Inside aDsW review solar predictions 2015 Greening refineries Clean water tech
THE BUSINESS OF SUSTAINABILITY Issue 54 | february 2015
Uniting Stakeholders The Supreme Council of Energy strives to make Dubai the global capital of green economy through public-private partnerships, says Ahmed Al Muhairbi
EDITOR’S PAGE
GROUP GROUP CHAIRMAN AND FOUNDER DOMINIC DE SOUSA GROUP CEO NADEEM HOOD GROUP COO GINA O’HARA
Working together
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While governments take most of the responsibility to drive sustainability, it has become increasingly clear that private entities need to take a proactive role in preparing for and responding to the impacts of climate change. Abu Dhabi’s Al Reyadah carbon capture, use and storage (CCUS) project is a brilliant example of how working together can drive sustainable solutions. The joint partnership combines Abu Dhabi National Oil Company’s experience in the oil and gas sector with Masdar’s knowhow in clean technology to deliver a commercially viable CCUS system. The programme captures and isolates industrial carbon and enhances oil recovery. In our cover interview this issue, Ahmed Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, highlights Dubai’s achievements in forging global partnerships to establish its position as a gateway for regional and global green trade and investments. It is estimated that carbon reduction initiatives, including renewable energy generation, smart grid and green buildings, will spur Dubai government spending and private investment of over US $10bn in the near future. The highlight of last month was the ultra-low levelised cost of electricity (LCOE) agreed for the phase II of Dubai’s 1GW Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. At 5.84869 US cents/KWh, this would be the lowest ever recorded cost for solar power globally. Subsequently, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced that it is doubling the capacity of the plant from 100MW to 200MW, making it one of the world’s biggest IPP projects in the renewable energy market.
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Contents February 2015
Contents 07 Update Region Dubai triples renewable energy target to 15% KSA to build largest solar desalination plant 12 Update offbeat
34 colUmn oSSama taWfick
Swedish scientists are testing a prototype heating and power generating system running on residues from olive oil manufacturing 13 Update WoRld Global coal demand to reach 9bn tonnes per year by 2019 India, US strike alliance on climate change
14 coveR StoRy Uniting StakeholdeRS the Dubai supreme Council of energy strives to make the emirate the global capital of green economy through public-private partnerships, says Ahmed Al Muhairbi
30 Special RepoRt SolaR pRedictionS 2015
How can refinery and petrochemical companies put energy efficiency foremost in the midst of business complexity and uncertainty? 29 pRevieW oUtdooR deSign and bUild ShoW 2015 UAE’s $315bn construction industry is regional sustainability leader
All signs point to a strengthening solar industry in 2015. A look at the top 10 predictions for the year
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20 event RevieW abU dhabi SUStainability Week 2015
40 neWS analySiS WateR tech
Attracting more than 32,000 visitors, ADsW 2015 focuses on addressing the interconnected challenges of energy and water security
Water surpasses solar as the GCC’s fastest-growing renewable technology
EXPERT PANEL
Expert Panel His Highness Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al Nuaimi Environmental Advisor Ajman Government Chief Executive Officer Al Ihsan Charity Centre Chairman International Steering Committee for the Global Initiative Towards a Sustainable Iraq (GITSI), based in the UAE
The BGreen Expert Panel provides a platform for those who are active in encouraging sustainable practices across a wide sector of industries. real experts who can share their views, analyses, and research with our informed readers.
Saeed Alabbar LEED AP, Estidama PQP Chairman Emirates Green Building Council Director Alabaar Energy and Sustainability Group
Thomas Bohlen NCARB,LEED AP, BD+C, ESTIDAMA PQP Chief Technical Officer Middle East Centre for Sustainable Development
Abdulrahman Jawahery President Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company Chairman GPCA Responsible Care Initiative
Dr Michael Kr채mer Senior Associate Taylor Wessing (Middle East) LLP Legal Counsel Middle East Solar Industry Association
Dr. Hasim Altan Associate Professor (Reader) in Sustainable Design of the Built Environment The British University in Dubai
Ivano Iannelli Chief Executive Officer Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence
Vahid Fotuhi President MESIA
Roderick Wiles Director - Africa, Middle East, India and Oceania American Hardwood Export Council
Tanzeed Alam Policy Director EWS-WWF
Alan Millin LEED AP, Chartered Engineer consultant/trainer Middle East Facility Management Association
Stephen Smith Sustainability Manager Brookfield Multiplex
Paolo Cervini Vice president & General manager Philips Lighting Middle East & Turkey
Our panellists meet every few months to discuss news, strategies and solutions on focussed topics related to sustainability. Our panellists write for the magazine - opinions and analyses - as well as on our website in a portfolio format documenting their contributions. If you would like to nominate an expert to join our panel, please email: ashish.saraf@cpimediagroup.com Supported by:
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www.hempeldecorative.me
UPDATE Regional news
Dubai triples renewable energy target to 15% Dewa to release bid for 500MW photovoltaic project in 2016 in IPP model Dubai has tripled its target by increasing the share of renewables to 15% in its energy mix by 2030, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), said, adding that the emirate has also increased its 2020 target sevenfold to 7%, due to falling costs of solar energy. The announcement increases the percentage of renewable energy, following DEWA’s earlier announcement that it is doubling the capacity of phase two of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, from 100MW to 200MW, making it one of the world’s biggest strategic IPP projects in the renewable energy market. The consortium led by Saudi Arabia’s ACWA and Spain’s TSK was selected as a preferred bidder with the lowest price. The ACWA and TSK consortium was
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selected based on its alternate proposal for 200MW with an LCOE of 5.84869 US cents/KWh. Speaking at the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi, Al Tayer also announced that DEWA will release a bid
ACWA, Sener to build $2bn solar power plants in Morocco
Masdar, ABB to develop photovoltaic testing centre Masdar and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology are collaborating with automation technology group ABB to jointly develop a photovoltaic testing facility on the Masdar City premises. ABB will provide expertise and specialised testing equipment to allow accurate outdoor measurement of photovoltaic systems. The design of the facility will allow photovoltaic module manufacturers to assess their equipment in a system environment, where the overall performance can be tested, including DC to AC conversion with ABB’s solar inverter.
Saudi Arabia’s Acwa Power International and Sener Ingenieria y Sistemas SA of Spain have won a US $2bn deal to build two solar power plants in the Moroccan city of Ouarzazate. The two plants, Noor II and Noor III, will produce 350MW and are the second phase of the 500MW Ouarzazate solar energy plan, designed to produce 2GW of solar power by 2020.
for a 500MW photovoltaic project in 2016, using the IPP model. “DEWA managed to get the lowest price, thanks to the global trust it enjoys and the encouraging regulations that protect the rights of all parties,” he added.
GE to integrate solar tech to Saudi power plant Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) has selected GE for a project that marks Saudi Arabia’s first integration of a solar field with a combined cycle plant, and the first introduction of condensate as a gas turbine fuel. The Green Duba Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Plant will be built in the northwestern part of the Kingdom, along the Red Sea coast, and has the capacity to generate the equivalent power needed to supply approximately 600,000 homes for a year. The project is designed to generate up to 550MW from the combined cycle plant.
01 Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer (R), MD and CEO, DEWA
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UPDATE Regional news
Dewa, Etihad ESCO ink $10m energy-saving deals
UAE’s O&G sector accounts for 15% of GHG emissions The UAE’s oil and gas sector accounted for 15% of the country’s total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2013, a low proportion compared to the amount of GHG emitted by other oilproducing countries, according to a top official from the Ministry of Energy citing the latest report on UAE’s greenhouse emissions in 2013. Electricity and water generation accounted for the bulk of emissions, at 33%, with the transport sector having the second-largest impact (22%), followed by the industrial sector (16%) and the oil and gas industry (15%). The agricultural sector accounted for only 1%, explained Mattar Hamed Al Niyadi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Energy.
Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) and Etihad Energy Service Company (Etihad ESCO) have signed two comprehensive Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC) at a combined value of US $10m to improve and enhance overall energy efficiency of the lighting infrastructure of the power plants at Jebel Ali, Al Awir and seven DEWAowned buildings, including DEWA headquarters.
Qafac to launch world’s largest CO2 capture facility Qatar Fuel Additives Company (Qafac) will formally launch the world’s largest commercialscale carbon dioxide capture facility in February. The plant is capable of recovering and reprocessing about 500 tonnes of carbon dioxide a day, a major environmental achievement for Qatar’s energy sector. The facility will capture carbon dioxide from combustion exhaust gas emitted from the methanol reformer process, and inject it into its existing methanol plant to enhance production capacity. As a result, the plant will reprocess the equivalent of the CO2 emitted by 32,000 cars a year, on a daily basis.
