The Sustainabilist ISSUE 01
WATER, LIQUID GOLD
EXPO 2020 CHANGES
81 BILLION INVESTED IN ENERGY AND WATER
Towards, during and after 2020
THE ENERGY REVOLUTION
ISBN 978 - 1978357310
Exclusive interview with the MD and CEO of DEWA
On the water desalination front: sustainable energy as a core business
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Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
NEWSROOM
WETEX highlights projects, investments Organised by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), WETEX will be held from October 23 to 25 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre. For the fourth consecutive year, DEWA is organising WETEX under the umbrella of Green Week, which includes various environmental activities and events to raise awareness about the importance of using energy and water sensibly, and the key components of sustainable development and green economy. [1]
Government Services off for a Day
Tesla cars are the latest taxis in Dubai
The Dubai Department of Finance, DoF, has launched the initiative and started co-ordinating with all government entities in Dubai to close service centres across the emirate for a day, on 26th October, 2017. This comes as part of the vital role DOF plays towards the full smart transformation in the emirate, to spread awareness among customers of the importance of smart channels to complete transactions, whether via smart apps or the web. [3]
You may now expect a Tesla car the next time you order a taxi, as authorities have added 50 of the electric cars to its limo fleet. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in Dubai launched the latest addition, which were fitted with several components of self-driving techniques, to the fleet of the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) on Sunday. [7]
The Ministry of Energy launched the UAE Water Security Strategy Luxembourg and Expo 2020’ s deal A high-level delegation from Luxembourg visited Dubai to meet Expo 2020 organisers, as part of plans to maximise its 25 million investment in the next World Expo. Luxembourg and the UAE enjoy strong bilateral relations and have signed a number of memoranda of understanding and cooperative agreements in the areas of space exploration, financial services and non-oil trade.
It aims to ensure sustainable access to water during both normal and emergency conditions in line with local regulations. The overall objectives of the strategy are to reduce total demand for water resources by 21 percent, increase the water productivity index to $110 per cubic meter, reduce the water scarcity index by three degrees, increase the reuse of treated water to 95 percent, and increase national water storage capacity up to two days. [8]
[4]
First hydrogen refuelling station opens in UAE
Dubai ranked among world’s most powerful cities Dubai’s status as a regional hub has been reaffirmed with the emirate being ranked among the world’s top 25 cities in Global Power City Index (GPCI) 2017 on the back of its strong economy, accessibility and cultural interaction. Released by the Mori Memorial Foundation’s Institute for Urban Strategies, the emirate has been ranked for the first time in the index at No 23 among the 44 cities, surpassing some of the major Western cities such as Barcelona, Boston, Madrid, Vancouver, Washington DC, Geneva among others. [2]
The station will be used by three zero emission Toyota Mirai cars currently being tested on UAE roads . The car can travel 500 kilometres (approximately twice back and forth from Dubai to Abu Dhabi) or more on a full tank, and filling it takes three to five minutes. Hydrogen cars are being tested on UAE roads and a fuel station has been unveiled to generate public interest for zero-emission vehicles. [5]
UAE unveils city that will simulate life on Mars Spending Dh500million, the UAE will build a Mars City - the largest space stimulation city ever built in the world and a realistic model to simulate living on the surface of Mars. The Mars Science City structure will be the most sophisticated building in the world, and will incorporate a realistic simulation environment replicating the conditions on the surface of Mars. [9]
Branson’s Virgin forms partnership with Hyperloop One investment Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group announced it is investing in Hyperloop One an undisclosed amount. The investment, which makes up part of an $85m fundraising announced in September, will see Hyperloop One changing, adding the Virgin name to its branding. The British businessman will join the board, which will be renamed Virgin Hyperloop One, in the coming months. [6]
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
Letter from the Editor in Chief This inaugural edition of the Sustainabilist is the first of many engagements, where a stage will be set for private and public sector to narrate their success stories. At the forefront of sustainability, entrepreneurship can now avail of a dedicated platform that allows for exposure and data to be shared through business focussed features, commentaries and news. Leveraging the key prerogatives of sustainability, namely scalability and replicability, we aim to foster a culture of business excellence within the intricacies of resource efficiency and environmental-economics stewardship.
