Book Compiled by Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research Offers Insights into GCC Region’s Rising Future Demand for Electricity

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 24 September, 2012 – The need for energy conservation and reducing the anticipated rise in demand through modern technology has become all the more necessary following the projected total demand of 391GW in the Middle East by the year 2028 from the current level of 292GW, according to a book compiled by the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR).

Published by ECSSR, the book titled ‘Future Gulf Energy Sources: Hydrocarbon, Nuclear or Renewable?’ states that rapid expansion of commercial and industrial base has led to a massive increase in the demand for electricity. Therefore, the GCC countries are required to adopt energy conservation measures and increase investments in alternative energies and sustainable technologies, it points out.

Commending the role of Masdar Institute and the Masdar initiative, a paper by His Excellency Dr. Baker Ben Hamza Khachim, Adviser of Electricity and Energy Affairs, Saudi Arabia, refers to the research work being done on solar energy at the research-based institution and the ambitious efforts to set up a major solar power project in the UAE. The book is available for reference at the Masdar Institute Library.

The book is a valuable collection of papers presented at the 13th Annual Gulf Energy Conference focusing on ‘Future Gulf Energy Sources: Hydrocarbon, Nuclear or Renewable?’ and was organized by ECSSR in 2007. The papers were presented by experts such as His Excellency Ali Abdullah Al Owais, UAE Undersecretary of Energy for Electricity and Water, Dr. Naif Mohammed Al-Abbadi, Associate Research Professor and Director of the Energy Research Institute (ERI) at King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the Steering Committee of the Saudi National Energy Efficiency Program (NEEP), and Luis Echavarri, Director-General of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA).

Additionally, the book comprises papers from Dr. Saleh Almana’a, Professor of Political Science at King Saud University, Dr. Wahib Nasser, Professor of Applied Physics and Dean of the Faculty of Science, University of Bahrain, Dr. Nasser Al Nasser, specialist in the field of sustainable buildings construction of the University of Reading in the UK, Dr. Ibrahim Dincer, Professor of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ontario, Canada, Dr. Kenneth Katzman, senior analyst of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Arabian Gulf Affairs at the Congressional Research Service, and Dr. Salim Al Rahman, Interim Director of the Center of Excellence in Renewable Energy Research, at King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals.

Dr. Abdullah Al Hefeiti, Director of Library at Masdar Institute and Chairman of the UAE Academic and Research Library consortium, said: “The book on energy demand in the GCC and other academic resources at our library aim to offer rich insights into the future of the regional energy sector. Such records also keep the students informed on the need to seek solutions including investments in renewable energy and innovations in advanced technologies. We hope students will make use of these resources for academic advancements as well as research and development.”

His Excellency Dr. Jamal Sanad Al-Suwaidi, Director-General of ECSSR, said: “The book is a compilation of research papers tackling a host of topics including future energy demand, the importance of reducing energy requirement, nuclear energy and management of the region’s oil and gas resources. The role of Masdar Institute and Masdar is commended by several regional and international experts who are quoted in the book. The special insights offered by experts are enriching and we hope the book will prove beneficial to professionals as well as students of advanced energy and sustainable technologies.”

The book reviews in-depth the absolute need for an increase in the power generation capacity over the next few years in the GCC to support economic and social development. Pointing out that the GCC region is classified among the highest in the per capita consumption of energy, the book refers that individual energy intake and waste will have to be reduced.

The book begins with the article by His Excellency Ali Abdullah Al Owais, who believes that the GCC States should participate in global efforts that aim to strengthen the role of alternative energies and renewable types. In his opinion, the GCC region has to take advantage of the solar energy because of the sun’s irradiation throughout the year, which may open up new horizons for the use of solar power and become one of the most important alternatives to conventional energy. His Excellency Al Owais calls solar power ‘an inevitable strategic choice’.

Luis Echavarri, Director-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA), observes that the current situation offers opportunities for the development of nuclear energy to complement fossil fuels and renewable sources of energy. Echavarri points out that the GCC can think of the nuclear option as an alternative to fossil fuels in order to diversity power supply and maintain its status as oil exporters. However, he urged that the GCC must be ready to build adequate infrastructure, including development of human resources through education and training.

According to Dr. Saleh Almana’a there is clear trend in the GCC to adopt the option of a peaceful nuclear source of energy and water desalination, due to the fact that energy generated by nuclear plants is about 30% cheaper than by conventional sources. He recommends small N-plants for scientific research in order to provide the region with the capability to enhance scientific research, while mentioning that such small nuclear plants will have lighter political and strategic implications than the adoption of large-scale facilities.

Dr. Wahib Nasser and Dr. Nasser Al Nasser emphasize on the need to take advantage of clean technology and reducing emission to save oil and gas. They recommend construction of sustainable buildings integrated with photovoltaic equipment, as well as focus on research and development to invent tools and commercial renewable energy technologies.

