Masdar City changing the face of Abu Dhabi's power

The first phase of Abu Dhabi’s $22 billion carbon-free city will be completed in September opening up a new chapter in sustainable cities across the world.

In May Abu Dhabi company Enviromena completed construction of a 10MW solar plant to power the construction of the city. The next stage will see the grand opening of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology – the world’s only graduate school dedicated to alternative energy, which will open in September.

This will pave the way for 100 Masters students, who will be living in apartments in the city, to begin courses at the Masdar Institute, which is run in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Masdar City proposes to be completely dependent on renewable energy with all the facilities and houses being powered by rooftop solar panels.

As part of a city heavily dependent on oil for its power and wealth - with one of the world’s largest reserves - the move to build a carbon free city in Abu Dhabi is seen by many as pioneering.

Recently it was announced that the International Renewable Energy Agency – with 136 member countries - would house its headquarters in Masdar City: a huge triumph for the project’s status.

“Masdar City will revolutionise life as we know it,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber.

“It will challenge national and local governments to apply more sustainable, forward thinking urban planning and design principles.”

With reports about climate change and global warming becoming more prominent the need for sustainable cities like Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City is evident.

At the beginning of 2008 UN figures recorded that for the first time more than half the world’s population were living in towns and cities, meaning more pollution.

“In the heart of Abu Dhabi work has started on the most ambitious sustainable development in the world today,” said Khalid Awad, Masdar Project Manager.

“Masdar City will be the world’s first carbon neutral, zero-waste to landfill, car-free city powered entirely by alternative energy sources. “Developed by Masdar, an initiative for advancing the development, commercialisation and deployment of renewable and alternative energy technologies and solutions, the City is the physical embodiment of Abu Dhabi’s vision.”

Designed by Foster+Partners on six sq km of land the city will be home to 1,500 businesses and 40,000 residents and will accommodate 50,000 commuters upon its completion in 2016.

Built on what will be the new capital district the secret to the success of this carbon free city will not be solely down to its solar panels but its attention to detail that will see amenities close at hand for residents

“The city will be a pedestrian-friendly environment, meticulously planned so that residents will only have to walk a maximum of 200m in any direction to access essential services,” added Awad.

The breakdown of the city will be 30 per cent for housing; 20 per cent for a business and research district, 10 per cent for commercial purposes and light manufacturing, three per cent for the Masdar Institute, 24 per cent for service and transportation, three per cent for civic and cultural pursuits and finally 10 per cent for showcasing and testing technology.

With no cars to take residents and workers from A to B an integrated and frequent public transportation system was imperative.

“Our Personal Rapid Transport (PRT) allows residents to travel around the city for longer journeys,” added

“The PRT vehicles will travel at speeds of approximately 7m per second with the longest routes in the city being approximately 2.5 km.

“The longest trips in the city will be around 10 minutes long. A Freight Rapid Transport (FRT) will be deployed to move goods into and around the City.”

And of course the PRT & FRT will be entirely powered by renewable energy and there will also be a light rail system linking Masdar City Abu Dhabi’s planned metro system.

But with all the work on making the city carbon free much relies on those who live and work there and those that commute to make its carbon footprint as low as possible.

“This will be one of the most interesting aspects to Masdar City – behaviour,” added Awad. “We will have the technology in place to enable low-carbon living, but it will still be up to the individuals to embrace this.

“What sets Masdar apart is its ambition. No-one has attempted a sustainable development on the scale of Masdar before. It is a great challenge but we are proud to be leading the charge to a more sustainable way of life.”

Awad said the City aims to become the Silicon Valley for the clean technology age.

“Within the city’s walls, leading companies, researchers and entrepreneurs will live and work to create a community and economy that seeks to develop sustainable solutions to the global energy and environmental challenges we face,” he added.

Masdar City will be permanently connected to the Abu Dhabi municipal grid and the grid will be used to store the surplus renewable energy generated during the day for use at night.

“The greatest challenge came in the amount of power we are generating from the 10MW PV plant and sending to the grid,” adds Awad.

“Ten megawatts is a significant amount of power, and a plant this size has not been grid-connected in the Middle East before. “However, we have worked closely with Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority and the Abu Dhabi Distribution Company and the Regulation and Supervision Bureau and it’s clear that Abu Dhabi is committed to renewable energy and this close partnership will help to streamline future projects.”