Chairman, DCCE Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence
The Sustainabilist Follow Us On
Editor in Chief: Eng. Waleed Salman Editor: Allegra Salvadori The Sustainabilist online: www.thesustainabilist.ae Editorial: fomo@thesustainabilist.ae Commercial: getinvolved@thesustainabilist.ae
The Sustainabilist is published by Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence PSC. Articles reprinted in this issue are copyrighted 2017 by Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence PSC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, without prior written permission of Dubai Carbon is expressively prohibited. Printed by: Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing LLC P.O. Box - 5613, Dubai, UAE. Nothing in this magazine shall be taken as technical or advice and DCCE waives any liability with respect to any representations made.
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A new platform where investments and partnerships convene, where dialogue and knowledge exchange turn into action, a platform where data is aggregated, facilitating a deeper understanding of the latest market trends. Each month, we will discuss opportunities in different industries, highlighting the value of the private sector engagement in overcoming barriers in the formation of public-private partnerships to advance sustainability. An exclusive interview with His Excellency Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer gives us insights on DEWA’s AED 81 billion
Expo 2020 Dubai is also featured, as a catalyst for new approaches in sustainability – connecting society, business and government. Expo Live is part of the change, with a USD 100 million budget towards innovative and sustainable projects. Engie, from the water desalination front, highlights how it developed more than 1,200 MIGD of potable water production in the GCC. When it comes to sustainability, we are now entering a world with two speeds. A gap has grown within the private sector, between companies that embrace sustainability-driven strategy and management, and companies that don’t. Embracers define sustainability differently, prioritize activities differently and get different — and better — competitive results. The Sustainabilist has been developed to support this shift. Now it’s up to you to become part of this green community.
“A new platform where investments and partnerships convene, where dialogue and knowledge exchange turn into action
“
Eng. Waleed Salman
investments in Dubai’s energy and water sector, as well as its behavioural programme targeting more than half a million customers, to raise public awareness about the need to rationalise energy and water consumption.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
Contents 04
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)
OPINION PIECE Dubai has told a remarkable urban development story over the last half century. What will its story be for the next half century? What will it require of Dubai’s leaders? The story is already starting to unfold.
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THOUGHT LEADER OF THE MONTH Interview with HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer
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THE OPPORTUNITY IN SUSTAINABILITY Expo 2020 Dubai, the catalyst for sustainability
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THE ENERGY REVOLUTION On the water desalination front
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GULF STATES MUST PRIORITISE WASTEWATER REUSE Investing leadership
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TRANSFORMING GLOBAL GOALS TO RESULTS Looking ahead
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OPPORTUNITIES IN RESIDENTIAL Water treatment devices
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WATER SAVERS PROGRAMME Educating consumers
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PARTNERING FOR SOLUTIONS Sustainable water technology
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DESALINATION COMES AT A PRICE Future plants and targets
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TAPPING POTENTIAL OF REJECT BRINE From desalination
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SUSTAINABLE CHOICES
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DUBAI IS UP FOR THE CHALLENGE Changes in water availability
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EDITOR IN CHIEF LETTER
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ON THE COVER
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LESS WATER, GREENER VILLAS Sewage system
THE WATER PROJECT Bright futures A SWITCH TO FILTERED WATER The cost of bottled water
SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS A reliable water supply
OPPORTUNITIES IN WATER Private Sector
WATER INDEXES GCC Countries
MOHAMMED BIN RASHID AL MAKTOUM Global Water Award THE COST OF RAIN ENHANCEMENT A cost-effective and sustainable solution
Green returns
COMMENTARY The UAE has built up momentum in the pursuit of sustainable growth and these openings in the water industry consolidate its position as a global hub in an expanding market.
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Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
INTERVIEW
Thought Leader of the Month HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA His Excellency is a member of the Dubai Executive Council and Chairman of its Infrastructure and Environment Committee, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, Chairman of the Dubai Smart City Office, Vice Chairman of Emirates Global Aluminum (EGA), Vice Chairman of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), and Chairman of the UAE Water Aid (SUQIA) Board of Trustees and Chairman of World Green Economy Organization (WGEO). In addition, His Excellency is a member, vice chairman, or chairman of various high-level committees and higher leading councils in the Emirate of Dubai.
