Energy | January 20, 2009 |
Masdar City to Showcase Latest GE Clean Innovations
Watch out, Silicon Valley. Masdar City in the United Arab Emirates plans to become the world’s leader for innovation in clean technology, and has partnered with General Electric to showcase technological advancements in renewable energy and sustainability.Masdar City in Abu Dhabi is currently under construction and claims to be the world’s first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city powered entirely by renewable energy. It is driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, which is wholly owned by Mubadala Development Company, and is the result of a long-term commitment by the Abu Dhabi government to accelerate research and development of alternative energy solutions.
GE plans to build the “Ecomagination Centre,” a place to showcase the company's latest technologies, including wind and solar energy products that will power the city’s “smart” electrical grid, water purification technology, and of course, energy-efficient appliances for the homes. The 4,000 square foot center will be located near Masdar Institute, a graduate-level institution dedicated to academic research and study in the development of the future of energy.
“We are excited that GE will be an anchor tenant at Masdar City, as we aim to build the world’s Silicon Valley for clean technology,” said Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, in a press release.
The Abu Dhabi government has become an excellent example of the results that government legislation can produce when it comes to clean and renewable energy. In addition to the creation of Masdar City, it pledges that by 2020, renewable energy sources will account for at least 7 percent of the Emirate’s total power generation capacity. Masdar estimates this will create a renewable energy market valued at $6-8 billion U.S. in the Emirate and create jobs for local and international companies.
“Looking at recent local and international commitments, it is our view that the world has reached a tipping point in the acceptance of renewable energy,” said Al Jaber during the World Future Energy Summit, which is hosted in Masdar and commenced yesterday. “We have a long, challenging journey ahead of us, but we are heading in the right direction and the progress we are making is irreversible.”
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Comments By Readers
The high cost of fuel this past year did serious damage to our economy and society. After a brief reprieve gas prices are inching back up again. Our nation should not allow other nations to have such power over us and our economy . We have so much available to us in the way of technology and free sources of energy. WE seriously need to get on with becoming an energy independent nation. We are spending billions upon billions in bail out dollars. Why not spend some of those billions in getting alternative energy projects set up. We could create clean cheap energy, millions of badly needed new green jobs and lessen our dependence on foreign oil all in one fell swoop. I just read an eye opening book by Jeff Wilson called The Manhattan Project of 2009. It would cost the equivalent of 60 cents per gallon to drive and charge an electric car.If all gasoline cars, trucks, and SUV's instead had plug-in electric drive trains, the amount of electricity needed to replace gasoline is about equal to the estimated wind energy potential of the state of North Dakota. Why don't we use some of the billions in bail out money to bail us out of our dependence on foreign oil? This past year the high cost of fuel so seriously damaged our economy and society that the ripple effects will be felt for years to come. www.themanhattanprojectof2009.com
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