Masdar Begins Delivery of Four New UAE Funded Solar Projects in Pacific Island Countries

Masdar today announced the construction kick-off for four new solar-power projects in the Pacific island countries of Kiribati, Fiji, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. Financed under the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development’s US$50 million UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund, the solar projects will collectively deliver 1.8 megawatts of clean energy and contribute to fuel savings worth US$2 million per year. Completion of the projects is expected by the second half of 2015.

UAE Announces Four New Renewable Energy Projects in the Pacific under $50m Fund

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) today signed partnership agreements with four new Pacific island countries to deploy renewable energy projects under the US$50 million UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund. Grant funding is provided by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs managing the initiative and Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, leading implementation. The solar-powered projects – in the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, and the Solomon Islands – are expected to be completed in 2016. The announcement brings the total number of projects under the fund to date to 10.

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.

German Vice Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel Visits Masdar

Sigmar Gabriel, German vice chancellor and minister for economic affairs and energy, and a delegation of senior officials yesterday visited Masdar. The delegation also toured Masdar City, one of the world’s most sustainable urban developments, and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology in a visit that underscores the alignment between the UAE and Germany on the importance of developing and adopting clean technology and renewable energy.

Women in Sustainability Unite at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week

HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan Inaugurates IRENA HQ in Masdar City

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE minister of foreign affairs, inaugurated the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) headquarters in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City today reinforcing the UAE’s status as a global energy leader. Housing the first intergovernmental agency in the Middle East, the headquarters is the UAE’s most sustainable office building and a physical embodiment of the organisation’s mission to advance renewable energy.

Successful Abu Dhabi Ascent Concludes with Call on Action from Ban Ki-moon

UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, officially closed climate change discussions in Abu Dhabi yesterday (Monday) with a rallying cry to governments and business to take meaningful action to mitigate the impact of climate change. Hailing the Abu Dhabi Ascent as a success, he said the meeting was a critical step forward on the way to forging a consensus on how to tackle climate change.

The UAE Inaugurates Three Micro Grid Solar Plants in Fiji

H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE’s minister of foreign affairs, today inaugurated a solar photovoltaic micro grid project that brings clean energy to some of Fiji’s outer islands. Constructed by Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, the clean energy project is the third financed by the United Arab Emirates’ US$50 million Pacific Partnership Fund, through the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD). The Fiji project was financed with US$5 million from the UAE-Pacific Partnership Fund.

Masdar City marks Chinese New Year

The Masdar City podium will be filled with festive decorations as visitors enjoy dragon-puppet-making, lantern-making and more. Masdar City visitors are also invited to decorate a new-year-themed Wishing Tree. According to Chinese tradition, all their wishes will be granted!

Masdar City Welcomes Heritage Walk Women for Final Night of Their Trek from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi

A group of 30 women participating in the Heritage Walk from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi camped in Masdar City last night. Held under the patronage of Sheikha Shaikha bint Mohammed bin Khalid Al Nahyan, the 140 kilometre trek pays tribute to UAE history, when Emirati families regularly made the trip from Al Ain to Abu Dhabi. The Heritage Walk culminates today in Al Bateen after the sixth and final night in Masdar City, one of the world’s most sustainable urban developments.

Masdar Encourages UAE Youth to Take up Technical Careers at Skills Competition

Organized under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak, chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation and Head of the General Women’s Union, the EmiratesSkills National Competition is taking place April 23-25 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Skills that are being highlighted during the competition include web design, IT software solutions, automobile technology, electrical installations and robotics.

WiSER Panel Discusses How Innovation Can Support the Water-Energy-Food Nexus

Leading international and local experts in the fields of water, clean energy and environment convened on March 10, to discuss how innovation can improve sustainability. The forum was held by Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WiSER), an initiative of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company in partnership with the Zayed Future Energy Prize.

Masdar CEO Stresses Need for Securing Energy through Diversifying its Sources

The lecture explained the efforts the UAE is carrying out to diversify its energy mix through initiatives like Masdar, which is focusing on all necessary pillars of the value chain necessary to build a new sector, including research and development, investment, developing renewable energy projects and implementing the principles of sustainable development.

Masdar sign MOU with ACWA Power and EEHC to Explore New Power Generation in Egypt

Masdar, ACWA Power and the Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC) have concluded a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore developing up to 4 Gigawatts of renewable and natural gas power generation projects in Egypt.

Masdar to Install Rooftop Solar PV Systems at Khazna’s Masdar City Facility

Masdar, a subsidiary of the Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), today announced that it will install a 290-kilowatt (KW) solar photovoltaic (PV) system to serve the facility of Khazna Data Centres (Khazna) in Masdar City.

During Keynote Speech, Masdar Director Stresses the Importance of Collaboration and Co-Innovation

Mr. Al Lamki also provided a powerful narrative showcasing some of Masdar’s innovative projects as examples for how working together can result in tangible, meaningful progress. The keynote was delivered during the Powering Progress Together forum – an event co-hosted by Shell and the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands.

​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.

Masdar Wins Three Emirates Energy Award Prizes

Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, yesterday won three awards at the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy’s inaugural Emirates Energy Award ceremony. Masdar was recognized for its achievements in developing large-scale renewable energy projects, designing buildings with high levels of energy efficiency and cultivating young professionals in the clean-energy sector. The Emirates Energy Award recognizes and encourages best practices and leading initiatives in energy efficiency, alternative energy, sustainability and environmental protection.