Q. Your Excellency, briefly, what is the current international scenario? Water and electricity services will need huge investment worldwide, to meet the increasing demand. Some studies suggest that international energy consumption will double over 2040 to 2050. This is considered a major future challenge. This includes financing and its mechanism and adapting legislations, R&D and managing the change to adopt sustainable green growth, build capabilities of individuals and organisations and building efficient partnerships between public and private sectors in the world. The UAE in general and Dubai in particular, is used to turning challenges into opportunities. DEWA will invest AED 81 billion in Dubai’s energy and water sector. This will support the growth of a green economy and create a competitive advantage for the UAE in clean energy and energy-efficiency technologies.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
Q. Are strategies the key to unfolding sustainability and innovation?
The UAE has pioneered the implementation of strategies to instil sustainability, which has become a key objective and has gathered global attention as it holistically addresses social progress, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity.
Sustainability and innovation are urgently needed by institutions and companies in order to survive, especially to deal with the challenges that the world faces to meet the growing demand for power, the scarcity of natural resources, and the effects of climate change.
This is a result of the forward-thinking vision of our wise Leadership, led by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
We are committed to supporting the joint actions to achieve the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which was adopted by the United Nations (UN), for clean energy, innovation and climate change, specifically to SDG no. 6 “Clean Water and Sanitation”.
Our Leadership believes that the implementation of our future policies will depend on the development of innovative solutions by the people of the UAE, who are the Nation’s true wealth. This vision reflects a well-defined government approach to meet the requirements of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Developments in innovation such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence, and robots, are also integrated and closely connected with sustainable development.
Also, we work to achieve the goals of the UAE Centennial 2071 announced by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, aimed at sustaining UAE’s development.The centennial plan includes strategies to support future generations that will guarantee sustainable development and lasting happiness for decades in our country.
Q. Is public-private sector partnership the answer to meet the continuously growing demand of energy, specifically electricity and water?
“Our leadership believes that the implementation of our future policies will depend on the development of innovative solutions by the people of the UAE, who are the nation’s true wealth
“
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In Dubai, we take a holistic view of the energy sector in order to meet the growing demand on electricity and water services, and we are following the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in all our initiatives, strategies and new technologies enabling us to become a pioneering energy utility that leverages disruptive technologies to generate, transmit and distribute world-class electricity and water services, with a focus on the quality of life for citizens and residents and the sustainability of our resources. Dubai will be focusing its efforts in the coming years to help overcome the effects of climate change and mitigate global warming by reducing carbon emissions. This needs concerted efforts from both the public and private sectors to achieve the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy, to reduce Dubai’s carbon emissions by 16% by 2021. In another milestone promoting Dubai’s quest towards sustainability, DEWA has also launched the UAE Solar Programme of Activities
“The UAE in general and Dubai in particular, is used to turning challenges into opportunities. Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) will invest AED 81 billion in Dubai’s energy and water sector
“
Q. How are you implementing the strategies and policies?
(PoA) in collaboration with the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (Dubai Carbon). Approved by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Programme adopts the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) in all solar energy projects across the UAE. It is a pioneering initiative for the UAE to support international efforts to promote green economy and sustainable development.
Q. DEWA is working on water storage: what is DEWA’s strategy to provide a reserve water supply? And what is the maximum water storage capacity we can expect? Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has awarded a consultancy contract worth AED 6.3 million to design and construct two water reservoirs: one in Al Nakhli, with a storage capacity of 120 million gallons, and one in Al Lusaily, with a storage capacity of 60 million gallons, to increase the storage capacity of Dubai to 1,010 million gallons, compared to the current capacity of 830 million gallons.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
The project includes the design of the reservoirs according to the latest standards of sustainability, and the supervision of the implementation of the project at the two sites. The construction and operation of both reservoirs is expected to be complete within 32 months.
Q. Are water reservoirs the most cost-effective answer to water storage? Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is currently desalinating water in Dubai through the Combined Cycle Co-Generation, which is efficient and depends on using waste heat created by the production of electricity for water desalination. It produces 67% of the water without burning extra fuel. DEWA adopts a clear strategy to ensure that by 2030, 100% of desalinated water will be produced by a mix of clean energy that uses both renewable energy and waste heat. This will allow Dubai to exceed global targets for using clean energy to desalinate water. So we will be able to produce 750 million gallons of desalinated water per day by 2030, compared to our current capacity of 470 million gallons per day. DEWA has launched an innovative initiative involving a geophysical and hydro-geological field study and digging exploration and monitoring wells to study the possibility of injecting and storing desalinated water from solar-powered reverse osmosis plants into groundwater aquifers and being able to pump it back into the water network when needed. The project is based on the latest innovative technologies to achieve operational efficiency and flexibility in the water network. Studies have shown that it is possible to store 5,100 million gallons of water that can be retrieved when needed. This technology is more cost-effective than the conventional way of storing water in concrete reservoirs.