Dr. Ibrahim Dincer urges on the transition from a fossil fuel economy to the adoption of renewable energy sources, while stressing the importance of education and training. Dr. Salim Rahman, Interim Director of the Center of Excellence in Renewable Energy Research Center at the King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals in Saudi Arabia, states that GCC countries have enough resources to enhance knowledge or generate intellectual properties in the field of alternative energy. He makes a special mention of Masdar Institute and the Masdar initiative.

The book concludes that the GCC countries need to a systematic and comprehensive energy strategy to prioritize the use of energy, reducing consumption to maximize benefits from production. Moreover, it emphasizes that the region has to study the potential for the implementation of feasible and effective solutions in order to benefit from the available renewable energies, such as solar and wind sources.

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.
 

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 16 September, 2012 – A new public private partnership will pilot a cutting-edge micro-grid powered by 100% renewable electricity in Abu Dhabi. Global Green Growth Institute (Chairman, Lars Rasmussen, former Prime Minister of Denmark), an intergovernmental organization committed to promoting Green Growth in the developing world, today announced it is joining hands with Masdar Institute (MI) and the Research Institute for Industrial Science and Technology (RIST) in Pohang of South Korea to design a robust and cost-efficient micro-grid operating on 100% renewable energy. The project is supported by approximately US$1 million from GGGI and POSCO, the world’s fourth largest steel producer.

The announcement of this innovative collaborative UAE-South Korea research project, which is led by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Directorate for Energy & Climate Change and coordinated by the GGGI, was made during the Project Launch event, which was held at Shangri-La Hotel, Abu Dhabi, UAE. The launch event was celebrated by high profile guests from the UAE and Korea, including Dr. Tae Kyun, KWON, Korean Ambassador to the UAE, Dr. Thani AL ZEYOUDI, Director of Energy and Climate Change, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Dr. Fred MOAVENZADEH, President of Masdar Institute, Dr. Hee Don CHUN, Executive Vice President, RIST, and Mr. Jeong-Won DOH, Executive Vice President, Daewoo International Corp.

During the event, the joint Project Team between MI and RIST revealed a conceptual design for an island-based renewable micro-grid. The conceptual design consists of a control system, energy storage, and a high efficiency DC distribution system. It is designed to incorporate renewable energy sources such as solar PV, small wind power and biofuel production from waste and algae. The micro-grid system can be linked to local seawater desalination and electric powered boats for island access.

The Public Private Partnership project is coordinated by GGGI and will tap the expertise of Masdar Institute in the design and simulation of micro-grids with renewable energy, and the RIST team’s established expertise in commercializing technologies demonstrated by the project on Jeju Island, South Korea.

MI proposed an initial concept for the project to GGGI on October 2010 and the GGGI UAE Country team provided MI an essential link to an industrial Partner within GGGI’s partnership network – RIST.

The 100% renewable energy micro-grid project features new research collaboration potential between the UAE and South Korea. Korea is expanding smart grid technology rapidly and already hosts a successful demonstrations project on Jeju Island. The project island in the UAE will become a ‘sister’ island, featuring advanced micro-grid and ‘smart renewable’ technologies.

Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, the UAE’s Special Envoy for Energy and Climate Change and CEO of Masdar, said: “This project is another powerful example of the leading role Abu Dhabi and the UAE are playing in clean energy innovation. Masdar has funded development projects on small islands that can potentially benefit from micro-grids, and we are interested in their potential role in supporting renewable energy deployment in rural areas.”

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President of Masdar Institute, said: “The first UAE-South Korea collaborative research project under the GGGI program reflects the common interest between the two countries to partner with each another on clean energy ventures. It will benefit from the synergy between Masdar Institute and RIST, which already has a track record in implementing a similar project in Korea. We believe the micro-grid project will bear testimony to our expertise in furthering research and innovation in sustainability while developing the UAE’s human capital as directed by the country’s leadership.”

Dr, Hee Don Chun, executive vice president of RIST, said: The UAE project will benefit from the outcomes of research already conducted on Jeju Island and we are confident the expertise from Masdar Institute will further stimulate innovation in micro-grids which is optimized in MENA region environment. In addition, RIST will seek further opportunities for collaboration with MI in terms of green technology research based on each institute’s core competence.”

Dr. Scott Kennedy, Dean for Research, Masdar Institute, said: “Micro-grids are gaining increasing popularity as a key enabler of smart grid infrastructure and an important technology in expanding electricity access to areas with weak or non-existent power infrastructure. Such grids are essentially small, low to medium voltage power systems that can operate in isolation or connected to a larger transmission system. Featuring advanced control systems that allow them to operate in grid-connected or isolated mode, they can also include up to 100% renewable energy, therefore providing zero-carbon power.”

The Joint team already conducted a pre-workshop in Pohang, Korea in July, 2012 and visited a potential demonstration site in Abu Dhabi, the UAE in August, 2012 to set up the conceptual design. The team will develop a UAE tailored micro-grid model and an action plan for a subsequent implementation project until March, 2013. The developed micro-grid model will be highlighted during the World Future Energy Forum in January 2013 in Abu Dhabi. 
 

