King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) and “Masdar” have signed today a Framework Agreement on Strategic Cooperation. Ceremony for signature took place at the Ma’mou’a Building in Abu Dhabi in the presence of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad ibn Zayed Al Nahyan Abu Dhabi Crown Prince, the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. Dr. Hashim Abdullah Yamani, the President of KACARE signed the Protocol for the Saudi Party, while Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jabir, Chairman of the Board of “Masdar” signed it for the Emirate Party.
The Agreement’s objective is exploration of the prospects of mutual cooperation in such fields as joint research and development of renewable energy and generation of clean electricity projects and interprises. The Agreement also calls for the formation of a Steering Committee comprised of members from both sides, the aim of whom shall be to assess every and each sphere of all potential fields of cooperation, and to make whatever appropriate recommendations in this regard.
On this occasion, Dr. Hashim Abdullah Yamani commented, “King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy is bent on building up a new sector the objective of which shall be contribution to the diversification of energy resources in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”. Dr. Yamani added, “We are pleased to co-sign the Agreement with “Masdar” which has been engaged in this emerging sector for over eight years. We are looking forward to see our combined synergies put together result in interactive efforts that should surely speed up the spawning of renewable energy projects and resolutions in the Gulf Area and in the four corners of the Earth as well. This particularly holds true that the renewable energy has commercially proven its feasibility.”
In turn, Dr. Sultan Ahmad Al Jabir said, “It pleases us to conclude this Agreement between “Masdar” and King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy. Over the past period of time we have been continually in touch and many visits have been exchanged uninterruptedly. Throughout the exploratory period we felt that our sought objectives were so approximate and rather convergent. Dr. Al Jabir added, “such an approximity stems from the commonly shared unerring vision of the rightly-guided leaderships of our brotherly countries seeking to build up a sustainable future for the generations to come. Putting our signatures to this Agreement today heralds our potential multi-faceted cooperation which will facilitate the realization of our objectives. That being said, we are now looking forward to set up an interdependent relationship between “Masdar” and “KACARE”, thus setting an example to be followed by the GCC countries to attain cooperation in the field of renewable energy and clean technologies as well. This is so as we share similar circumstances and identical objectives.”
Dr. Al Jabir added, “There is a multitude of mutual cooperation between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, particularly in the area of renewable energy and clean technologies. Both brotherly countries possess varied common factors: they are among the largest energy providers worldwide, while they both embark on boosting this remarkable position. In the meantime, they persistently endeavor to keep pace with the ever-growing local demand for energy which is just natural due to the socio-economic advancement on the one hand, and the large population growth, which requires an added supplies of energy resources for water desalination, on the other. Renewable energy and clean technologies are considered as an exemplary vehicles to keep pace with this growth and to contribute to the realization of a sustainable development. In conclusion he ascertained that, “We are quite confident that that our cooperation with “KACARE” will surely contribute to the fulfilment of our common goals.”
Potential fields of cooperation include direct involvement of both parties in setting up joint projects in such areas as renewable energy, electricity generation, water desalination, development of technologies related to renewable energy. Of paramount importance is of course cooperation in the field of R&D and advanced technology, including solar and wind energies, as well as waters management.
The two parties will discuss potential cooperative fields related to future development of physical planning, building on gained experiences learned from “Masdar” City developmental activities. This includes utilization of green building materials for sustainable cities and application the best international practices. Exchange of experience in education and awareness related to sustainability will also be dealt with.
King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy was established in 2010 with an objective of exploiting atomic and renewable energy in the diversification and sustainability of energy resources to generate electricity and desalinate water in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, invoking sciences, research and advanced industries, which will contribute to the conservation of oil and gas resources, thus protracting their longevity for the best interest of future generations.
KACARE has carried out several initiatives such as Renewable Energy Resources Project: Atlas; Assessment of Renewable Energy Resources (Solar, wind, Waste Conversion, Geothermal Energies). This comprises 74 stations intended to gauge solar perpendicular and scattered fallout. It also comprises 40 stations to measure wind velocity and direction at a height up to 100 meters high. These stations are accurately and appropriately distributed throughout areas Kingdomwide. The objective is to create a data base that can be accessed by all those who are involved with the implementation of all renewable energy projects for electricity generation, water desalination and research.
KACARE has also launched Interactive Mishkat Exhibition. This scientific exhibition represents a real and interesting leap intended to spread awareness of the society as regards atomic and renewable energy. The Exhibition contains a number of interactive scientific mechanical and numerical exhibits which stimulate visitors to directly interact therewith, thus acquiring useful and informative data about atomic and renewable energy. They also make visitors knowledgeable as to how best make use of their applications in their daily life. The Exhibition also contains a number of educational halls which provide a healthy atmosphere where scientific and purposeful tutorial programs can be provided. It also provides other halls for exhibits and dialogue forums.
Abu Dhabi Company for Future Energy, “Masdar” is really Abu Dhabi Initiative for Renewable Energy and Clean Technologies. The Company was founded in 2006 through “Mobadalah Company for Development”. The Company’s projects is so oriented as to be useful to the society, besides economic returns. “Masdar” intends to contribute to the diversification of income sources, and to shift to knowledge-based economy. It is also designed as to contribute to the creation of a diversified mixture of energy resources through capacity-building efforts in renewable energy and clean technologies sector and the development and application of solutions and projects, building on an integrated methodology involving all aspects and phases of value chain of the sector.
Furthermore, “Masdar” has established its Institute for Science and Technology to serve as a nucleus for “Masdar Initiative”. The Institute is considered the first post-graduate university ever at the level of the region. It is R&D-based in the field of advanced energy and sustainability. The Institute has so far witnessed four graduation ceremonies.
“Masdar” has so far implemented a set of clean energy generation and carbon emissions reduction projects within and outside the United Arab Emirates. In such endeavors, it has relied on various energy resources, including solar energy, being photoelectric and thermal, as well as wind energy. In March 2013 it inaugurated Shams 1 Station for concentrated solar energy in Abu Dhabi, with a production capacity of 100 mega/watt. In the United Kingdom, “Masdar” participated in London Array Station for marine wind energy, production capacity of which is up to 630 mega/watt. In Spain, too, “Masdar” participated in a set of concentrated solar energy stations. This included Kimasolar (20 MW), Valy 1 and Valy 2 (50 MW each). “Masdar” is also investing in clean energy companies via two funds value of which is up to USD 540.
Furthermore, “Masdar” is working on the construction of one of the most sustainable cities worldwide in Abu Dhabi, with a view to provide a launching a hub intending to host companies specializing in this sector, and to facilitate practical applications and run tests on the most state-of-the-art clean technologies. It is worth mentioning that many international large companies have opened up branches and head offices in the “Masdar” city, including Siemens, General Electric, World Institute Organization for Green Development and many others.
It is worth mentioning that the International Agency for Renewable Energy concerned with renewable energy solutions and projects is planning to move to its permanent headquarters in “Masdar” City once its building has been completed.
