Masdar Institute and Abu Dhabi’s Executive Affairs Authority Sign Research Framework Agreement Abu Dhabi-UAE: 11 November, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced the establishment of a multi-entity taskforce that will focus on managing the energy demand for cooling in Abu-Dhabi.The Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi (EAA) will be the coordinating Government entity for this initiative, which will focus on new demand-side technologies and strategies for reducing energy demand for cooling. The taskforce will also include participation and support from the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), the Regulation and Supervision Bureau, the Department of the Municipal Affairs (ADM), and the Urban Planning Council (UPC).
In the presence of His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Bawardi, His Excellency Mohammed Ahmed Al Bawardi, Member of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and Chairman of the Executive Committee, and Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar and Chairman of the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of Masdar Institute, the agreement was signed by His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi, and Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute. His Excellency Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of the EAA, said: “This agreement reflects the Government’s commitment to promoting research within the UAE and involving partners with research and knowledge capabilities to help us achieve our objectives.
The outcome of this agreement will contribute to achieving the economic, social and environmental goals of the Emirate.†Dr Sultan Al Jaber said: ““Air-conditioning accounts for over 60% of Abu Dhabi’s electricity demand, making it the most costly source of electricity in the Emirate. Masdar has been a regional leader in the deployment of advanced cooling technologies with investment in geothermal cooling, absorption chillers, and district cooling. The new research program that Masdar Institute has undertaken with EAA demonstrates the Institute’s ongoing commitment to providing research that will help address the region’s most significant technological challenges.
This research program is aligned with Masdar City’s technology roadmap and will benefit from having Masdar City as a test bed for innovative cooling solutions that follow from the research.†The research agreement covers six specific projects aimed at managing Abu Dhabi’s energy demand for cooling. They include two projects to design GCC-specific enhancements to commercial chiller and air handling equipment, as well as a project to develop model-based decision-support tools for estimating life-cycle cost/carbon impact of energy efficiency measures.
In addition, a project to improve predictive maintenance of buildings and building systems through monitoring and mathematical analysis of the performance data, a project to develop measurement and verification techniques and energy performance business models to promote demand-side management in the Emirate as well as a project to design and test an advanced end-use sub-metering system will also be part of the agreement. The projects will be conducted within Masdar Institute’s Building Technology Research Center and led by Professors Dr Afshin Afshari, Professor of Practice – Engineering Systems and Management program, and Dr Peter Armstrong, Associate Professor – Mechanical Engineering program. Dr Fred Moavenzadeh said: “With the support of the country’s leadership, Masdar Institute has established itself as a center for innovation, driving research excellence in sustainability.
The research agreement with EAA once again affirms the status and capabilities of the research-based institution in successfully obtaining creative solutions in clean technology areas. We hope the agreement will lead to cutting-edge outcomes, helping the communities in hot and humid regions to adopt increasingly sustainable lifestyles.†Masdar Institute currently has advanced cooling research with Tabreed for optimal control of district cooling systems as well as ongoing projects for solar cooling using single and double effect absorption chillers.
This new research program with EAA builds upon the advanced cooling and building technology research already underway at Masdar Institute. With several research initiatives, Masdar Institute remains fundamental to Masdar’s core objectives of developing Abu Dhabi’s knowledge economy and finding solutions to humanity’s toughest challenges such as climate change.
Established as an on-going collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Masdar Institute integrates theory and practice to incubate a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, working to develop the critical thinkers and leaders of tomorrow. With its world-class faculty and top-tier students, the Institute is committed to finding solutions to the challenges of clean energy and climate change through education and research.