KSA to build largest solar desalination plant The plant will have capacity to desalinate 60,000m3 of seawater per day Spanish energy and environment company Abengoa will develop the world’s largest solar-powered desalination plant in Saudi Arabia, with local water firm Advanced Water Technology. The US $130m facility in Al Khafji City in the desert kingdom’s northeast will desalinate 60,000m3 of seawater each day, ensuring a stable supply of drinking water throughout the year, Abengoa said in a statement. It will build the project in partnership with Advanced Water Technology, a new unit of state-owned technology company Taqnia. The facility will be the first largescale desalination plant powered by solar energy, according to the company. It includes a photovoltaic plant as well as systems to lower power consumption and pre-treat local seawater.
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The latest contract increases Abengoa’s total desalination capacity to nearly 1.5 million m3/day, enough to supply 8.5m people around the world. In the Middle East, the company has been awarded other major water projects such as the Barka desalination plant in Oman, as well as
solar plants. The International Renewable Energy Agency says that less than 1% of the world’s desalination is powered by renewables, and most of these plants – in Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Turkey, Abu Dhabi and the Canary Islands – are very small.
UPDATE Regional news
NEWS briEfS Canon Emirates receives renewal of iSO 14001 Imaging solutions company Canon Emirates has been re-certified to the ISO 14001 environmental management standard. “In 2014, our goal was to improve lifecycle CO2 emissions per product by 3%. Additionally, we looked at reducing waste per unit by 1% for the year,” Shadi Bakhour, general manager, Canon Emirates, said. Masdar completes irENA global HQ The global headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has finally been completed and is among the greenest buildings in the city of Abu Dhabi. The 31,983sqm (GFA) multiuse complex of three connected buildings is the first office building in Abu Dhabi to be awarded a 4 Pearl Estidama Construction Rating Certificate by the Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC).
Milestone for UAE’s first nuclear plant ENEC completes dome for unit 1 reactor containment building The concrete dome for Barakah 1 has been completed and the unit is on track to start operations in 2017, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has announced. The dome is the final structural component of the reactor containment building, which will house the nuclear reactor itself. Designed to confine and contain radiation, work began on the steelreinforced concrete building in July 2012, with the fabrication of the basemat. The containment liner plate, which forms the inner floor, wall and ceiling of the reactor containment building, was then fabricated and installed in 19 stages over a period of ten months. The dome, which measures 51.4m in diameter, 24m in height and weighs approximately 9,000 tonnes, has been constructed over the past five months in nine stages. The unit is now more than 60% complete, and the next phase of work on the containment building will involve installation of the containment post-tensioning system.
ENEC CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi praised the commitment to quality and safety shown by the thousands of workers involved in the project. “We are proud to maintain our track record of achieving key construction milestones safely and on time,” he said. Barakah will comprise four Korean-designed APR-1400 reactors and is being built by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco).
Suez wins Oman landfill project contract
Johnson Controls to supply chillers to Kuwait University US-based Johnson Controls will supply 36 energy-efficient York centrifugal chillers for Kuwait University’s Shadadiyah Campus. The 6 million sqm campus is designed to be one of the most energy-efficient campuses in the world, home to 40,000 students and more than 10,000 faculty and staff, a statement said. The chillers will help the university reduce energy and operational costs while operating under extreme weather conditions where entering condenser water temperatures can reach 36°C. “Every dollar saved with energy efficiency is an investment in educational programmes,” said Claude Allain, general manager, Middle East, Johnson Controls.
Water and waste-management company Suez Environnement has won a US $37m contract to design, build and operate the municipal landfill facility in Amerat, Oman. The five-year contract has been awarded to their Oman subsidiary Sita Al Basheer. Sita Al Basheer will build the new cell of the landfill facility for Amerat’s non-hazardous solid municipal waste generated by the sultanate’s capital Muscat, said a statement from Suez Environnement. The new facility will include a biogas recovery system and a reverse osmosis plant for treating leachates. The site is Suez Environnement’s second waste treatment facility in the sultanate.
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UPDATE Regional news
Waste-to-energy market to sustain growth GCC WTE projects expected to produce up to 500MW of power by 2020 The GCC’s waste-to-energy (WTE) market will sustain the 20-25% growth rate attained over the past three years, with the region’s efforts to adopt more sustainable, long-term waste management and recycling solutions. With 80m tonnes of waste generated per year, the GCC countries produce a higher amount of waste per capita than any other region in the world. It is against this backdrop that WTE has now become an important mode of waste management and landfill waste reduction, as well as an essential source of power. According to a Frost and Sullivan report, the regional WTE projects now in the pipeline will produce between
300MW and 500MW of power by 2020 – approximately ten times as much as the current waste-to-energy production estimates. “One of our green programmes is the use of biofuel in six of our garbage
Masdar to deliver 12MW of solar power in Mauritania Masdar has signed a contract with Mauritania’s Ministry of Petroleum, Energy, and Mines to deliver seven solar photovoltaic projects with a total capacity of 12MW, providing clean and reliable energy to seven towns across the country. When complete, the solar power projects are expected to displace 6m litres of diesel fuel and 16,134 tonnes of CO2 annually. Each power plant will, on average, meet 30% of its town’s electricity demand. “Projects like these unlock significant economic and social benefits by providing more reliable and efficient local sources of electricity,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and chairman of Masdar. Completion of all the projects is expected by the first quarter of 2016.
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collection trucks, which forms part of our carbon footprint reduction campaign,” said Mahmood Rasheed, COO, Imdaad, a provider of integrated facilities management. The flourishing WTE sector in GCC is opening up significant opportunities for industry players. “In recent years, we have seen leading jurisdictions develop regulations, tipping fees and tariffs to increase quantities of recyclable and recoverable material. This will lead to more quality, high calorific value material on the market for treatment facility investors, thus driving market growth in the waste-toenergy field,” said Dipankar Ghosh, partner, Ernst & Young.
DEWA builds $27m regional green vehicle workshop Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is building a green vehicle workshop in Al Ruwayyah, the largest of its kind in the region, at an estimated cost of $27m. The new workshop will replace the current one in Ras Al Khor. It has been designed according to the Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) criteria of the US Green Building Council Institute. Around 75% of the project has been completed.
DNV GL to study Saudi power consumption Saudi Arabia has hired DNV GL, a technical advisor to the global oil and gas industry, to undertake analysis of the country’s capacity for energy efficiency. Under the US $2.5m contract, DNV GL will develop a study to assess electricity end-use efficiency, which will enable the forecast of future electricity consumption trends and the development of appropriate planning methodologies. The research team will collect data on the stock of appliances and end uses within each customer sector, including hourly data on customers’ demand for energy both at the customer whole-facility level and, most importantly, at the end-use level. Electricity demand in Saudi Arabia has more than doubled since 2000.
02 Mauritanian Energy Minister Mohamed Ould Khouna (L) and UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar Dr Sultan Al Jaber
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UPDATE Offbeat news
Olive power Swedish scientists are testing a prototype heating and power generating system running on residues from olive oil manufacturing An experimental system to create heat and power with waste from olive oil processing is up and running in Spain. Carina Lagergren, a researcher from Sweden’s KTH Royal Institute of Technology, said the system shows a promising way forward for reducing environmental damage and converting organic waste to energy. The project reached its conclusion toward the end of 2014, and today a small-scale prototype system is fully operational in an olive oil production facility operated by a cooperative in San Isidro de Loja, Granada. The electricity it produces is used to help power the plant. The system currently produces around 1kW of power, and the project partners – which include PowerCell Sweden AB – are planning to apply for funding to scale the operation up to create 200kW, or enough to supply 50% of the processing plant’s energy needs. “But for this project, the most important thing was finding a solution for all of the toxic waste left over from olive oil production,” Lagergren said. Converting the waste to heat and power is a three-part process, beginning with a digester tank that breaks the material down and releases biogas, comprising methane, carbon dioxide and sulphur compounds, to a reformer. The reformer converts the biogas into carbon dioxide and hydrogen, which can then be converted in the fuel cells. When oxygen is introduced in the cell, it mixes with the hydrogen and CO2 to create heat and electricity. The process depletes the toxicity of the waste,
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and what’s left can safely be transferred to landfill. “The idea behind the project is to show that it is possible to connect these processes together – starting with olive oil waste – and end up with electrical energy,” Lagergren said. Doing so is a much more sustainable alternative. With the current process, after olives are milled and their oil is drawn, the waste containing pesticides and toxic organic compounds is dumped into sludge pits, where it introduces toxins to the surrounding environment. So PowerCell, KTH and others joined forces to find a better way. For this project, PowerCell called on KTH to analyse the influence of impurities of the biogas on their fuel cells. “We fed the cells with the contaminants that are found in the fuel from the olive oil, or from the environment where the fuel cells operate, such as hydrogen sulphide and ammonia,” Lagergren said. The KTH researchers also looked into how the impurities affect the fuel cells. “Is it the electrode that suffers, or the electrolyte or the platinum itself, the carbon or the polymer?” she clarified, saying the answers will help the company define steps for cleaning the gas, as well as increasing understanding of the specifications of the fuel cells for those working with the technology. While the technology is still costly for converting olive mash into cash, fuel cells in general offer a promising alternative source of electrical energy. Molten carbonate cells, for example, are already used for very large systems.