Over 170 Students Attend Orientation Program

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 11 September, 2012 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced more than 170 newly enrolled students attended the two-day orientation program.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, Dr Lamya N. Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, and other officials welcomed the fourth batch of students at the event that was held from 2-3 September, at Radisson Blu in Yas Island. A welcome dinner on 5 September was attended by a large number of students, as well as faculty members, staff and senior students.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh urged the students to focus on their academic pursuit, making use of the world-class facilities available at the campus and contribute through innovation in sustainable and advanced technologies. He also asked them to emulate the example of the alumni, who continues to contribute to clean energy and advanced technology innovation globally through their professional lives. Dr Lamya Fawwaz encouraged them to embrace the unique opportunity to spend the next two years studying and doing research in a one-of-a-kind setting.

During the Orientation program, the newly enrolled students were presented with information on the inter-disciplinary academic offerings at Masdar Institute and the research areas they can select for their thesis. They were also brought up-to-date on the housing and residency policies for a sustainable living within the campus. The induction process also offered an occasion for the new students to individually interact with the staff, faculty and senior students.

Dr. Marwan Khraisheh, Dean of Masdar Institute, Dr. Youssef Shatilla, Associate Dean for Graduate Education, Dr. Scott Kennedy, Associate Dean for Research, other faculty members and members of the Recruitment Team highlighted various aspects of the academic process at Masdar Institute.

Moreover, students were provided with details on accessing IT services, the library and other facilities. Officials from the environment, health, safety and security (EHSS) department also offered students adequate guidance on the right use of existing facilities at Masdar Institute.

Abeer Almaazmi, a UAE national student of Engineering Systems and Management program, believes that Masdar Institute is one of the best engineering institutions in the Middle East. Almaazmi said: “I am very proud to join Masdar Institute as it offers world class education in advanced research. I will aim to become one of the remarkable students in the future.”

Another UAE national student of Engineering Systems and Management program, Muna Saleh Ahmed Moqbel, joined Masdar Institute to play a key role in enhancing the energy sector of the UAE. Muna said: “I would like to improve myself and gain more knowledge in order to lead my country into the new era of energy and handle projects with huge impact on the environment. I was amazed by the large number of the students who have come from different countries, and I was happy to meet them and learn more about their cultures.”

Mustafa Hussain, a UAE national student, said: “When I heard about the collaboration between Masdar Institute and MIT, I was keen to join since I know MIT is one of the best institutions, especially in engineering and technology. I appeared for the GRE and IELETS exams. And I was fortunate to have been selected among so many students who joined Masdar Institute.”

Ghita Wallin of Finland, another Engineering Systems and Management student, came across Masdar City and Masdar Institute when she was doing background research about sustainability for a company she worked for. Wallin said: “The Head of Admissions and a student visited my university to talk about Masdar Institute, and based on their presentation I decided that I wanted to be part of the Masdar experience. I feel that this is a truly inspiring environment, and I have met nice people from all over the world, which I found exciting. I am really looking forward to the next couple of years I am going to spend here.”

Daye Eom from the Republic of Korea has joined Engineering Systems and Management program to become part of this unique environment by studying with peers from diverse nationalities. Eom said: “Everything is new but interesting at the same time. Good to know different cultures and I like the motto of Masdar Institute, which is ‘Learning to change the world.’

Information on the Student Affairs Office & Career Services Office, as well as the Student Government Association and Clubs was also provided for students to spend their academic and leisure time usefully. They also learnt about the Masdar Institute Ambassadors Program and the scholarship program from ICT Fund that targets the UAE nationals.

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.
 

 

By 1st Lt Talal Al Hajri

The Arabian Gulf is host to some of the most intensive tanker traffic in the world – particularly oil tankers. It is estimated that 20 per cent of oil traded in the world passes through the Strait of Hormuz – the passage between the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Gulf.

While that traffic helps bring wealth to our part of the world, it also comes with some unpleasant byproducts in the form of ballast water.

Ballast water is used to help weigh down and evenly balance a ship. When making a journey to pick up a shipment of fuel oil, tankers use it to fill their otherwise empty holding tanks, to stay stable. It is then discharged before the tanker takes on its load.

The quantities are vast, with an estimaated 3.7 billion tonnes of ballast water transferred and discharged globally each year.

That water is rich with all kinds of minute and microscopic life forms – 3,000-plus types of organisms such as vertebrate, invertebrate, phytoplankton, zooplankton, bacteria, viruses, and sediments. And although most of these species are naturally present in seas and oceans everywhere, each body of water has its own unique food chain.

Disturbing that order can greatly upset a marine habitat, with consequences from clogged filtration systems to the exposure of native fisheries to diseases such as cholera.

The International Maritime Organization, the UN agency responsible for improving maritime safety and preventing pollution from ships, estimates that ballast water causes losses above $138 billion annually. On such a scale, it is easy to see ballast water as a global marine environmental crisis.

International regulations have been in the works for decades, but implementing them is easier said than done.