Q. What technical and strategic initiatives are being developed on supply and demand sides? The UAE has one of the world’s highest per capita water consumption (550 litres per day), very small amount of underground water, little rain and no rivers. Over two-thirds of all consumption goes to the agricultural and industrial sector. Demand is expected to increase in the following years. The main challenge is that UAE is located in the hyper-arid climate zone within the Arabian Peninsula that is characterised by water scarce resources and harsh environment (high temperature and humidity levels) imposing high water demand. This is in addition to the fast pace of demographic and economic growth. For Dubai, and in line with UAE Vision 2021 on sustainability and protection of natural resources including groundwater, several technical and strategic initiatives are being taken at different levels, both on supply and demand sides. On the supply side, desalination capacity expansion plans are based on forecasted water demand taking into consideration an appropriately adopted optimal reserve margin in line with best international practices. This ensures that the water requirements are met timely, securely and reliably. In addition, optimal shoreline sites are timely acquired and allocated for future desalination plants.
Q. And on the demand side? What are the latest innovations and strategies in the water sector DEWA is working on? Our currently ongoing strategic work includes the development of Dubai Integrated Water Resources Management Strategy and the UAE 2036 Water Security Strategy Study. Continuous follow-up and monitoring of advancements in desalination technology including Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) is in place. Extensive efforts are put into leakage management practices to reduce water losses to an optimal world-class level and an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) system is currently under development to enhance strategic storage for use during emergencies and normal operations. On the demand side, Dubai water requirements are properly captured through water demand forecasts covering long terms (up to 2030), while applying best international practices and using innovative methodologies and state of the art tools. We are developing a Dubai level strategy aiming at reduction of water demand by 30%
in 2030 that includes programs such as Water Reuse and efficient irrigation. Our efforts include the development of water resources management initiatives which encompass the use of Treated Effluent Sewerage (TSE) instead of potable and groundwater for district cooling purposes, landscaping and some other industrial use.
Q. Recently, it has been announced that the next world congress on water desalination will take place in Dubai in 2019. What are Your Excellency’s expectations from this event? We have a vision to promote energy efficiency, sustainability and environmental responsibility through the development and use of innovative desalination technologies.
“The UAE has pioneered the implementation of strategies to instil sustainability, which has become a key objective and has gathered global attention as it holistically addresses social progress, environmental stewardship, and economic prosperity
“
This supports DEWA’s strategy to implement vital projects, especially infrastructure, and the upgrade of the efficiency of water and electricity networks, to meet the growing demand for these services. It also provides a reserve water supply that will meet Dubai’s expected daily consumption of about 412 million gallons per day in 2020, and supports our efforts to strengthen water pipelines and increase water flow to meet the rapid growth of water in various parts of Dubai.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
“Suqia’s campaign managed to raise AED 180 million in 18 days to provide clean drinking water to 7 million people around the world, in cooperation with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority
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This is why Dubai is hosting the International Desalination Association (IDA)’s 2019 World Congress on water desalination. This global event is the world’s largest and most prominent conference on water desalination specialty areas. It will be attended by leaders, senior officials, experts, and academics, as well as 2,000 participants from 60 countries around the world. There will also be a number of benefits from this conference, including discovering more international expertise in vital areas such as the desalination industry, accessing new projects that will be presented during the conference in the areas of water and its analysis and research, both those that have been implemented or are in the process of implementation, and meeting international experts in the fields of electricity, water and clean energy. In addition, it will present DEWA’s initiatives in the field of water desalination and clean energy, and disseminate it to society, to achieve the
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objectives of IDA, and will be an opportunity for DEWA to introduce Dubai’s efforts in water production, desalination technologies and innovative solutions. We hope that both our efforts will make this conference an ideal global platform for discussing and developing these issues.