UPDATE World news
COAL
CLimAte ChAnge
Global coal demand to reach 9bn tonnes per year by 2019
India, US strike alliance on climate change
IEA report says China will not see peak coal during outlook period, despite decarbonisation push
Prime Minister Modi and President Obama make headway on solar and nuclear investments
Global demand for coal over the next five years will continue marching higher, surpassing 9bn tonnes by 2019, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said in its annual coal market report, released recently. The report notes that despite China’s efforts to moderate its coal consumption, it will still account for three-fifths of demand growth during the outlook period. Moreover, China will be joined by India, ASEAN countries and other countries in Asia as the main engines of growth in coal consumption, offsetting declines in Europe and the United States. “We have heard many pledges and policies aimed at mitigating climate change, but over the next five years they will mostly fail to arrest the growth in coal demand,” IEA executive director Maria van der Hoeven said at the launch of the report. “Although the contribution that coal makes to energy security and access to energy is undeniable, I must emphasise once again that coal use in its current form is simply unsustainable. For this to change, we need to radically accelerate deployment of carbon capture and sequestration.” The executive director also called for more investment in high-efficiency coal-fired power plants, especially in emerging economies. “New plants are being built, in an arc running from South Africa to Southeast Asia, but too many of these are based on decades-old technology,” she said. “Regrettably, they will be burning coal inefficiently for many years to come.” Global coal demand growth has been slowing in recent years, and the report sees that trend continuing. Coal demand will grow at an average rate of 2.1% per year through 2019, the report said.
India and the US have achieved a “breakthrough understanding” on clean energy, nuclear power and climate change, US President Barack Obama announced during a weekend summit in New Delhi with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The agreements mark crucial steps toward an expected international climate agreement at a UN summit in Paris in December. “The Prime Minister and I made a personal commitment to work together to pursue a strong global climate agreement in Paris,” Obama said at a press conference. “As I indicated to him, I think India’s voice is very important on this issue.” Obama agreed to help finance Modi’s planned US $100bn expansion of solar power in the next seven years, from 20,000MW to 100,000MW. The leaders also made headway on long-stalled US civil nuclear investment in India. General Electric and Westinghouse have sought for six years to launch the multi-billion-dollar nuclear projects in India, but have been stymied by a 2010 Indian law that would leave them on the hook in the event of an accident. The Modi administration announced it would use executive authority to create a $122m insurance pool for nuclear operators. The US also eased restrictions on tracking nuclear material it ships to India, agreeing to settle for monitoring by the International Atomic Energy Agency. “Six years after we signed our bilateral agreement, we are moving towards commercial cooperation, consistent with our law, our international legal obligations, and tactical and commercial viability,” Modi said during the press conference.
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Cover Story Ahmed Al Muhairbi
Uniting stakeholders The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy strives to make the emirate the global capital of green economy through public-private partnerships, says Ahmed Al Muhairbi the concept of a green economy has become a centre of policy debate in recent years in Dubai. Carbon reduction initiatives, such as renewable energy generation, smart grid and buildings’ energy efficiency, are in full force across the city, and experts believe that this push will spur government spending and private investment worth billions of dollars. The Dubai Green Economy Partnership (GEP) programme, launched by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, aims to create new commercial opportunities through a public-private partnership (PPP) model. Ahmed Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) and Chairman of Dubai Green Economy Partnership, tells Ashish Saraf that enhancing participation from the private sector through the PPP model is required to support energy diversification and a low-carbon growth path for Dubai and the wider region. It’s widely accepted that the public and private sectors need to collaborate closely in order to realise the vision of a more sustainable GCC. What are your expectations from the Dubai Green Economy Partnership initiative?
I believe that the way forward to promote green economy is through public-private partnership. The programmes and initiatives of the Dubai GEP aim to enable the growth of green trade and investment and accelerate the adoption of green technologies, products and services across regional and global markets. My vision towards promoting a green economy in the Middle East combines embracing momentum and building capacity. The Dubai GEP is the one and only PPP on green
economy in the Middle East, and as such must showcase and maximise the exposure in international and national events and exhibitions on green economy. In that context, the Dubai GEP will undertake a Green Trade Mission and join international events such as the Paris UNFCCC COP 21 in late November 2015. In addition, we will continue organising our events to learn best practices on state-of-the-art technologies and new approaches, and will start a new research committee on green economy. In Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, one of the key mechanisms defined in our strategy is the funding process for the projects and the measures planned until 2030. We have planned some of our new projects to be funded through PPP and have developed a regulatory framework to attract international investment to Dubai. For example, phase II of the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park project is based on the PPP model for financing. We have seen great interest from the technology and financing firms to partner with us on the execution of the planned projects, and we will continue to facilitate this kind of engagement. The Dubai Global Energy Forum (DGEF 2013) held in April 2013 was attended heavily by the investment and technology firms, and we have promoted Dubai’s position on partnerships and as a hub for clean energy technologies and services (solar panels, equipment and others). Regional cities still have the highest carbon footprints per capita in the world. What steps should be taken to secure future energy supplies and tap the potential sources of fuel to meet ever-increasing demand?
We are building the momentum towards minimising carbon footprint across sectors. Dubai recently launched the Carbon
“We also have a structured strategy to encourage energy efficiency in terms of reducing electricity and water demand”
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Cover Story Ahmed Al Muhairbi
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Cover Story Ahmed Al Muhairbi
“The momentum towards excelling in clean energy has already built up in Dubai. It won’t change because the oil prices have reduced” Abatement Strategy (CAS) to develop CO2 emission targets across all sectors, with a focus on power supply, transportation and waste. It supports the UAE Vision 2021, which aims to transform the country to be one of the best in the world by 2021. We have planned a comprehensive approach to achieve sustainable growth through the deployment of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy (DIES) 2030. A roadmap has been created, reflecting the priorities of energy supply and demand abatement measures. Currently, 99% of Dubai’s energy is generated from gas. But as per DIES, by 2030 Dubai will have diversified its fuel mix by adding new energy sources such as 12% from clean coal, 5% from renewable energy including solar power, 12% from nuclear power and 71% from gas. The objective is to reduce consumption by 30% over the next fifteen years. We are in the process of revising our energy mix targets to reflect 7% by 2020 and 15% by 2030 for solar. Through DIES, the Supreme Council of Energy conducts a board meeting on a bi-monthly basis, attended by HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, chairman of DSCE, as well as the Vice Chairman, Secretary General and board
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members, to discuss and review strategy progress and ensure alignment. DSCE has partnered with the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (DCCE) to verify preliminary studies on carbon dioxide emissions. Emirate-wide as well as region-wide research on greenhouse gas emissions is being carried out, and frameworks are being developed with relevant industries, aimed at introducing a comprehensive carbon dioxide abatement programme. At the same time, the establishment of the Dubai Regulatory & Supervisory Bureau (RSB) is aimed at creating the framework to foster legislation and protect stakeholders. While diversification of energy supply is crucial, what role does demand-side management play in reducing emissions? Do you think a comprehensive demand-side strategy can create big opportunities for energy efficiency companies in the region?
Our demand-side management strategy, which was launched in June 2013, has eight programmes to manage energy demand in Dubai. These include regulations for green building construction, retrofitting of existing
Cover Story Ahmed Al Muhairbi
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buildings, district cooling, wastewater reuse, standards for appliances and equipment, energy-efficient street lighting and smart grid. The Council is working actively with various energy service companies to retrofit existing buildings and to set up a regulatory framework to attract investors. We engage with local, regional and international bodies that represent government, industry, financing and non-government organisations. These relationships have provided a good benchmarking tool to assess where we are now and what we can take on board for the next phase. We employ a thorough evaluation of what is available in the region and globally, then adapt or devise our own plan to implement in Dubai. This fits well with our approach to promote the principle of Public-Private Partnerships. We have a number of projects and programmes underway, addressing a regulatory framework, district-cooling, solar power, waste-to-energy, alternative transportation fuels, building efficiencies, the ESCO model and others. How does DSCE promote energy efficiency in the UAE?