One big obstacle has been the means to treat ballast water effectively, quickly and cheaply. To that end, as a naval engineer and first lieutenant in the UAE Navy, now working in the Microbial Environmental Chemical Engineering Laboratory at Masdar Institute, I am involved in a project that is attempting to provide a solution for the shipping industry in this region.

We have begun by studying which organisms are present in ballast water, and which pose a risk, to help us better target our eradication technologies.

We are also investigating different forms of eradication – including oxidation, ultraviolet, ozone treatment and chemicals – to find the ones that are best able to eradicate the identified alien organisms.

Eventually we aim to have a prototype system that can be retrofitted in tanker ships that will neutralise any dangerous species in ballast water, without adding unnecessary chemicals that could harm the environment.

The system has to be able to treat the vast amount of ballast water – up to 1.8 million litres per trip – absorbed by the Arabian Gulf each day. It also has to be cheap to install and operate, as ballast water regulations are often not enforced and violations are minimally fined, and thus early adoption would be voluntary. The easier and cheaper the system is, the more operators are likely to adopt and use it. It is my hope that such technologies can help the region reduce the impact of one of the most important local industries.

Additionally, an Arabian Gulf-specific ballast water cleaning system would help the UAE better preserve the harmony of the Gulf’s natural flora and fauna. 1st Lt Talal Al Hajri is a naval engineer and student of water and environmental engineering at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology
 

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.   

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 13 November, 2012 – A renewable energy revolution is underway with rapid deployment of renewable power generation technologies and a corresponding decline in costs, according to a conference paper released by experts from Masdar, Masdar Institute and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).

Detailing the latest information about the cost and performance of renewable energy technologies most relevant to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the paper points out that such evidence will help governments, policy-makers, investors and utilities make informed decisions about the role renewable energy can play in their energy mixes.

According to the paper, titled “Prospects for Energy Technology Advancements in the Energy Sector,” written by Dr. Steven Griffiths, executive director, Institute Initiatives, Masdar Institute; Dr. Nawal Al Hosany, director of sustainability, Masdar, and director of Zayed Future Energy Prize; and Dr. Dolf Gielen, Director of the Innovation and Technology Center,  IRENA, the rapid deployment of renewables, working in combination with the high learning rates for some technologies, has produced the virtuous circle that leads to significant cost declines and is helping fuel the renewable revolution.

Dr. Nawal Al Hosany presented details of the paper at the ‘Pre-COP18 High Level Majlis: Women Leading the Way in Energy & Climate Change’ that was held on 13 November at the The Address Dubai Marina Hotel.

The authors report that the MENA region is seeing rapid increase in demand for electricity due to rising population, growing urbanization, and economic growth driven by industrialization.

“The paper comes at a time when the demand for power in the region has shown consistent increase while the generating cost has steadily come down,” said Adnan Amin, director-general of IRENA. “We hope the insights will be valuable to developing energy supply and demand outlooks that will shape the deployment of renewables in the MENA region,” added Mr. Amin.

Among the many findings, the paper reported that renewable power generation technologies now account for approximately half of all new power generation capacity additions worldwide.

“The paper places specific focus on power generation technologies and their lifecycle costs relative to conventional fossil generation technologies,” said Dr. Steve Griffiths of Masdar Institute.  “Regional renewable power generation targets are discussed along with specific opportunities and challenges for the advancement of technologies in the region. We believe the paper will be useful to governments, industry leaders and the stakeholders.”

In 2011, additions to renewable energy capacity included 41GW of new wind power capacity, 28GW of solar photovoltaic (PV), 25GW of hydropower, 6GW of biomass, 0.5GW of concentrated solar power (CSP) and 0.1GW of geothermal power.

The share of renewables is projected to grow further but the transition to a substantial role in the global energy mix may take decades and technology progress and innovation will play a key role in accelerating their deployment, the paper remarks.

“Lack of reliable information on the relative costs and benefits of renewable energy technologies has made it difficult for governments to arrive at an accurate assessment of how such technologies can be applied to specific circumstances,” said Dr. Nawal Al Hosany of Masdar. “The paper highlights these issues and offer information that can bring solutions. We are confident the paper will prove effective in implementing sustainable projects across the planet.”

This necessitates more than 120GW of new MENA power generation capacity by 2017 with an associated cost of as much as US$250 billion when transmission and distribution are included, the paper points out.
 

 

Project Presentations, Debates, Ministerial Panel and Plenary Sessions at YFEL Stand Await Member Students and Young Professionals

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 09 January, 2013 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technology, today announced a comprehensive events schedule comprising debates and panel discussions awaits select members of the Young Future Energy Leaders (YFEL) program at the sixth World Future Energy Summit (WFES).

Specially chosen YFEL members will be interacting with government heads, energy industry leaders and clean energy innovators at WFES 2013 – part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2013. The event is organized under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. Around 30,000 participants from 150 countries are expected to attend Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2013 that will be held from 13-17 January at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC). The WFES 2013 will run from 15-17 January.

