Masdar awarded 'Sustainable City of the Year' by Euromoney

Masdar, the landmark initiative by the Abu Dhabi government to promote advanced energy and sustainability worldwide, has been named 'Sustainable City of the Year' at the Euromoney and Ernst & Young Global Renewable Energy Awards 2007.

The award, the latest plaudit for the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, was presented at the 9th Annual Global Renewable Energy and Finance Forum (REFF) in London on Monday (September 24, 2007) by veteran BBC journalist John Humphrys. The REFF is Europe's largest and most established event for the renewable energy finance community.

Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber said the award shows the centrality of the Masdar Initiative in the global renewable energy sphere.

'This is a valuable recognition of Masdar's commitment to and vision of a clean energy future for the world, and provides a significant impetus for us to move forward,' he said. 'We are honoured by this gesture of trust and confidence from our peers in the industry.'

The REFF conferences unite public and private investors, project developers and senior executives from across the renewable energy, technology and corporate funding sectors worldwide. Conference delegates and members of the public can vote in the Global Renewable Energy Awards, which recognise the projects, companies and individuals who have made significant contributions to the renewable energy sector.

The 2007 awards were presented in 12 categories, including IPO of the Year, Emerging Technology Promoter of the Year, Climate Change Investment Programme of the Year and Sustainable Region/City of the Year.

In June, Masdar received the first World Clean Energy Award from the Transatlantic21 Association in Basel, Switzerland.

Masdar is a comprehensive Abu Dhabi government program addressing the issues of sustainable energy sources and environmental practices. The program is focused on developing and commercializing advanced and innovative technologies in renewable, alternative and sustainable energies. via ameinfo.com

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Masdar UAE Offers Scholarships

Masdar the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company has launched a UAE-wide search for top young scholars to pursue graduate-level science and engineering degrees at its seven university partners. Twenty Masdar Fellowships will be awarded to engineering and science graduates who demonstrate outstanding performance and a strong commitment to help build the UAE’s scientific base.

Sultan Al Jaber, Masdar CEO emphasized: “Masdar’s philosophy is to develop the UAE’s indigenous human capital, to transform the natural resource wealth of the country to a long-term, competitive and sustainable knowledge economy”.

Masdar Fellows will be able to pursue research areas of interest in any of the member institutions in Masdar Research Network (MRN). The MRN is a unique collaborative network of world-class scientists and researchers in seven leading scientific centres on three continents, including Columbia University (USA), Imperial College London (UK), RWTH Aachen University (Germany), German Aerospace Center-DLR (Germany), Tokyo Institute of Technology (Japan), University of Waterloo (Canada), CIEMAT – Research Centre for Energy, Environment and Technology (Spain).

Each fellowship will cover educational and living expenses, in addition to a pre-set salary and foreign living allowance. Upon graduation, Masdar Fellows may choose to work at Masdar, the Masdar Institute of Science & Technology (MIST), founded through a cooperative agreement with the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), or a Masdar-related joint venture.

Current Masdar research included many cutting-edge technologies, such as solar energy, water technologies, carbon capture and storage, biofuels, energy storage and energy efficiency.

Applications will be accepted until May 31, 2007. Potential candidates should submit their CV and expression of interest to the MRN Fellowship Committee by e-mail: mrnfellowships@masdar.ae - TradeArabia News Service

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$350m Solar Power Plant Coming in Abu Dhabi

The government of Abu Dhabi will build a $350-million solar power plant, the first of its kind in the world's biggest oil exporting region, an investor in the project said on Sunday.

The 500 megawatt plant, expected to begin operations in 2009, is part of Abu Dhabi's drive to cut dependence on hydrocarbon power generation, said Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive of state-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co.

Future Energy, a subsidiary of government-owned Mubadala Development Co, and the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority will fund the plant with other investors.-

end post (via Trade Arabia News Service)

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Abu Dhabi to set up Gas Distribution Network

Abu Dhabi is embarking an ambitious plan to establish a vast natural gas distribution network across the emirate, officials said yesterday. "The big picture of the project involves providing natural gas for residential buildings to replace liquified petroleum gas (LPG), and to make it the primary source of energy for the industrial establishments, as well as expanding the network of natural gas refilling stations for motor vehicles," an official at Adnoc distribution told Gulf News.

The work on the residential pipeline network will begin by mid-2008, with several gas stations planned to complement the existing two at Mussafah and near Port Zayed.
"Further, the developers of Al Reem island are installing a natural gas pipeline network that will be connected to our grid as soon as it is accomplished," the official added.

Adnoc distribution provides natural gas to ten major customers at the Industrial City of Abu Dhabi (ICAD I), and is working now on a major project to supply Emirates Steel with its needs. The company is looking as well to provide the gas to at least 20 major customers in ICAD II. "The work will start this year to construct a gas network to cover all of ICAD II, including all the big industries such as ceramics, glassware, chemicals, and so forth," he said.

The industrial areas get the supply from the Mussafah station which receives the gas from Maqtaa through a sub-sea pipeline. However, Adnoc plans to expand the sources of natural gas with the commencement of the Dolphin project.
"Though the main source will be developing more facilities in Habshan," the source added, explaining that "the pipeline network will be extended remarkably with the new line passing through the city adjacent to the sub-sea line creating a loop all the way round."(via Gulf News)

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