We organise the Emirates Energy Award every two years. The award recognises the efforts of the public and private sectors across the region in energy efficiency, energy projects and education and research in the energy sector. There is also a special recognition award to honour outstanding contributors to the energy sector. What are the achievements of DSCE.
DSCE is working towards making Dubai the global capital for
green economy. In 2011, we implemented a new utilities tariff, which resulted in the reduction of water and electricity consumption by 6% and 2.2% respectively. Between 2010 and 2012, we saved around 1,508GWh of electricity and 12,837MIGD of water per capita after implementing beneficial quick wins at Dubai Government organisations, such as controlling their ambient temperature settings at 24 degrees during working hours and 27 degrees after working hours, switching off lights after working hours, replacing conventional lights with LED lights and using solar energy to heat water. We launched the first phase [a 13MW plant] of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in 2013. Last month, DEWA selected a consortium led by ACWA Power, with international operations in nine countries, as first-rank bidder to develop, construct, own and operate phase II of the solar park with a net power capacity of 200MW. The winning bid has set a new global benchmark as it reduces the cost of electricity at a levelised tariff of $0.0584/kWh. In December last year, Dubai passed a resolution which allows residents to obtain the licences and approvals to install solar panels on the roofs of their homes and businesses. With this resolution, the city is set to become the first major rooftop PV market in the region. Once the regulations are implemented, solar panels will appear on rooftops all around Dubai. Will falling oil prices derail the shift to renewable sources of energy, such as wind and solar power?
The momentum towards excelling in clean energy has already built up in Dubai. It won’t change because the oil prices have reduced. We are not moving away from our plans to boost
01 DSCE Senior Director Taher Diab (R) addresses a session at GLOBE 2014 conference 02 Former chairman of Dubai GEP Waleed Salman signs an MoU with Globe Foundation
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Cover Story Ahmed Al Muhairbi
“We are not moving away from our plans to boost solar energy in the country. It’s a global commitment” solar energy in the country. It’s a global commitment. More and more governments across the world are committing themselves to a cleaner environment. The oil market is volatile. Therefore, solar is a strategic energy source that can provide stability and complement Dubai’s power requirements. A Dubai GEP delegation attended the World Summit of Regions for Climate recently and discussed potential collaboration with the UNEP (United Nations Environment Programme) and the UNSDSN (United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network) on sustainable tourism. In the lead-up to the Expo, how well is the emirate placed to promote green tourism?
Dubai’s tourism plans continue to grow at a rampant pace, and these partnerships will play an important role in maintaining the sustainability of the emirate. The private sector in Dubai, hospitality in particular, had started sustainability initiatives even before us. They have been striving towards minimising their energy and water bills. We are working with energy service companies to retrofit existing buildings, including hotels, and establish
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a green code for future buildings, focusing on air conditioning and lighting. Simultaneously, hotels have their own initiatives to rationalise energy consumption. We want to ensure that Expo 2020 has the minimum footprint possible. How do you engage member of DSCE entities in the development of green energy in Dubai?
The energy sector is a key player in our DIES 2030 for the supply and integration of clean technology. This is reflected in the DSCE’s structure, where the entities are members with an execution role defined for our projects, including solar. For instance, the funding of the first phase of the landmark Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is allocated equally among the DSCE’s entities. A strong platform supported by member entities of the DSCE, which includes DEWA, Dubai Municipality, DUBAL, ENOC, the Dubai Petroleum, DUSUP, Department of Petroleum Affairs, Dubai Nuclear Energy Committee and RTA has been established to develop several strategic measures and projects in Dubai, where energy efficiency, demandabatement and sustainability are high on our agenda.
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Solar takes centre stage Attracting more than 32,000 visitors, ADSW 2015 focuses on addressing the interconnected challenges of energy and water security A recurring theme at the 2015 World Future Energy Summit (WFES) has been solar energy, and its transition from an expensive alternative to a competitive technology. Spurred by the capital’s goal of generating 7% of its energy output using renewable sources by 2020, the centrepiece of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW), the WFES has highlighted the viability of injecting solar
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technology into the region’s energy infrastructure. Attracting more than 32,000 visitors, the summit focused on addressing the interconnected challenges of energy and water security, climate risk and sustainable development in the wider region. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of
EvEnt REvIEW ADSW
Dubai, and HH General Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, attended the opening of the eighth annual session of the World Future Energy Summit, in the presence of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Commenting on the opening ceremony, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed underscored the critical role that energy has in promoting economic growth, national stability and social opportunity. His Highness also emphasised that the United Arab Emirates, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Kalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, is committed to driving innovation and advancing technology that ensures markets, countries and citizens of the world have access to sustainable power well into the future.
Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi delivered the keynote address and stressed the need for greater cooperation in the fields of energy and sustainable development between regional countries. The President went on to say that Egypt is committed to addressing its long-term energy security and will expand its reliance on renewable energy by 20% by 2020. The President also outlined that this target will be achieved through a comprehensive energy strategy, which includes reforms that support the adoption of all sources of energy. As part of the strategy, Egypt plans to build 4,300MW of solar and wind power over the next three years. He also stressed that Egypt must leverage its strategic geographic location and infrastructure to make the country an economic hub.
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EvEnt REvIEW ADSW
Fostering collaboration the World future energy Summit 2015 closes with crucial water, solar, wind and bioenergy innovations and collaborations Leading public and private companies in the fields of solar, bioenergy, water desalination, energy efficiency and construction benefited from a tailored collaboration programme during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week. Here are some of the takeaways from the biggest clean energy event in the Middle East. WorlD’S firSt bioenergy pilot project Based on research work at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the Sustainable Bioenergy Research Consortium (SBRC) awarded a contract to International Mechanical & Electrical to construct the world’s first bioenergy pilot project to use desert land – irrigated by seawater – to produce both bioenergy and food. The pilot project is expected to be operational by late summer. “Considering that about 20% of the world’s land is desert and 97% of the world’s water is salt water, this approach turns a land and water resource scarcity problem on its head by creating a bioenergy solution applicable in countries around the globe,” said Masdar CEO Ahmad Belhoul. SolAr DeSAlinAtion A research contract to study seawater desalination using solar power was signed by Masdar, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, Laborelec – a subsidiary of GDF Suez – and Degrémont – a subsidiary of Suez Environnement – in the presence of Ségolène Royal, French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development and Energy. The contract provides for a study of possible use of 100% solar power to desalinate seawater, a feat that would be a world first. The research will focus on selecting the most
practical and economical photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal energy technologies to supply full-scale seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) with locally produced renewable energy. The parties will jointly work to develop an optimised design of a solar energy-powered SWRO desalination plant. innovAtion AccelerAtor Masdar Institute and global energy giant BP announced plans to launch a technology innovation accelerator focused on emerging energy, water and other sustainable technologies. The accelerator will support the creation of start-up companies through sponsoring technical research, providing commercial input and supplying mentoring and business plan support. The accelerator will also work with local stakeholders in the development of technology incubators and seed funds, to extend the innovation ecosystem and substantially increase the chances of success for new companies. “By developing this technology innovation accelerator with BP, we will provide UAE innovators with opportunities to realise the full potential of their ideas, directly in line with the UAE National Innovation Strategy,” said Dr Fred Moavenzadeh, President, Masdar Institute. SAuDi-french AlliAnce Saudi-based Almagar Group 3EC has tied up with France’s Enekio to develop and deploy smart energy solutions for cities, buildings and ecosystems. “The deal emphasises scientific and technological cooperation between Saudi Arabia and France Engineers,” said Dr Ali Mohammed Almagar Al Shehri, General Manager of Almagar Group 3EC.
