Women in Sustainability Unite at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

Masdar agrees to acquire stakes in two US wind farms

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates; January 15, 2019: The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), has announced the execution of a share purchase agreement (SPA) to acquire John Laing Group plc’s (John Laing) interest in two wind farms in the United States, marking the first time the Abu Dhabi-based company has invested in renewable energy projects in North America.

Masdar Announces Winner of Second International Blogging Contest

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, today announced the winner of its annual Engage Blogging Contest. Masdar initiated the competition to drive international discussion about the role cities can have on sustainable development across the world. The contest received 117 entries from six continents and motivated thousands of readers to share their ideas about sustainability across Masdar’s web site, blogs and social media platforms in advance of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the largest gathering on sustainability in the Middle East.

HRH Crown Prince of Denmark Visits Masdar Projects during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

HRH Crown Prince of Denmark today visited two of Masdar’s flagship projects including Masdar City, the low-carbon urban development, and Shams 1, the 100-megawatt concentrated solar power plant in Abu Dhabi. The Crown Prince was in the United Arab Emirates to participate in the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) where Denmark yesterday signed a framework agreement with the UAE to explore and co-develop renewable energy projects.

Masdar Announces Winner of its International Blogging Contest Focused on Water and Energy Challenges

Masdar announced the winner of its international blogging contest. Masdar initiated the competition to drive international discussion about the interconnected water and energy challenges facing communities around the world. The contest received more than 70 entries and engaged thousands of readers as it sparked worldwide discussion of sustainability issues in advance of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the largest gathering on sustainability in the history of the Middle East.

First Eco-Friendly Credit Card Launched in the UAE

Major leading UAE financial institution, First Gulf Bank (FGB), will launch the UAE’s first green Visa Credit Card next week in association with Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, at the sixth World Future Energy Summit during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. The First Gulf Bank Masdar Card allows members of the community to become more involved in different environmentally sustainable initiatives. The product falls in line within a series of socially geared products that FGB has developed recently.

Masdar Signs Framework Agreement with Jordan to Accelerate Renewable Energy Development

The agreement was signed during the sixth World Future Energy Summit (WFES), a global platform that addresses the future of renewable energy and sustainable development in the Middle East and the world. In attendance at the summit was Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan who delivered a keynote speech, underscoring the importance and growing commitment to renewable energy in Jordan and throughout the region.

Masdar Launches Renewable Energy Desalination Program

Masdar today launched a pilot program to test and develop advanced energy-efficient seawater desalination technologies suitable to be powered by renewable energy sources. The long-term goal of the program is to implement renewable energy-powered desalination plants in the United Arab Emirates and to have a facility at commercial scale by 2020.

Construction Begins on Masdar and International Renewable Energy Agency Headquarters Complex

Masdar today announced the awarding of the design and construction contract for its new headquarters complex, which will also house the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The headquarters will be one of the most advanced, sustainable multi-use complexes in the United Arab Emirates. It will be the cornerstone of Masdar City – the special economic zone, clean-technology cluster and low-carbon city in Abu Dhabi. Completion is set for summer of 2014.

Masdar Invests In Offshore Wind Farm; Expanding Its Presence In The UK Wind Energy Market

Today, Masdar announced its partnership with Norway’s Statoil and Statkraft in a 402 MW offshore wind farm project, off the Norfolk coast in Eastern England. Masdar acquired a 35 percent stake in the project from Statoil. This leaves Statoil retaining a 35 percent stake and remaining operator of the project, with the remaining 30 percent owned by Statkraft.

Abu Dhabi Prepares for the Arrival of Solar Impulse 2

Solar Impulse representatives have arrived in Abu Dhabi to meet with local authorities in beginning preparation for the plane’s arrival in January. With the historic flight scheduled to take off from Abu Dhabi next March, pilots of the Solar Impulse 2 (Si2) will conduct test flights and perform fine-tuning exercises this January, in preparation for the five month journey. The plane, and its two co-founders, will attempt to fly around the world – without a drop of fuel – only using the power of the sun.

A High-level Delegation Visits Shams 1 Solar Plant

Ambassadors from 18 countries recently visited Shams 1 – a 100-megawatt solar-thermal project located in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region. The tour of Shams 1 was part of a broader visit to the region organized and hosted by the Ruler's Representative Court in the Western Region.

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2015 Kicks Off UAE’s ‘Year of Innovation’

Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) is the first major event of 2015 reinforcing the UAE’s ‘Year of Innovation’ – a federal initiative promoting innovation as a strategic pathway to strengthen the country’s economy and global competitiveness. The yearly platform, January 17-24, directly supports the federal innovation strategy by promoting technology and attracting investment in priority sectors, including renewable energy, transportation, water and education.

​Masdar and Red Crescent Sign Agreement to Provide Humanitarian Assistance with Renewable Energy

Masdar and the UAE Red Crescent Authority yesterday signed a framework agreement to develop renewable energy solutions that will provide humanitarian relief to people across the world who lack basic services, such as electricity and water. The ultimate goal of the agreement is to provide for the development, building and commissioning of several renewable energy projects, along with associated applications such as solar home systems, solar water pumping systems and solar desalination. The agreement also provides for Masdar to be appointed as the exclusive “Program Management Consultant” for renewable energy projects that will be deployed to regions where the Red Crescent already provides other forms of humanitarian assistance.

Tony Blair addresses UAE-UK Hosted Climate Finance Roundtable in New York City

“The finance sector is an indispensable partner in the future success of clean energy,” said Mr. Tony Blair, former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. “During the time that I have worked to advance solutions to climate change I have seen an important shift from high level policy discussions to practical solutions on the ground.” He pointed to the UAE as one of the leaders in this transition.

Technology for Good

Under the theme ‘Industry Convergence: Accelerating Sustainable Development’, Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) 2019 gathered to explore how industries are responding to the digital transformation underway in the global economy, which in turn is giving rise to new opportunities to address global sustainability challenges. With this in mind, Masdar has produced the Future of Sustainability whitepaper report – in partnership with The National – based on information provided by students, individuals, companies and governmental organisations actively driving sustainability-related innovation across the planet.

​UAE starts construction of projects under US$50 million Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund

Abu Dhabi, UAE, November 6, 2018: The first three renewable energy projects under the US$50 million United Arab Emirates-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund (UAE-CREF) have broken ground in the Bahamas, Barbados and Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MOFAIC) announced today.

Masdar partners with UAE Office for Food Security

The UAE Office for Future Food Security and Masdar have announced a strategic partnership to enhance food security in the UAE. The collaboration aims to address future challenges by developing joint initiatives that enhance the country's capacity and competitiveness in critical sectors related to future food security.

Masdar joint venture Hywind Scotland exceeds operational milestones in first three months

Abu Dhabi, UAE, February 15, 2018: As the UAE celebrates Innovation Month in February, the developers of Hywind Scotland, the world’s first commercial-scale floating wind farm, have reported better than expected results in the first three months of the project’s operations, with cutting-edge technology playing an important role.

Building on a legacy: Introducing the Zayed Sustainability Prize

The Zayed Future Energy Prize will today become the Zayed Sustainability Prize as part of a strategic move to refocus its mandate. After ten years of successfully promoting renewable energy initiatives across the globe, the Prize will now broaden its focus to affect greater humanitarian impact by supporting a wider range of solutions to the challenges of sustainable development.