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city powered entirely by renewable energy sources. Masdar will be completed in 2016. One day, all cities will be built like this.
…. as the green future unfolds!
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Tags: Abu Dhabi, climate, energy, environment, Everything Solar, Going Green, green, greenhouse gas, Kyoto Protocol, Masdar City, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, renewable energy, United Arab Emirates, water, wind
September 30th, 2009 at 8:48 am
wow is it true zero carbon???
Sugar Cribs´s last blog ..Choosing Perfect Color For Small Bedroom
September 30th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Congrats to UAE. That’s awesome!
September 30th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
nice info.
Sam´s last blog ..The Photo’s of OUr Hardwork
September 30th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Hi Sugar Cribs …. yes! it is true!
September 30th, 2009 at 11:57 pm
Hi Barbara … They deserve it!
October 1st, 2009 at 12:08 am
Hi Sam … Thanks a lot.
October 1st, 2009 at 2:05 am
Absolutely gorgeous pictures! We (the U.S.) should be ashamed of ourselves not to be current with technology. We all the goings on from the nutcases out there isn’t doesn’t seem like we’re ever going to get any closer to being part of the solution. I wish everyone would stop and think – and act as a team. This new City is an inspiration to all!
Diane Scott´s last blog ..Boy What A Week
October 1st, 2009 at 3:02 am
It’s an interesting thought and a very useful experience. Just wonder if it can be repeated anywhere else in the world. In Abu Dhabi, money is not an issue most of the time nor is return on investment.
But we may learn something from the experiment.
Luc J´s last blog ..Alternative to an Air Conditioner or Swamp Cooler – Air Cooler Plus
October 1st, 2009 at 8:39 am
It looks like a beautiful place. I wonder if those who live there will mind when it becomes a tourist attraction.
October 1st, 2009 at 12:00 pm
Outstanding utilization of renewable energy technology. This should be the model for future community planning going forward.
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:35 am
Hey, we just started http://greenfession.com – our site where you can confess your environmental transgressions and learn what you can do to change!
We thought it would be a fun way to get people to talk about their efforts, and more importantly, for people to comment and provide solutions.
So yeah, we’re just trying to spread the word and get some links back to our site! We do have a few ads on the site, but they’re simply to pay for the website script and hosting
Thank you! Let’s make a change!
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:43 am
Wow, what a spectacular landscape here, Linda. Hopefully, US will follow UAE’s step very soon…
wilson´s last blog ..Taking Medicines with Milk is not a Wise Idea!
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:07 am
Hi Diane … You bet! Imagine them all over!
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:08 am
Hi Luc J … I am sure it can be repeated and probably less money but we will have to wait to see who will step up for the challenge.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:09 am
Hi Karen …. No, I do not believe they will mind.
Hi Discount solar … I am sure that it will be seen as one to follow.
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:13 am
Hi greenfession … I like your idea! Go for it!
October 2nd, 2009 at 7:13 am
Hi Wilson … It would be great if other places followed their lead.
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 pm
That is very nice.
October 2nd, 2009 at 3:57 pm
I imagine the economic downturn has whalloped this plan?
[v]´s last blog ..Somerset Witch project
October 3rd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I certainly hope more things are done faster; things that truly make a difference. Between the US and China…seems we do more “bad” faster than anyone else can do “good”. Truly shameful
Maureen´s last blog ..Multiple Streams of Income: Blessing or Curse?
October 3rd, 2009 at 9:04 pm
Hi heath …. thanks !
Hi v … Nope! it is good!
Hi Maureen … Ain’t that the truth.
October 4th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
Sounds amazing! It strikes me as a bit of poetic justice that this city is being built in the heart of “Big Oil” country funded predominantly by oil revenue I would imagine. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the oil giants in the US would take notice and create their own version in the US?
Earth Friendly Goodies´s last blog ..YummyEarth Organic Lollipops: A Boo-Licious Halloween Candy
October 4th, 2009 at 11:46 pm
Hi Earth Friendly … That would be amazing and shocking at the same time! However, it would certainly change their image should they do it.
October 5th, 2009 at 11:55 am
@1: Masdar City is more accurately described “carbon neutral” and ‘minimum waste’ as there are some required elements, such as fire trucks, that the project’s Economic Free Zone status doesn’t exempt them from. Eliminating automobiles will be a huge carbon benefit — Masdar is testing a podcar system similar to the one at Heathrow (see next Forced Green post)
@13 and 17: Abu Dhabi’s strategy is for Masdar to become a worldwide ‘green brand’ associated with sustainable practices and technology. Thus the emphasis on research, development and commercialization — they are buying and partnering with startups (e.g. solar and waste to energy companies), building the Masdar Institute, and signing up major corporations as tenants. It will also be the headquarters of the new International Renewable Energy Agency.
@19: Abu Dhabi is in fairly good financial shape as it didn’t go overboard on property development like neighboring Abu Dhabi. Still, the UAE as a whole has the world’s biggest per capital carbon footprint, so Masdar has huge symbolism.
October 5th, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Hi Mr. Grant … Thank you for the additional information. You certainly have covered all of the points…
October 15th, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Hello from Russia!
Can I quote a post in your blog with the link to you?
October 20th, 2009 at 12:57 am
It’s amazing how beautiful this city is. I never imagined it looking this way – more space age I guess!
ConnieFoggles´s last blog ..Gearing Up For Action
October 20th, 2009 at 5:36 am
Hi Connie … The imagination is a wonderful thing and to see a plan come to life is amazing.