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01 representatives from Masdar, Masdar institute, laborelec and Degrémont sign a solar desalination contract at WfeS
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Innovators galore WfeS 2015 brought together the full spectrum of sustainability innovations. thousands of inventors gathered to discuss ideas and sell new technologies. We take a look at some of the key innovations showcased at the summit energy cApAcity ASSeSSMent tool American PV manufacturer First Solar launched its utilityscale PV project assessment application, which allows developers to evaluate the feasibility and energy output of ground-mounted utility-scale projects. In what First Solar calls a first for the PV industry, users will be able to plot potential sites on a mapping interface; design a plant, while adjusting configurations to maximise energy output; and generate a report that includes site-specific estimated capacity and energy yield, all while factoring in irradiation levels, average temperatures, project construction timing and more. “The Energy Capacity Assessment Tool is another groundbreaking milestone in our longstanding commitment to providing our customers in Europe and globally with clean, reliable and affordable power,” said Christopher Burghardt, Vice President for Europe at First Solar. “The new application significantly optimises the utility-scale PV project assessment process and grants wider access to information that was previously largely available to project engineers.” cleAnArc Chinese module supplier Yingli presented its CleanARC coated modules, designed specifically for MENA applications. The anti-reflective coating (ARC) Yingli applies to its CleanARC modules was developed by California’s Enki Technology. It has reduced permeability and is more robust than some competitor coatings, which Yingli claims makes it ideally suited to MENA markets. “Glass coatings are a deceptively simple component that creates long-term financial implications for solar project owners. Extensive lab and field testing demonstrates the clear advantage of multi-functional CleanARC coatings in challenging operational environments,” commented Kevin Kopczynski, CEO of Enki Technology. ecoMAginAtion GE presented its ecomagination products, such as the
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Jenbacher gas engine and Brilliant Wind Turbine. Capable of using a variety of gas types including natural gas, flare gas, biogas, biomass and landfill gas, Jenbacher engines help industrial companies and municipalities meet their need for reliable on-site power. With the power of software, analytics and advanced manufacturing technologies backing them, the Brilliant Wind Turbine solution integrates energy storage, advanced controls and forecasting algorithms to manage the variability of wind and position it for a subsidy-free world. GE also displayed its H-class heavy-duty gas turbines, which come in a broad power range of 275-470MW. The 9HA gas turbines offer 600700MW 1x1 combined cycle power blocks and can achieve over 61% net combined cycle efficiency.
SolAr Mobile App The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology’s Research Center for 02 Renewable Energy Mapping and Assessment (ReCREMA) has developed a mobile application to access satellite maps of wind and solar energy resources in the UAE. The Solar Mobile Application will allow users to access solar resource information for their location in near real time through their GPS-enabled smartphones, using the unique satellite-based solar mapping algorithm developed at Masdar Institute. The mobile application UAE LiveSolar is currently available for download on iTunes for iPhone and Google Play for Android devices, and will soon be available for Windows mobile platforms. With this app, resource maps with DNI, DHI and GHI values for the latest available data are also available, as are charts showing the latest values for these three solar components at the user’s current location. Dr Hosni Ghedira, Director, ReCREMA and Professor of Practice, Masdar Institute, said: “Being able to interact with this data using a mobile device is a great advance, following the current trend of making such information systems more ubiquitous. This mobile application is ready to use anywhere in the world provided that solar radiance or radiation data is available, including the UAE.” 02 A screenshot of first Solar’s energy capacity assessment tool application
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Solar Impulse 2 route revealed first global solar plane flight to stop in india, Myanmar and uS the Solar Impulse 2 – a solar-powered plane that will fly around the world without using a single drop of fuel – was in Abu Dhabi during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, as it prepares for the historic flight. Hosted by Masdar, the plane is an example of how pioneering pursuits and imagination can drive innovation, since the plane’s technology partners had to anticipate and provide solutions for the complex challenges and conditions the pilots and the plane would undergo. Swiss pilots Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg announced that the Solar Impulse 2 aircraft would depart the UAE on the historic adventure in late February or early March, making a total of 12 stops. The route includes landings in Myanmar; China; India; Phoenix, Arizona; and New York’s JFK Airport. At speeds between 50 and 100km/h, Piccard and Borschberg aim to circle the globe, flying about 25 days over a total of about five months. “Solar Impulse is not the first solar airplane; however, it is the first able to cross oceans and continents, remaining in the air for several days and nights in a row without landing,” said André Borschberg, Solar Impulse Co-founder and CEO. “But now we have to ensure the sustainability of the pilot in order to complete the route. Solar Impulse 2 must accomplish what no other plane in the history of aviation has achieved
– flying without fuel for five consecutive days and nights with only one pilot in the unpressurised cockpit.” An earlier version of the plane was the first solar-powered aircraft of ‘perpetual endurance’ to fly ‘day and night without a drop of fuel’, according to the Solar Impulse website, thanks to advanced solar cells that charge lightweight lithium batteries, which can then store enough energy to allow the plane to fly long distances at night. Developers say Solar Impulse 2 takes what engineers learned from its predecessor and pushes it a step further. Compared to a giant Boeing 747-8, the Solar Impulse 2 wingspan is 12 feet wider, at 236 feet, but the plane is very lightweight, just 2½ tonnes, lighter than a large SUV. With just one seat, designers acknowledge Solar Impulse 2 isn’t commercially practical. But that’s not the point. Instead, engineers aim to demonstrate the possibilities of solarpowered aviation and to promote clean-energy technology. During stopovers, the Solar Impulse team will organise meetings, airplane visits and Google Hangouts in order to promote the mission’s message and highlight innovative technical solutions to climate change. In doing so, Solar Impulse hopes to foster an interest in clean energy among youth, industry professionals and government representatives seeking to implement ambitious energy policies.
03 Solar impulse 2 arrives in Abu Dhabi by cargo plane from Switzerland
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EvEnt REvIEW ADSW
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transforming our energy future Al gore & panasonic among 2015 Zayed future energy prize winners the Zayed Future Energy Prize named nine winners for outstanding achievements in advancing renewable energy and sustainability worldwide. the winners across four of the five categories were Panasonic for Large Corporation, M-KOPA Solar for SME, Liter of Light in the nPO category, and former US vice President Al Gore for the Lifetime Achievement Award, as well as five high schools from around the world. An award fund of $4m will be distributed among the winners. pAnASonic Electronics manufacturer Panasonic won recognition in the Large Corporation category for a longstanding commitment to social, economic and environmental sustainability throughout the company’s operations. The company is best known in renewable energy as the perennial world recordholder for solar PV cell efficiency, and for expanding market opportunities for solar worldwide. M-KopA SolAr In the SME category, M-KOPA Solar was awarded $1.5m for its innovative approach to deploying solar electricity to rural villages in Kenya and Uganda, delivering access to affordable energy to the rural communities that need it most. To date, the company has sold more than 100,000 solar home systems. liter of light Social enterprise Liter of Light was awarded $1.5m in the NPO category. Using recycled plastic bottles, water and bleach to create solar lanterns, the small volunteer group, established as part of the relief efforts during the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan, has expanded to 15 countries and has installed lanterns in more than 350,000 homes.
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Al gore Former United States Vice President Al Gore received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his unwavering personal and political commitment to raising international awareness of the dangers of climate change, while reinforcing optimism that the global community can successfully tackle the challenge. Gore received the award from His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. “I am grateful to receive this renowned award. Through the work of the Climate Reality Project, the organisation I founded in 2006, we have helped to change the cultural conversation about the climate crisis, and in doing so, created a new generation of determined activists who are working tirelessly for positive change,” Gore said after accepting the award. “Though we have made great progress, there is much work yet to be done. We must come together, rise to this challenge and ensure the sustainability and prosperity of human civilisation for generations to come.” he added. Gore’s first action as an ambassador will be to donate the $500,000 prize to the volunteers of the Climate Reality Project, which trains activists to speak publicly about the effects of climate change and ways to address it. Gore established this initiative in 2006 and has since trained more than 4,000 volunteers to deliver 70,000 presentations to over seven million people around the world. “Al Gore has been one of the most influential figures in the history of climate change negotiations. As an activist and environmentalist, he has played a pivotal role in putting climate change at the forefront of the global political agenda,” Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber, director-general of the Zayed Future Energy Prize, said.