A key element of the annual WFES and a Masdar Institute outreach initiative, the YFEL program offers students and young professionals a platform to participate in global forums and engage industry leaders in discussions on developments in advanced energy and sustainability. At WFES 2013, YFEL members will offer project presentations, launch new initiatives and participate in debates, as well as attend ministerial panels and plenary sessions at the dedicated YFEL stand.

YFEL 2012 has more than 160 members out of which 122 are from various universities in the UAE as well as from 20 top-ranked overseas academic institutions. Emirati philanthropist His Excellency Sultan bin Rashed Al Dhaheri, member of the Federal National Council and the Chairman of the Committee on Finance and Economic Council, has supported the YFEL program with successive individual financial contributions. The corporate sponsor of the YFEL program for the year was Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC).

Dr Lamya N. Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, said: “The World Future Energy Summit gathers heads of states, thought-leaders, decision-makers, industry experts, scientific researchers and academicians. The event reflects the UAE leadership’s vision that has facilitated knowledge sharing and exchange of ideas in the clean energy space. Such an eminent forum will serve as an occasion for the YFEL’s promising young professionals and students to learn from today’s leaders and use their efforts towards becoming future leaders and champion new energy solutions.”

During WFES 2013, the YFEL stand will host Helen Clark, Administrator, United Nations Development Program (UNDP),  Achim Steiner, Executive Director, United Nations Environment  Program (UNEP), and Adnan Amin, Director-General, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), for a ministerial panel on ‘Sustainable Energy For All’.

On 15 January, Dr Steven Griffith, Executive Director of Institute Initiatives and Professor of Practice, Masdar Institute, will moderate the first debate on ‘Should tariffs be imposed on solar panels imported to the US from China?’ On the second day, Dr Ken Volk, Outreach Manager, Masdar Institute, will moderate a debate titled ‘Should countries implement actions that address population issues impacting worldwide sustainability?’

Maria van der Hoeven, Executive Director, International Energy Agency, will address the YFEL members on the second day. A host of industry leaders will take part in the plenary session on ‘The view from Industry – CEOs of Renewable Energy Companies Energy Companies’. The panelists will include Roy Adair, CEO, Hydro Tasmania, Australia; Bader Al Lamki Director, Clean Energy Masdar, UAE; Santiago Seage, Chairman & CEO, Abengoa Solar, Spain; Tulsi R Tanti, Chairman and Managing Director, Suzlon Group, India; and Jean-Pascal Tricoire, President and CEO Schneider Electric, France.

Connie Hedegaard, EU Commissioner for Climate Action, will also share her experience with the YFEL members.

On the third day of WFES 2013, His Excellency Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson,  President, Republic of Iceland, will offer the keynote address at the YFEL stand. A plenary session on ‘How Technology and Innovation Will Shape the Future?’ will have panelists including Dr. Nawal Al Hosany, Director – Sustainability, Masdar, and Director, Zayed Future Energy Prize Masdar, UAE; Morgan D. Bazilian, Deputy Director, Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, US; Harish Hande, Founder Selco, Social Entrepreneur, India; Martin Hiller, Director-General, Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership (REEEP), Austria; and Richard Kauffman Senior Advisor to Secretary, US Department of Energy, US.

In addition, the YFEL members will attend the fifth Zayed Future Energy Prize award ceremony at Emirates Palace on the first day of WFES 2013. On the second day, successful YFEL members will receive their certificates at a graduation ceremony that will be organized at the Masdar Institute campus.

Part of the Masdar Institute’s Outreach program, YFEL offers young professionals and students from the UAE and abroad an opportunity to become more engaged in finding solutions to the world’s biggest challenges – achieving energy efficiency and tackling climate change. It also aims to bring young professionals closer to government representatives, business leaders and other organizations active in the area of alternative energy and sustainability.
 

Abu Dhabi-UAE: January 10, 2013 – Today, an electric-powered motorcycle that can accelerate from zero to 100km/h in 4.5 seconds – faster than a Porsche 911 – visited Masdar City. Called the Zerotracer, the fully enclosed motorcycle was showcased to students and faculty at Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, many of whom are conducting research on electric vehicles and other sustainable transportation technologies.

The Zerotracer is designed by the Swiss engineering company Designwerk. It has a top speed of 240 km/h and can travel 300 km on a single charge.

“It makes perfect sense to have a zero-emission electric vehicle at Masdar City, a sustainable urban development where the electricity is obtained from solar energy,” said Naser Almarzooqi, Head of Facilities Management at Masdar City. “The values of environmental stewardship, innovation and entrepreneurship that inspired the designers of the Zerotracer are the same values that drive the students and faculty at Masdar Institute. Innovations such as those found in the Zerotracer are necessary to advance sustainable transportation technologies and make them more accessible.”

The vehicle set a record for distance covered by an electric car in February 2011 by traveling 30,000 kilometres in 80 days as part of the Zero Emission Race. The race featured four zero emission vehicles and the route took teams through Asia, Africa, Europe and North America.