Q. In 2016, the average UAE resident consumed 550 litres of water per day against the international average of 170-300 litres. To what extent have efforts to raise awareness regarding water consumption been successful and how can this issue be further resolved? Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) plays a major role in promoting a culture of rational consumption in Dubai, and takes priority in organising community campaigns to make a positive change in how we use electricity and water. DEWA has launched many awareness campaigns to reduce demand for electricity and water and encourages all its customers to rationalise their electricity and water use by launching various programmes, awareness campaigns, awards and innovative initiatives throughout the year. Between 2009 and 2016, DEWA’s customers saved over 1.5 TW/h of electricity and 6.2 billion gallons of water, worth over AED 957 million. The generated savings resulted in offsetting around 831,000 tonnes of carbon emissions, which equates to planting 944,000 trees.The current production capacity of desalinated water is 470 million gallons per day, with a forecasted increase from 5% to 41% between now and 2030, where we will be able to produce 750 million gallons per day. An increase in operational efficiency and decoupling the power and water production will lead to savings of up to AED 13 billion between now and 2030.
of humanity. In June 2014, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai launched Suqia’s campaign that managed to raise AED 180 million in 18 days to provide clean drinking water to 7 million people around the world, in cooperation with the Emirates Red Crescent Authority. The campaign’s projects surpassed its target and aided more than 8 million people in 19 countries with access to clean water around the world by end of 2016 and will continue reaching for more. In collaboration with DEWA, Suqia identifies innovative and sustainable solutions to water scarcity through research and development, to meet the ever increasing demand for water. One of the most notable projects is the mobile Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis (PVRO) unit. The PVRO unit has a daily production capacity of 7.7 cubic meters, to fulfil the needs of 1,540 people. Another successful pioneering project is the Photovoltaic Reverse Osmosis (PVRO) desalination station with storage. It is located at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park with a daily production capacity of 50 cubic meters per day, which is enough to fulfil the needs of around 10,000 people.
Q. Your Excellency, can you tell us more about the UAE Water Aid Foundation and its humanitarian work?
Suqia oversees the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Award, which is worth USD 1 million. The Award was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to encourage research centres, individuals and innovators from around the world to find innovative and sustainable solutions for clean-water scarcity around the world, using solar power. It has three main categories: Innovative Projects Award, Innovative Research and Development Award, and the Innovative Youth Award.The first cycle of the Award was launched on March 22nd and the Award received an overwhelming response, by receiving a 138 applications from 43 countries, out of which 10 winners were awarded from 8 countries.
The values of giving and philanthropy have always been the main principles of the message of the UAE. The launch of the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) is an added value to the country’s humanitarian work. It confirms that the approach of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan is continuing and that the UAE’s wise leadership is continuing its efforts in the service
In line with the declaration of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, of 2018 being the “Year of Zayed”, Suqia will continue its efforts to carry forward the legacy of the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder of the UAE and reach out to the communities that suffer from water scarcity.
The Sustainabilist | 23rd October 2017
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hansgrohe-middleeast.com 11
The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
COMMENTARY
The Opportunity in Sustainability Amid a growing imbalance in the way we live with the environment, Expo 2020 Dubai will be a catalyst for new approaches in sustainability – connecting society, business and government
By Najeeb Mohammed Al Ali Executive Director Expo 2020 Bureau
For well over 150 years, World Expos have brought together people and nations to understand future prospects and showcase innovative solutions to pressing problems. As we look to 2020, we are faced with major global challenges, but we also have great opportunities. The essence of the Expo 2020 vision, “connecting minds, creating the future”, precisely captures the spirit that we cannot solve these major challenges in isolation. We need to bridge the efforts of nations, cities, companies, entrepreneurs and others not only to create
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viable solutions for the long-term, but to inspire citizens and youth to shape the future. Sustainability is the area that most demonstrates this need. At a time when our planet and its inhabitants are in a precarious, and potentially destructive, state, we are guided by our values to deliver a World Expo that is truly sustainable, with a legacy beyond its immediate temporal and physical boundaries. We do this as experts predict that by 2050 there will be 2.6 billion more people on the planet. At the same time, the essential resources needed to sustain the population, including drinking water, arable land and fossil fuels are dwindling, while climate change is influencing dramatic, and often