04 hh general Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme commander of the uAe Armed forces (r) presents the Zayed future energy prize lifetime Achievement award to former uS vice president Al gore
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On the frontline WiSer forum addresses challenges of climate change and energy security Women working in the field of sustainability received high-profile recognition in a major forum convened by Masdar in partnership with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Zayed Future Energy Prize. Featuring female executives and leaders from around the globe, the Women in Sustainability, Environment and Renewable Energy (WISER) forum underscored women’s quickly growing contributions to climate change solutions and green growth, as well as the tremendous opportunities now available to female graduates and young professionals. The event was held as part of Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week and the World Future Energy Summit, and assembled women in the fields of engineering, media, politics and science to drive solutions that address the challenges of energy, water security and climate risk. WISER was opened with a keynote address from Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, UAE Minister of State, Director General, Bureau Dubai Expo 2020 and board representative of the Dubai Expo 2020 Higher Committee, who said, “The support of women leaders, who advocate sustainability, is a priority to the UAE and Expo 2020 Dubai. The WISER forum is a platform of where and how women’s empowerment can work to address viable sustainability initiatives.” The event took both personal and global perspectives on women’s status and contributions in sustainability, mixing
gender statistics with individual narratives from the speakers and discussion of general industry issues. Topics ranged from the upcoming Paris climate change negotiations to work-life balance, including a special focus by the Zayed Future Energy Prize on empowering women in developing countries. “Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week attracts some of the world’s leading global players in sustainability to address the world’s most pressing environmental challenges,” said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and director general of Zayed Future Energy Prize, and chairman of Masdar. “In his lifetime, our founding father Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan stressed the importance of women’s education and participation, encouraging them to work in all sectors. WISER builds on this legacy and shows how much women are needed as we face the challenges of climate change and sustainable development, Al Jaber added “The world has reached a critical turning point where many women are playing leading roles to build the resilience of their families, communities and the planet amid the challenges of water scarcity, energy security and climate change,” said Dr Nawal Al-Hosany, Director of Sustainability at Masdar. “The WISER forum offers an empowering environment to encourage both female leaders and women at the beginning of their careers in business, media and politics to pursue their own visions.”
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EvEnt PrEviEw Outdoor Design and Build Show 2015
Setting the pace UAE’s $315bn construction industry is regional sustainability leader
the UAE’s developers are setting the standard for sustainable development in the Middle East and north Africa, driving higher regional standards in the outdoor construction and design industry, says a leading consultant. The construction industry in the UAE is enjoying a resurgence, with a total value of US $315bn in announced and planned projects last year, according to research by EC Harris, driven by mega-projects such as Expo 2020 and by spending on social infrastructure. “Dubai and Abu Dhabi are definitely leading the way for sustainable development here in the MENA region, with the municipalities having provided minimum standards that all developers must adhere to,” says Walter Bone, Landscape Design Architect at Khatib & Alami. “We are seeing many developers going above and beyond these standards and setting the bar for other developers to follow, which is great for the whole industry,” he adds. Developers in the region are increasingly looking at making better use of outdoor space, and providing a better environment for people to use it more effectively. “While in many areas here, people don’t tend to make much use of available open space, once you provide people with spaces where they can live, work and play they will take advantage of that,” Bone comments. “By providing landscaping amenities such as shaded areas, gathering places and so on, you make the quality of people’s lives so much better. This is a concept that has been adopted around the world for a very long time, and since Dubai and Abu Dhabi have embraced it, we can look forward to seeing
it being embraced in other parts of the region.” UAE regulations stipulate that 25% of a project’s development area must be set aside for environmentally responsible landscaping, while Abu Dhabi is addressing sustainable development through its Estidama initiative. “Since its inception, Al Barari has focused on environmental management strategies to integrate sustainability throughout the entire community, from engineering design and construction to composting, water polishing and recycling,” says Kamelia Bin Zaal, creative director at Al Barari, the unique and groundbreaking eco-friendly residential community in Dubai. “We aim to not only minimise the local impact of development, but to enhance the regional environment and bring about careful ecological restoration.” “Dubai and Abu Dhabi’s forward thinking is providing an example to the rest of the region and once again confirms the UAE’s status as a regional leader,” says Nicholas Webb, Managing Partner of Streamline Marketing Group, the organisers of the Outdoor Design and Build Show 2015 taking place in Dubai on 13-15 April 2015. “By addressing sustainability issues now, we are quite literally building for all our futures.” The Outdoor Design and Build Show is an annual B2B tradeshow that focuses purely on design and build for all public and private spaces, including parks, urban areas, hotels, schools, sports venues and major residential projects. Hosted and fully backed by Dubai Municipality, the event is the only dedicated international platform in the Middle East that caters to the entire spectrum of hard and soft landscape products and services. Major confirmed exhibitors include Gulf Landscape, Wt Burden, Nahar LLC and Hunter Industries.
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SPECIAL REPORT Solar Energy
Solar predictions for 2015 All signs point to a strengthening solar industry in 2015, even if the recovery itself remains incredibly fragile. Here’s a look at the top 10 predictions for the year While 2014 remained a challenging time for the solar photovoltaic (PV) industry, it marked an inflection point in the market’s development. Market research firm IHS forecasts that global PV demand will rise 25% this year, while installation demand will grow at double-digit rates as installations reach approximately 55GW. “Through mergers, acquisitions and bankruptcies, the supplier base consolidated further, as companies struggled with debt-laden balance sheets and a rapid shift in their customer base away from their traditional markets,” says Ash Sharma, Senior Research Director for Solar at IHS. “All signs point to a strengthening recovery of the solar industry in 2015, even if the recovery itself remains incredibly fragile.” Unsurprisingly, China is expected to be the leading market again in 2015, followed by Japan and the United States – backing up many predictions made towards the end of 2014.
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Here, we bring you the top 10 predictions for 2015 from the IHS solar research team. GlobAl demAnd rises Due to the ongoing cost reductions for solar PV, IHS forecasts that installation demand will grow at a double-digit rate of 16-25%, and installations in the range of 53-57GW. Geographically, the largest markets again will be China, Japan and the United States, while the largest contributors in terms of absolute growth will be China, the United States and India. CPV mArket to Grow Starting in 2015, IHS forecasts an accelerated concentrated photovoltaic solar (CPV) market expansion of 37%, to reach approximately 250MW of new installations. Installations of both high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) and low-
SPECIAL REPORT Solar Energy
concentration photovoltaic (LCPV) systems will expand at double-digit percentages every year through 2020. ksA’s solAr enerGy bubble bursts IHS has scaled down its outlook for PV installations in Saudi Arabia, after the country revised its renewable energy target. According to the latest report from the company, Saudi Arabia postponed the milestone for its 16GW PV goal from 2032 to 2040, corresponding to average annual capacity additions of 640MW over 25 years. As a result, IHS has halved the five-year outlook for PV installations in the country, from 1.6GW to 800MW. The slump in oil prices has weakened the argument for Saudi Arabia to replace oil as the main source of power generation in the near term, says Josefin Berg, Senior Analyst at IHS Technology. “An additional factor that will determine the PV deployment is the evolution of a local manufacturing base, given Saudi Arabia’s emphasis on supporting local industry.” As regulators have not progressed on the planned tenders, and PV installations have stagnated at less than 20MW, the PV industry is growing restless,” IHS writes. “The latest announcement from K.A.CARE to postpone the target year to 2040 deflates further expectations of near- to mid-term growth.” IHS has gradually lowered its PV demand outlook for Saudi Arabia since the country announced PV targets in 2012. From
having predicted 1-2GW of tendered PV projects to be completed over five years, IHS now forecasts that less than 1GW will come into operation through 2020. “This outlook hinges on the roll-out of a regulatory framework for PV, whether through tenders or feed-in tariffs,” the company says in the report. CHinA dPV to inCreAse 20% With challenges ahead for China’s ambitious plans for distributed PV (DPV), IHS forecasts the country will struggle to achieve its aggressive targets. Even so, the market is clearly beginning to build momentum, and policies and business models are helping to accelerate growth. IHS forecasts that DPV installations in China will reach 4.7GW in 2015, an increase of nearly 20% from 2014. Grid Power system to triPle The PV power system is evolving away from the traditional and relatively simple system of one-directional flow – from large-scale conventional generators through transmission and distribution lines to consumers – to an increasingly complex mix of small, distributed generators and consumers at all points in the electricity grid. Annual installations of gridconnected PV systems, paired with energy storage, will more than triple to 775MW in 2015.