Making its first tour of the Middle East, the Zerotracer will be showcased at the sixth World Future Energy Summit from 15 -17 January 2013 during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
“Abu Dhabi’s leadership in renewable energy and sustainability is well-known throughout the world, making it a great fit for a zero-emission vehicle like the Zerotracer,” said Tobias Wülser, one of the designers of the Zerotracer. “The research and innovations in clean technology taking place at Masdar are laying the foundation for a more sustainable future.”

Masdar has been piloting various sustainable transportation solutions. Its Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) system of electric-powered, automated vehicles has been in operation since 2010. The innovative system reached a milestone of having served 500,000 passengers in November 2012. 

Masdar has also been working in partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to test the viability of electric vehicles and assess the impact of climate conditions on their battery capacity. There are currently 10 Mitsubishi i-MiEV electric vehicles in operation at Masdar City. 

Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, a graduate-level research university focused on renewable energy and sustainable technologies, has several research projects currently underway, exploring sustainable transportation technologies.

Masdar Institute’s collaborative partnership project with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport (DoT) seeks to evaluate sustainable transportation planning options for the emirate and investigate the feasibility of large-scale deployment of electric vehicles. Another project titled ‘Embedded, Mobile and Cloud Computing Systems for Intelligent Vehicles’ aims to develop pluggable systems and devices that can be interoperated and connected to back-end cloud platforms by mobile wireless networks. The outcome of this research project is expected to enable a variety of sustainable transportation tracking, monitoring and optimization applications.

The ‘Electric Vehicle Optimization, Fleet Management, and Battery Modeling’ project is exploring ways to optimize the charging schedules with respect to dynamic fleet requests, battery states, temperature, and electrical grid status. A project on ‘Mobility Analysis, Car-sharing Mechanisms and Transportation Planning’ seeks to analyze the impact to mobility patterns and behavior with respect to transportation planning and car-sharing mechanisms in the UAE.

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will be the largest gathering on sustainability in the history of the Middle East. Convening more than 30,000 participants from 150 countries, the week’s events will gather leaders from academia, industry and government to tackle the business, technology and financial challenges facing sustainable development and renewable energy adoption.
 

Officials, Faculty and Students to Lead Knowledge Exchange Sessions

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 08 January, 2013 – Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, an independent, research-driven graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies, today announced it will showcase the role of human capital in obtaining breakthroughs and innovations in clean technology during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2013.

Hosted by Masdar and supported by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), ADSW 2013 is the foremost annual event, dedicated to advancing future energy, energy efficiency and clean technologies. Organized under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will be held from 13-17 January 2013 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center (ADNEC).

ADSW 2013 comprises the General Assembly of IRENA, the World Future Energy Summit (WFES), the International Water Summit (IWS), the Abu Dhabi International Renewable Energy Conference (ADIREC), the Zayed Future Energy Prize (ZFEP) award ceremony, and the inaugural energy ministerial of South American-Arab Countries (ASPA).

Demonstrating its inherent strength in human capital development and driving innovation in clean energy and sustainable advanced technology areas, Masdar Institute will be actively involved in various activities during ADSW 2013. Top officials will participate in key events while faculty will lead knowledge exchange sessions, especially at the inaugural International Water Summit (IWS). Students will also be equally involved in panel discussions.

Dr. Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute, said: “Our participation in World Future Energy Summit during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week will illustrate the research-based institution’s integral role in building the human capital necessary to UAE’s ambition in transforming its economy to a knowledge based one with particular emphasis on energy and water. Faculty members and students will collectively portray our pioneering contribution to the renewable energy and water technologies development.

“The UAE’s leadership has wisely launched several initiatives to implement clean technology projects in the country and across the world. With their support, Masdar Institute continues to lead in obtaining innovative solutions and technology breakthroughs through advanced research. We hope our participation in the Summit will raise awareness on the need for wider adoption of sustainable measures across communities.”

Dr Lamya N. Fawwaz, Executive Director, Public Affairs, Masdar Institute, will be participating in a panel discussion titled ‘The role of Women in Future Energy: Breaking down the Barriers’. In keeping with Masdar Institute’s tradition of developing young leaders, three students – Reem Al Junaibi, Reem Ketait and Catherine Wilcox – will be given the opportunity to share the platform with other dignitaries and women leaders in energy industry.

Renowned experts will join the Executive Council members of the University Leadership Council and participate in a debate on the urgent need for a system to facilitate R&D in the UAE. Titled ‘Building a robust R&D Infrastructure’, the panel will be moderated by Dr Fred Moavenzadeh. Panel members will include Prof. Adnan Badran, President of Petra University in Jordan, Dr Mohammed Baniyas, Provost, UAE University, Dr Larry Wilson, Provost, Zayed University and Dr Tod Laursen, President, Khalifa University.

Highlighting its role in human development, Masdar Institute will also host the third lecture for 40 IRENA scholars at a workshop titled ‘Renewable Energy Deployment: Barriers, Policies and Regulations’. Dr. Eric Martinot, Former World Bank Senior Energy Specialist; Research Director, Institute for Sustainable Energy Policies in Tokyo, Japan; and lead author, REN21 Renewables Global Status Report, will share his views on the impact of climate change, universal access to energy, social changes and national security concerns on renewable energy policy and the adoption of new regulations. The IRENA Scholarships are awarded to 20 highly accomplished applicants at Masdar Institute every year.

