By Deirdre Robert
Posted on Aug. 27, 2010. Listed in:
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They don’t do things by halves in the UAE and Masdar City, a clean technology cluster being developed on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi that will be powered entirely by renewable energy, is no exception. The cluster is being constructed 17 kilometres east-south-east of Abu Dhabi. Masdar City (reportedly due to be completed this year) launched in February 2008 and is one part of an overall Masdar initiative, which also includes Masdar Carbon, Masdar Power and Masdar Venture Capital. Established in 2006, Masdar (the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company) aims to advance the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable energy solutions and clean technologies. And if you’re wondering what the word ‘Masdar’ actually means, it’s an Arabic word meaning “the source.” Apt.
“Masdar builds on Abu Dhabi’s position as a leading global energy player, with an aim to develop renewable energy and low-carbon technologies at a global level; whilst contributing toward the UAE’s economic diversification through the development of a knowledge-based clean energy sector in the UAE. It seeks to be a leading renewable energy and clean technology player by providing a test bed for the world to develop commercially viable, sustainable energy solutions,” says the Masdar site.
- Masdar Carbon specialises in developing energy efficiency and clean fossil fuel projects that bring significant reduction in carbon emissions.
- Masdar Power builds and invests in utility scale renewable energy power projects.
- Masdar Venture Capital manages the Masdar Clean Tech Funds, a series of diversified venture capital investment vehicles focused on building portfolios of direct investments in clean technology and renewable energy.
In many ways it draws parallels with China’s Solar Valley, which China is calling “the biggest solar energy production base in the world” (read the Celsias story here).
To appreciate the full and ambitious scale of the Masdar City project, watch this video.
