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Even though the fallout from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station disaster has almost completely disappeared from the headlines, catastrophe-proof renewable energy continues to be thrust into the spotlight as a safe, long-term energy alternative. And, as if on cue, on the edge of the Arabian Desert, an experiment is unfolding with a grand vision for a clean-energy future: It’s called Masdar City and it seeks to be the most sustainable city in world history.

A Planned City
Masdar City is a planned city being constructed on approximately four square miles of land 11 miles east-southeast of Abu Dhabi, one of seven emirates—the capital and second largest by population—that constitute the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Its purpose is to offer carbon-neutral, zero-waste facilities for businesses, commuters and 40,000 residents, plus to serve as an environmental example for other cities.

During the 2011 World Future Energy Summit, also in Abu Dhabi, Dr. Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, CEO of Masdar, described the city this way: “Working with partners across the world, Masdar is developing clean-energy solutions by integrating the entire value chain of the renewable energy industry, from education and research to investment and commercialization.”

A Vision for the Future
Utilizing Masdar, Abu Dhabi aspires to be a global center for renewable energy and sustainable technologies. These goals are being worked on through Masdar’s five integrated units: Institute of Science and Technology (which has partnered with MIT), Power, Capital, Carbon and City.

Through this vision, Masdar—a wholly owned subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi government-owned Mubadala Development Company—is encouraging a new wave of thinking and living as well as enabling a glimpse into the future. The initial section of Masdar has already become a test bed for clean-energy technology, energy efficiency and sustainability; specific examples include a computer-controlled personal rapid-transit vehicle network as the primary transport method; a solar photovoltaic (PV) test field with 30 different models to determine best designs and efficiency, especially in the face of Abu Dhabi’s extreme heat and dust; and new architectural practices being developed and implemented to maintain sustainability.

A 10-megawatt (MW) concentrated solar power (CSP) plant—the biggest in the UAE—and PV solar panels will be among the central energy sources. To further ensure sustainability, the city is designed to use 54% less electricity and 54% less water than the average in Abu Dhabi. Also, 96% of building waste will be recycled and used as the base for its roads and structures.

Why Not Oil
One may wonder why such an initiative would be undertaken in an oil-rich nation? After all, there are about 98 billion barrels of oil reserves in UAE, according to its government and industry sources, and 92 billion of that is located in Abu Dhabi. At current production rates of close to 3 million barrels per day (bpd), there is enough supply to last close to 100 years.

The government of Abu Dhabi understands the fluctuations of a fossil-fuel-dominated economy and aims to demonstrate it is more than a hydrocarbon play. The government aspires to diversify its economy and energy mix in the long-run. It is spearheading various initiatives and wants to extend its energy leadership to renewable energy. Additionally, the government wants to transition to more emphasis on knowledge, innovation and the export of cutting-edge technologies.

Masdar will play a key part in meeting these objectives by growing the non-oil sectors’ share of the economy and avoiding reliance upon the volatile oil market. The project will add new exports, increase the population’s skills and create more knowledge-based careers, while continuing to promote private-public partnerships.

Sharing Its Knowledge
The grand vision is that the results from Masdar will not be limited to Abu Dhabi and UAE, but will prove beneficial regionally and extend across the planet. To this end, Masdar is sharing its cutting-edge knowledge with the world. One example is the sustainability consultancy service it has set up that allows companies to employ Masdar’s expertise. Also, the Korean Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) recently inaugurated its Middle East and North Africa office in Masdar City. GCCI is focused on using green growth as a catalyst to improve economic performance, reduce poverty and increase job creation.

Skeptics Weigh In
Naysayers are quick to point out that Masdar is located near Abu Dhabi’s quickly expanding international airport and not the city itself. Thus, the only method of commuters reaching the developing city currently is by car. However, it is necessary to look at the big picture.

The bottom line is that UAE has an ambitious vision for the future. Despite its hydrocarbon riches, it realizes the necessity to diversify its energy sources and the basis of its economy.

Although many questions remain about scalability, feasibility, price and logistics, history has shown that humans adapt well over time to things that were once thought unimaginable. Cities like Masdar could be the norm in the future.

Echoing similar sentiments, upon her visit to Masdar, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “When Masdar pays off, it will not only mean a better life for the people in this country and in this region, it will have ripple effects throughout the world.”

Additional resources:
Solar Thermal Energy: More Than Just Hot Air

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Written by Joe Gurowsky, a research analyst with World Energy Forum, whose mission is to lead a global conversation on energy issues, and campaign for accessible and sustainable energy for the benefit all nations and peoples. Gurowsky has a master’s degree in Global Affairs from the Center of Global Affairs at NYU, where he concentrated on energy and environmental policy.

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