Endorsing the importance of the first inaugural International Water Summit, Masdar Institute faculty will lead two events at ADSW 2013. Dr. Farrukh Ahmed, Associate Professor – Water and Environmental Engineering, will share his expertise at a workshop titled ‘The role of Water Recycling and Water Re-Use in Arid Regions for Mitigating Water Scarcity’. Dr. Hassan E. S. Fath, Professor of Practice – Water and Environmental Engineering, will offer his views during a panel discussion on ‘Optimization of Water Production, Technology and Process to Positively Impact Environment’.

In addition, a dedicated Masdar Institute stand will display the key water-related research projects at the Summit. The display will include research initiatives undertaken by Dr. Nidal Hilal, Professor in Nano-membranology and Water Technologies. Dr Hilal, who is additionally the Editor-in-Chief of ‘Desalination’, an international journal on the science and technology of desalting and water purification, is closely involved in establishing a Centre of Excellence for Water Technologies at Masdar Institute.

Hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s  renewable energy company, the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week offers a global platform not only to highlight the activities of participating governments, businesses and organizations, but also to strengthen cooperation in driving sustainable development, focusing on the interconnected challenges of energy and water. ADSW 2013 is expected to attract an anticipated 30,000 participants from 150 countries for what is set to be the largest gathering on sustainability in the history of the Middle East.

Serving as a key pillar of innovation and human capital, 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.

 

 

By Dr Jens Ejbye Schmidt

As mankind continues to mine the Earth’s natural resources, scientists are desperately hunting alternatives.

Sustainable and renewable fuels are part of that. But there is another natural resource that is even more depleted and whose absence would have repercussions at least as grave for modern life: phosphorus.

The element is critical to all forms of life. It helps living things turn nutrients into energy, and is an essential component of DNA. It is in our electronics, our matchsticks and our shampoo.
Perhaps most crucially, it is a key component of agricultural fertiliser, making up for deficiencies in soil quality to turn barren land into productive land and increase the yield of a wide range of crops.

And yet it is estimated that our reserves of the phosphate rocks that comprise the main raw material from which fertiliser is made may last only 50 years.

And as these reserves dwindle, the price will increase – it has already risen by about 800 per cent in recent decades – potentially making food prohibitively costly in many countries, particularly those where the soil is poor.

To counter this grave situation, researchers at the Masdar Institute are working to harvest phosphorus from other sources. They are exploring ways of recovering and recycling phosphorus, from sources such as household waste or domestic waste water.

Abu Dhabi is currently among the world’s highest per-capita producers of municipal solid waste, generating more than 5kg per person a day, about three quarters of which is organic matter. It generates a lot of waste water, too.

At present, household waste goes to landfill, and no phosphorus is recycled from domestic waste water.
As things stand, the phosphorus content of that waste is hazardous. It can all too easily end up being discharged into rivers, lakes or the Arabian Gulf.

There, it can cause eutrophication, a sudden bloom of aquatic plant life caused by a surfeit of nutrient, which in turn can suffocate fish and make the water toxic to human beings. But it can be removed, not only making waste-water outflows more benign, but also, potentially, providing a new source of biofuel and fertilisers.

The Masdar team is trying to develop a UAE-specific method for this removal. It would use microbes to convert the waste into biofuel, producing a phosphorus-rich residue.

The biogas produced through this method is similar to natural gas and can be used in its place, and bioethanol can be added to regular petrol. Meanwhile the phosphorus residue could be used as a cheap, secure and locally-manufactured source of fertiliser.

And on top of this triple benefit – fuel, fertiliser, and safer waste – this research will also contribute to Abu Dhabi’s leadership in the development of technologies based on renewable and sustainable resources. That’s quite a result from something we currently throw away.
Dr Jens Ejbye Schmidt is a professor in the chemical engineering programme at the Masdar Institute of Science Technology
 

Spotlight on Research Success, Patent Filings, Clean Energy Innovations, Scientific Papers at Global Forums and Solar Industry Award for Student

Abu Dhabi-UAE: 31 December, 2012 – Success is invariably marked by accomplishments and recognitions. For an academic institution, it is the creation of knowledge capital. But for a research-based institution, it surely is something far more than that.

With 311 peer-reviewed journal publications, 330 conference papers, two full books and 38 invention disclosures, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology has already set a pioneering innovation trend in clean energy and sustainable advanced technologies. But with one patent already issued and 15 active patent applications pending, Masdar Institute has placed itself in a totally different league.

A provisional patent application was filed with the US Patents and Trademarks Office for a new lithium ion battery technology developed by a team of researchers and scientists from the Materials Science and Engineering students. At the same time, two faculty members and a student from the Electrical Power Engineering (EPE) program have filed a patent for a technology that could be applied in wind energy to support the grid with shunt and series compensation to mitigate voltage dips.