IHS has halved the five-year outlook for PV installations in Saudi Arabia, from 1.6GW to 800MW
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SPECIAL REPORT Solar Energy
“The slump in oil prices has weakened the argument for Saudi Arabia to replace oil as the main source of power generation in the near term” Josefin Berg, senior AnAlyst, iHs
emerGinG mArkets mAture IHS forecasts that Chile will be the next emerging market, after South Africa, to reach the milestone of 1GW in installed PV solar capacity. Aside from Chile, other emerging markets poised for rapid growth in 2015 are Jordan, the Philippines and Honduras. Conversely, great uncertainty still surrounds Mexico, Brazil and Turkey. monoCrystAlline to inCreAse mArket sHAre Although monocrystalline technology will not threaten multicrystalline domination in the near future, IHS expects it to steadily gain share, benefiting from growth in rooftop installations as well as increasing demand for higherefficiency products. IHS forecasts the monocrystalline share of global cell production will increase to 27% in 2015, up from 24% in 2014. 100kw rules There is potential for DPV in both established and emerging markets around the world. IHS forecasts distributed photovoltaic (DPV) systems – those sized 100kW or smaller – to account for 30% of global installations in 2015, with 15.7GW projected, up from 13.2 GW in 2014. The largest market for these installations in 2015 will be Japan, with DPV accounting for nearly 70 percent of installations. The US is also expected to install more than 2.2GW of DPV in
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2015, as net-metering and third-party ownership models continue to drive the market. uk – Frontrunner in euroPe The Q2 halt of UK utility-scale PV will trigger a new wave of consolidation among European engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractors. The clock is running down for integrators of large solar systems in Europe, with the expiration of a UK incentive programme bringing an end to a boom in utility-scale installations and triggering a flurry of consolidation. The UK will dominate the utility-scale PV landscape in Europe in 2015, installing 1.4GW of groundmount systems, primarily under the renewable obligation certificates (ROC) scheme. CAliForniA – tHe new GlobAl leAder IHS expects that, by the end of 2015, California – the largest renewable power market in the United States – will attain worldwide leadership in market share of annual power generation received from solar PV. Following another year of strong utility-scale and DPV additions, solar power is expected to provide more than 10% of California’s annual power generation in 2015. This penetration level will push the state above other leading global solar markets, such as Germany and Italy, in terms of the share of total power generation sourced from solar PV.
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COLUMN Refining and Petrochemicals
Taming the energy beast How can refinery and petrochemical companies put energy efficiency foremost in the midst of business complexity and uncertainty?
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COLUMN Refining and Petrochemicals
Energy management is essential to the sustainability and profitability of an operation. Improving energy consumption should be seen as a business opportunity and embedded within all aspects of the enterprise. Second to raw materials, energy is the largest expense in most chemical and refining processes. Refineries and petrochemical companies that invest in energy efficiency gain a competitive advantage through improved operating margins, production flexibility and smaller carbon footprints. The MENA region is a rapidly growing energy consumer, second after the fast-growing economies of South and East Asia. Many large oil producing countries, particularly the Gulf States, have grown considerably faster than the regional average, according to a study by the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies. Aggregate Gulf demand (including the GCC economies, Iran and Iraq) for primary energy has risen five-fold since the 1980s, the world’s fastest energy demand growth for any region if disaggregated from overall MENA demand. This rise in regional energy consumption comes at considerable economic cost. So how can refinery and petrochemical companies put energy efficiency foremost in the midst of business complexity and uncertainty? Tackling energy inefficiency is divided into supplyside and demand-side approaches. On the demand side, there are various strategies for reducing energy demand. Fundamentally, making more efficient use of all heating and cooling sources presents opportunities in a plant. This is known as heat integration and is tackled during design, but also in any operating facility. Demand can be reduced through better operation and maintenance of process equipment. Heat exchangers encounter a variety of operating challenges, from fouling on heat transfer surfaces to vibration and hydraulic issues. Process strategies – adjusting operating temperatures, tuning and adjusting column tray and flow – can have a significant impact on energy use. Reducing process variability through optimisation and real-time control can significantly improve efficiency. On the supply side, actively managing utility sources based on temporal pricing and supply can achieve enormous savings. There are four strategic opportunity areas for energy savings that industry needs to address in order to improve energy efficiency and carbon footprint.
Design of new facilities The enemy of energy-efficient design is time. Most projects today, whether large or small, are under huge schedule pressure. Incorporating heat integration (pinch) analysis into this early stage can yield important lifecycle benefits. Energy-efficient processes save not only lifecycle costs, but also capital, through reduction in required ratings. This also leads to savings on hot and cold utilities. Intuitive heat integration analysis and optimisation software embedded within the process simulation enables the conceptual designer to rapidly investigate, screen and select better designs from an energy point of view. This is one of the best ways to improve energy optimisation at the early design stage. Detailed heat exchanger modelling within the process simulation enables the conceptual designer to look at tradeoffs between heat exchanger size, efficiency and operability, to achieve the best trade-offs between capital and operating cost. Optimisation of the interaction between heating and cooling block and key process units such as separation columns, using optimisation methods within leading process simulators, is another way to improve energy efficiency. Energy conservation is important, not only to large bulk petrochemical and fertiliser processes, but also to new bioconversion processes seeking commercial viability. capital investment to revamp existing facilities Diverse opportunities are available to improve energy use in existing facilities, and fortuitously many of these alternatives also improve yields. The same tools available for frontend design are available to the engineer looking at energy conservation and plant improvement. Key opportunity areas are heat exchanger reconfiguration, replacement and addition of heat exchangers, more aggressive preventative maintenance strategies to reduce heat exchanger fouling, and process changes in operating parameters and configuration in order to improve efficiency. A comprehensive energy analysis of an existing process facility may identify dozens of individual opportunities for improvement. Some involve significant capital expense, while others involve trade-offs in production to achieve both energy reduction and yield improvement. improvement in operations anD maintenance strategies A range of operating practices and strategies are available
“Fundamentally, making more efficient use of all heating and cooling sources presents opportunities in a plant. This is known as heat integration and is tackled during design, but also in any operating facility” 01 ossama tawfick, vp sales, mena, aspentech
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COLUMN Refining and Petrochemicals
to improve energy use within a plant, including visibility of energy use KPIs, heat exchanger maintenance, energy planning and scheduling, and real-time optimisation combined with advanced controls. Visual KPI dashboards representing plant performance are the starting point for operational improvement. When all operators, maintenance personnel, planners and managers understand the impact of their actions on plant energy use and costs, it gives each individual in an operating environment ownership of the energy challenge. Heat exchanger fouling imposes both energy and yield penalties. Tuned process and heat exchanger models can be used in combination with real-time plant data to predict heat exchanger fouling and to drive improved maintenance schedules that reduce plant outages, energy use and yields.
Establishing a link between production and energy scheduling ensures a secure energy supply, reduces the need for flaring of surplus fuel gas and venting of surplus steam, and helps forecast possible bottlenecks. Better daily scheduling, quicker reactions to changes, and enhanced execution are crucial. Through supply-side management in the production planning process, energy costs and emissions targets are now becoming an integral part of planning. Operational benefits can be gained by planning for inbound and outbound energy use (i.e. process equipment and facilities energy use, feedstock scheduling, purchase of external utilities versus use of internally available sources). State-of-the-art forward-planning tools can help evaluate the trade-offs between production, energy sources and
“Process strategies can have a significant impact on energy use, for instance, adjusting operating temperatures, tuning and adjusting column tray and flow� 036
COLUMN Refining and Petrochemicals
“The consequence of ignoring energy costs could be the difference between being commercially robust and profitable and not being in business at all”
costs and emissions, enabling a true optimal operation to be defined. Utilities planning software can help plan the optimal utilities system set-up and also advise operations personnel on actions they can take on a real-time basis to improve energy and economic performance. Advanced process control (APC) can manage a process to reduce variability and run the plant closer to its desired performance. This in turn reduces the overall energy budget for the process and better manages emissions within permitted limits. Real-time optimisation can be combined with advanced process control for further energy reduction. By running an analytical process model against plant data, operating strategies can be continuously revised based on actual plant performance. effective management of Utilities The priority that companies place on energy management fluctuates with trends in energy prices and price uncertainty. This is short-sighted. In the long term, investment in energy minimisation pays off over an asset’s lifecycle. By achieving the same outcomes through less energy usage, organisations can implement more efficient processes and embrace advanced
technology to improve performance. Energy improvement has the side benefit of improving process yields and sustainability benefits. Process plants, as major energy consumers, will be increasingly under regulatory and public scrutiny related to their carbon footprint. State-of-the-art process simulation, analysis, planning, scheduling, optimisation and control software optimises energy usage by managing operations across the enterprise. Capital savings can be made by implementing more energyefficient operational measures, resulting in increased production and reduced emissions. Adopting best practice improves the way companies source, trade and use energy. Operating existing utilities with minimum cost and maximum reliability delivers the optimum production plan while considering ever-changing environmental, organisational and technical constraints. Managers can use best practice to make calculated, measured and sustainable decisions, while meeting regulations and improving production standards. By considering total energy and utilities systems, leading energy management software tools give a process organisation the perfect solution to taming the energy beast, from design through operation, and dramatically improve margins. Best practice Delivers resUlts An effective energy management plan must be tackled holistically and integrated across all aspects of the business. To be truly energy-efficient, a clear action plan elevates the importance of energy management, defines targets and timelines, tasks the workforce to execute the plan efficiently and maintains controls for the operation. Equipping key stakeholders with leading-edge software delivers long-term benefits to help reduce costs and improve the overall performance of the plant. In today’s dynamic and competitive market, energy management is a key way to ease the pressure on profit margins. The consequence of ignoring energy costs could be the difference between being commercially robust and profitable and not being in business at all. The author, Ossama Tawfick, is VP Sales, MENA, AspenTech
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DIARY DATES Events & conferences
Diary dates Innovation Arabia 2015 Dubai, UAE February 16-18
Big 5 Saudi Jeddah, Saudi Arabia March 9-11
Innovation Arabia 8 will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and President of Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart University (HBMSU). The main theme of this year’s conference is “Innovate, Collaborate and Differentiate: Honouring the Past, Treasuring the Present and Shaping the Future”.
