Mohammad bin Rashed, Mohammad bin Zayed and Egypt’s President Sisi Award ZFEP 2015 Winners

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashed al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, His Excellency Abdulfattah El Sisi, President of the Republic of Egypt and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Awarded the 7th Zayed Future Energy Prize winners at an awards ceremony today during the opening of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

CEO Stresses the Commercial Viability of Renewable Energy

Dr. Ahmad Belhoul, Masdar CEO, today delivered the keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the eighth World Future Energy Summit (WFES), a key event as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. During the keynote, Dr. Belhoul stressed the need to accelerate the adoption of renewable energy as a commercially viable technology to meet the world’s rising demand for electricity.

Women in Sustainability Unite at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

‘Blue Economy Summit’ Highlights Importance of Marine Ecosystems in Achieving Global Sustainability

The ‘Blue Economy Summit’ was held today in Abu Dhabi to address the unique climate and sustainably challenges facing Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and marine ecosystems. With over 70 percent of the world’s surface covered by oceans, protecting the health of marine environments is fundamental to protecting the world’s interconnected economies and long-term sustainability.

Bid success for Noor Midelt Phase 1 hybrid solar power plant in Morocco

The Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy (MASEN) has announced that the consortium of EDF Renewables, Masdar, and Green of Africa has been awarded the tender for the design, financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the Noor Midelt Phase 1 multi-technologies solar power plant.

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.

UAE and Denmark Cooperate to Advance Renewable Energy and Sustainability Globally

The United Arab Emirates and the Government of Denmark today signed a strategic framework agreement outlining nine areas of collaboration focused on advancing renewable energy and sustainability globally. The agreement was signed by H.E. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE minister of state and CEO of Masdar, and Rasmus Helveg Petersen, Danish minister of development cooperation. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark.

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 Achieves Financial Close of London Array Project

Masdar Energy UK, a wholly owned subsidiary of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, today announced the completion of a 12 year limited-recourse project financing of up to £266 million for its stake in phase one of London Array. The landmark financing is the first time that a limited-recourse structure has been completed for an unincorporated joint venture within the renewable energy industry.

Sustainability Festival Attracts Thousands to Masdar City

The Festival at Masdar City – a two-day celebration of sustainability for the whole family, attracted thousands of UAE residents to Abu Dhabi’s low-carbon urban development today. The event, which ends tomorrow, forms part of this year’s Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week – a week-long series of events and conferences dedicated to advancing sustainability.

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.

Queen Rania of Jordan to Speak at Opening Ceremony of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

Taking place January 13-17, ADSW is the largest gathering on sustainability in the history of the Middle East and will address the interconnected challenges that affect the global adoption of renewable energy, water security and sustainable development.

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.

UAE and New Zealand Sign Partnership Arrangement to Deploy Renewable Energy Project

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), along with Masdar, today signed a partnership arrangement with the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade to accelerate the global deployment of renewable energy, particularly in Pacific Island countries. Potential project financing comes from a NZ$65 million (US$54 million) pledge by the New Zealand government and the US$50 million grant UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund, which is endowed by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). The partnership was signed during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the Middle East’s largest gathering focused on sustainability.

5,000 Students Attend WFES and International Water Summit in Abu Dhabi

More than 5,000 school and university students from across the UAE experienced how world leaders are addressing the challenges of energy, climate change, sustainable development and water conservation during this year’s World Future Energy Summit (WFES) and International Water Summit (IWS) in Abu Dhabi. The students, representing more than 800 schools and universities from all seven emirates, were hosted by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Masdar Sign MoU to Reduce Environmental Impact of UAE Embassies

The MoU was signed by His Excellency Shiekh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Butti Al Hamed, the Under Secretary for the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Mohamed Al Ramahi, the chief operating officer of Masdar.

​Masdar Launches Wind Farm in Republic of Seychelles

Seychelles currently relies on expensive diesel generators to meet its electricity demand. With fuel accounting for 25 percent of the country’s total net imports, Seychelles is committed to diversifying its energy mix and reducing its reliance on fuel imports. Being an island country, with limited options to produce electricity, wind power generation presents a viable solution to meet a national target of 15 percent energy from renewable sources by 2030.

Masdar to Develop 15MW Solar Plant in Mauritania

“Mauritania has some of the highest levels of solar radiation in the world, making it an ideal place for solar power installations,” said Mauritania’s Minister of Petroleum, Energy and Mines H.E. Taleb Ould Abdivall. “We are pleased to be working with such esteemed partners on this important project and remain committed to harnessing our abundant renewable energy resources. Masdar has gained tremendous experience in the renewable energy sector through its projects worldwide and we look forward to future opportunities for cooperation,” H.E. Abdivall added.

Zayed Future Energy Prize Jury Members Visit Masdar’s Shams 1 Solar Power Station

The largest CSP plant in the Middle East and North Africa when commissioned later this year, Shams 1 will offset nearly 175,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, which is equivalent to planting 1.5 million trees or taking 15,000 cars off the road.