Numbers apart, there have been recognitions that came Masdar Institute’s way during the year. A remarkable win in the international Tag Challenge competition by a team of crowd-sourcing experts led by a faculty from the Computing and Information Science program redefined the limits of technology-mediated social mobilization and rapid information gathering.

But it was truly one of the crowning moments when Masdar Institute joined stakeholders to unveil the UAE Solar Atlas at the Rio+20 Summit in Brazil. A robust satellite-based mapping tool developed and validated at the UAE Research Centre for Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment at Masdar Institute facilitated the development of the atlas.

Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President Masdar Institute, said: “Our faculty and students marked a year of collective success, establishing once again that Masdar Institute remains in the forefront of innovation. The number of patent filings and accepted papers at leading global forums further testify the depth of our achievements. With the support of the UAE’s leadership, our success continues as we hope to achieve additional milestones and set even higher benchmarks for excellence.”

Innovation stems from collaborative research. Masdar Institute excelled in this area during 2012 entering into research collaborations, especially with government organizations for mutual transfer of knowledge and expertise. An agreement with Abu Dhabi’s Department of Transport (DoT) establishes a partnership on exchange of information in transportation. The information on public transport systems and basic traffic data will be used by Masdar Institute for a research project that investigates the transportation infrastructure, technology needs and public attitudes, pertinent to instituting a level of electrification in the Abu Dhabi transportation system.

The agreement with Executive Affairs Authority of Abu Dhabi (EAA) and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) has led to the setting up of a multi-entity taskforce, led by Masdar Institute and coordinated by the EAA to focus on managing the energy demand for cooling in Abu-Dhabi. The taskforce also includes participation and support from ADWEA, the Regulation and Supervision Bureau, the Department of the Municipal Affairs (ADM), and the Urban Planning Council (UPC).

Another MoU with ADWEA aims to identify areas for exchange of scientific and technological information through research collaborations, covering sustainable energy, water and environmental issues. Short courses and seminars for the benefit of internal and external stakeholders will also be developed, while ADWEA will support and assist students at Masdar Institute in their experimental research thesis work.

The year also witnessed a host of national and international partnerships. One such agreement between the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC) and the German state of Saxony has led to the ‘Twin Labs’ project on three-dimensional chip stacking – one at Technische Universität Dresden and the other at Masdar Institute.

The research-based institution’s stellar role in advanced technology was further exemplified by the partnership with GlobalFoundries. The deal with one of the largest independent semiconductor foundries granted Masdar Institute students, researchers and professors privileged access to a technology development platform at its Abu Dhabi headquarters to process design kits (PDKs) for advanced semiconductor technology nodes, including the latest and revolutionary HKMG 28nm channel transistor technology. Graduate students preparing for their research project will also have the opportunity to apply for a three-to-six month internship at one of GlobalFoundries sites worldwide.

Research in renewable energy areas remains one of the core aspects of Masdar Institute. An international collaboration with Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) and the Research Institute for Industrial Science and Technology (RIST) in Pohang of South Korea to design a robust and cost-efficient micro-grid operating on 100% renewable energy for an island near Abu Dhabi marked another notable moment for multiple partnerships.

Such academic and research accomplishments have also generated interest among the student community in the UAE universities to look at Masdar Institute for pursuing Master’s studies. An Open Day organized in early December witnessed students in large numbers flocking to the sustainable campus, keen to learn more about the academic and research offerings, as well as scholarship options and other facilities.

During the year, the total number of enrolled students across the eight Master’s academic programs reached 336, with UAE national students representing over 41% of the total student body. The ratio of UAE national students continues to increase, illustrating Masdar Institute’s relevance to Abu Dhabi’s long-terms objectives in obtaining economic diversification and establishing a knowledge-based society.

Masdar Institute contributes effectively to developing human capital in the region through joining hands with other key national and international stakeholders. A collaboration agreement with the ICT Fund of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) provides scholarships for 30 UAE national students to study ICT subjects, while another agreement with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) awards up to 20 scholarships annually to talented students.

At the same time, a landmark deal with Toyota Motor Corporation offers annual scholarships to highly-qualified graduate students from around the world to work on projects in the area of technologies for sustainable development. More specifically, this program aims to facilitate research on the advancement of low-carbon emission vehicle technologies.

Capping the achievements of the year was Emirates Solar Industry Association’s (ESIA) ‘Solar Entrepreneur of the Year’ award for a Research Assistant – the youngest and only student among all nominees. The student won the award for his pioneering research on designing novel solar power systems and the best ways to overcome challenges in operating and implementing solar power projects in the UAE.

At the same time, a joint research paper by a Computing and Information Science student was selected the winner from among a total of 16 papers presented at the Pacific Asia Workshop on Intelligence and Security Informatics (PAISI 2012) in Kuala Lumpur.

While Masdar Institute will continue to drive such outstanding contributions by students and faculty, it is firmly looking at further consolidating its status as a world class research-based academic institution.

Serving as a key pillar of innovation and human capital, 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.