The Big 5 Saudi event celebrates a major milestone this year – the 5th anniversary of the show being held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. First launched in 2011, the event has quickly established itself as the Kingdom’s most popular international construction event. The event brings together thousands of visitors and exhibitors and exposes them to products that can help deliver a sustainable future. In 2015 we can expect 16,000 visitors and 560 exhibitors and more multi-million dollar deals to be signed. Large companies such as Rajhi Steel and Zamil Industrial will also be participating at the 2015 event in March. But it isn’t just the world’s best and most innovative products that the event brings to Saudi Arabia. It now includes education as part of its core agenda. Visitors can benefit from educational seminars and workshops which are led by local and international experts giving their point of view on the industry and their predictions for 2015. These seminars cover areas such as asset maintenance, project management, market overview and an introduction to the LEED rating system.
Waste Free Environment Al Mamzar Beach, UAE February 26 Waste Free Environment (WFE) is a global event and an important environmental campaign launched by the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA). The campaign will include a clean up in addition to entertainment and activities. There will also be food and giveaways.
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studies and roundtable sessions from local and international experts at the Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort and Spa in Dubai.
MENASOL Dubai, UAE May 13-14 WETEX 2015 Dubai, UAE April 21-23 WETEX is an important regional resourcing platform for national and international companies to access a wide range of the latest technology and management solutions. This year’s event will provide avenues for industry leaders to keep updated on the latest developments in the field of water, energy and environment, and as well to network and tie up with strategic partners.
2nd Annual Smart Skyscrapers Summit Dubai, UAE May 11-12 The second edition of Smart Skyscrapers 2015, Middle East’s biggest skyscrapers summit, returns to Dubai with the spotlight on the most innovative sustainable building technologies, design principles and solutions for high-rise green buildings from around the world. The two-day summit will see presentations, case
MENASOL is a meeting point dedicated to the solar industry - an interactive experience that will guide and connect you with top decision makers in the region and financers eager to invest in your solar project. In 2015, the organisers have made the event bigger and better by introducing new features: Two dedicated tracks covering PV and CSP – Get insight from policy makers, developers and financiers on solar projects and programmes in Morroco, Egypt, UAE, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. PV and CSP Exhibition Area – Speak with the specialists that can help you in our 30+ exhibition hall, and understand the specialised solutions available to your solar challenges.
RECRUITMENT Sustainability vacancies
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Recruitment A sustainable 2015?
According to the UAE Economic Outlook Forum, the years leading up to Dubai Expo 2020 will generate more than 277,000 jobs, whilst numerous other forecasts continue to highlight the stability & growth platform that the UAE economy offers. Whilst their is an understandable level of caution on whether some of the more ambitious projects across the GCC will be affected by a lower oil price, the response we have found from most employers thus far has been robust. With an increasing focus upon efficient use of natural resource (whether that be in relation to green buildings or waste management practices) and the increasing acceptance of the financial benefits of photovoltaics to play a larger part in the regional energy mix, it is shaping up that 2015 could well be the most sustainable in the region yet. Simon Bangs is the Group Manager – Environment of sustainability consultancy firm Allen & York
SuStainability VacancieS from allen & york leeD aP commissioning manager – Qatar International Consultancy with a requirement for a Senior Commissioning Manager based in Qatar to work across the GCC’s most interesting infrastructure works for the World Cup. Head of engineering Design
Investment to join their multinational team. associate Structural engineer Design (chartered) - riyadh International Consultancy looking for a Structural Engineer to lead the team in their Riyadh operations. This is a great opportunity with fast progression to Director level.
A large steel plant is looking to hire a Head of Engineering Design due to their ongoing expansion & the high demand for high quality steel products in the region. Applicants must be focused upon engineering efficient solutions to limit Energy consumption & waste production.
Sustainability manager - Qatar
tender/Proposal manager
asbestos consultant
Responsible for leading the offers for energy and/or water projects under a concession and/ or power purchase agreement PPA scheme. international Project manager PV An integrated solar energy developer and investment manager are looking to hire an International project Manager Photovoltaic/
An experienced western educated Sustainability Manager is required to join the engineering design team of an international consultancy who have been awarded a large new infrastructure project.
A leading professional service firm is looking for an experienced Asbestos Consultant. Applicant must have a university degree, consultancy environment background, 5-10 years postgraduate experience and excellent knowledge of P401, P402 and EHS. eHS engineering Specialist A global engineering services is looking for a Senior
Engineering specialist with +six years experience in Loss Prevention and H&S analyses, skilled in HAZOP, HAZID, SIL and QRAs able to manage HSE Projects in UAE/ME with a Corporate HSE Business Model outlook from both Technical and Managerial perspective. Sustainability consultant A leading organisation involved in environmentally pioneering projects in ME and sustainable green building consultancy services, currently looking for an enthusiastic and skilled consultant in Estidama/LEED/QSAS. Sustainability & energy manager An experienced and energetic candidate with minimum of 10 years post graduate experience, a proven track record and ability to manage teams and multi-disciplinary projects required. Preference exists for a candidate with comprehensive experience of green building rating systems and sustainability management. Skill set of Estidama PQP and /or LEED AP or equivalent is essential.
To apply to any of these vacancies visit www.bgreen.ae
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News ANAlysis Water
Water first Water surpasses solar as the GCC’s fastest-growing renewable technology The cleantech industry saw a sudden growth in confidence in water technologies in 2014, according to ernst & young’s recent 4th MeNA Cleantech survey Report. The survey gauges the sentiment of senior industry executives on renewable energy implementation in the region. “A significant shift in the expectations of industry executives occurred during 2014 with regard to the growth of clean technologies in the MENA region over the next five years. Innovation in water technologies is helping drive energy efficiency in the region, especially given the mostly hot, arid climate,” Christian von Tschirschky, MENA Power and Utilities leader, Ernst & Young, says. “It’s interesting to note that water was mentioned less frequently as a growth area over the last three years, yet now it has become the leader in market potential over the next five years. Prospects for investment in water infrastructure in 2014 have also improved markedly over previous years,” Tschirschky adds. Solar was ranked second in terms of market potential over the next five years, after being ranked first over the past three years. Confidence in solar has been growing based on new projects and policies in the region, owing to its low pricing and interest rates, and abundant solar resources. Following water and solar in the survey results are green buildings and energy efficiency. These technologies may rise in importance over the coming years, given their highest return on investment and fastest payoff, as well as the high levels of energy consumption in several MENA countries. “Cleantech is finding widespread acceptance in the region.
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Technological breakthroughs in solar, wind and water are driving the increased importance of cleantech among regional leadership, legislators and government entities,” Nimer Abu Ali, director, MENA Power and Utility, Ernst & Young, comments. “Decreasing cost of solar and wind farms, coupled with the development of rooftop generation technology, are providing more options to countries to lower their dependency on fossil fuels. Future developments will see the region adopt technologies such as electric cars, smart metering and a host of other clean technologies,” Abu Ali adds. These rankings were mirrored closely in the GCC. Water technologies, for example, edged out solar as the fastestgrowing cleantech technology. Energy efficiency and green buildings were also ranked third in the GCC. Due to climatic conditions and high energy usage, energy efficiency and green buildings will continue to remain a top priority for the GCC countries. Challenges faCing the development of CleanteCh Across MENA, insufficient government policy frameworks and regulations continued to be the largest barrier to the development of the cleantech industry in 2014. This barrier has continued to grow in importance over the past few years. Price competitiveness in 2014 remained the second most important barrier in the GCC. The sharp decline in cleantech prices over the past few years is not considered significant in the MENA region, however, as cleantech is still considered too costly to deploy.
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