unpredictable, new weather patterns and natural disasters that will inevitably have profound effects on the way we live. Hurricanes Irma and Harvey, dual deadly earthquakes in Mexico and historic flooding in SouthAsia that has killed 1,400 since August are stark recent examples of our critical situation. By 2025, UNESCO estimates 1.8 billion people will be living in areas with absolute water scarcity. One in nine are currently undernourished. Another 1.4 billion have no access to electricity. There is no greater priority at this time than cultivating a more sustainable way of living to ensure viability for future generations. Expo 2020 will bring together innovators, entrepreneurs and policy-makers from hundreds of nations under the same roof for six months to help address this challenge.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
Fortunately, we are better placed to face this dilemma than ever before. At no other time in history have we had the knowledge, the understanding, the technology and the connections to work intelligently together to mitigate this threat. And there is no other place or event more conducive to addressing this challenge than a World Expo. Unlike other international events that convene specific, limited groups of people – such as trade fairs (businesses and innovators), inter-governmental organisations (diplomats and experts), educational institutions and conferences (academics, students, researchers and experts in a specific field) – Expos connect minds from all fields and all geographical areas. They bridge the silos between different communities. Expo is not only a place to exhibit the latest ideas and innovations. It is a laboratory for experimentation and a platform to inspire youth by revealing future prospects and potential. A place to connect, create and innovate. The UAE will host the next World Expo, in Dubai in 2020, with an aim to attract 25 million visits. Expo 2020 Dubai has committed to place sustainability at the forefront of everything we do towards, during and after 2020. Expo 2020 has set sustainability targets across a number of areas, including energy, water, waste, carbon, biodiversity and education. For example, we are aiming to reduce water usage to 40 per cent below Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) current maximum consumption. At the same time, the landscape of the Expo 2020 site will prioritise native and adaptive plants. While celebrating UAE culture and educating about the diversity of these biological species, we will be able to minimise water usage. The UAE is an ideal location to bring together the greatest minds over a sixmonth period to explore solutions to the critical challenge of sustainability. A desert country, drinking water and local food sources are extremely limited. But it is rich in potential new sources of energy – the sun and humidity. It is also one of the strongest examples of the potential to solve the world’s problems by connecting minds. The UAE government has announced its determination to be among the best in the world in the quality of airports, ports, road infrastructure and electricity, while the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 is designed to make it a global centre of clean energy and the green economy.
Dubai is already at the forefront of solar technology, with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park set to be the largest single location generator of solar energy in the world, with a capacity to produce 5,000 megawatts of energy by 2030, about 25 percent of the emirate’s projected energy production. But it is not only about energy sources. The emirate is establishing a new free zone, Dubai Green Zone, to attract research and development centres and emerging companies in clean energy to further boost the sector. Abu Dhabi’s Masdar is not only developing clean energy power projects, but also investing in sustainable urban planning and development, partnering in high-impact innovation, and facilitating world-class industry and knowledge platforms that are accelerating the adoption of clean-tech solutions. These goals help to set the scene for Expo 2020. The event will be a catalyst to raise the bar for sustainability standards globally, not only through elements of the physical site but also at policymaking and innovation levels. Bringing together a combination of passive and active solutions enhanced by innovation and technology, the Expo site, and particularly the Sustainability Pavilion, will be a demonstration in both operations and exhibitions of the synergy between tradition and new solutions, between historical approaches and emerging best practices. The pavilion will strongly focus on minimising water waste and maximising efficient water usage and recycling. A series of iconic and innovative ‘energy trees’ will demonstrate how water can be harvested from humidity in a process inspired by photosynthesis. These renewable energy features remind us that the UAE’s resilience was built on a profound understanding of our environment and how to coexist with it. In addition, 80 percent of the site’s infrastructure will be reutilised after Expo to form part of our legacy masterplan, District 2020. That includes transforming the Sustainability Pavilion into a Children and Science Centre that will continue our efforts to engage and inspire young people to become responsible custodians of our planet and to imagine the next generation of sustainable solutions. While physical measures are important, they are simply a starting point to engage innovators, businesses and policymakers to support and accelerate the transformations required to build a more resilient society. The Expo site will act as a reference point to shape dialogue and education, while hopefully also
inspiring youth to take up this important mission and carry forward our progress. We have already started this journey through Expo Live, an Expo 2020 Dubai programme that has an allocation of USD 100 million to back projects that offer creative solutions to pressing challenges that impact people’s lives, or help preserve the world – or both. We have already allocated grants to several projects that address sustainability. No other event in the world rivals Expo’s opportunities to collaborate and solve the world’s most pressing problems. We have seen this for more than a century. In 1893, the World Expo held in Chicago demonstrated the impact of electricity like the world had never seen, lighting the entire 600-acre site. Eleven years later, at the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition in the U.S., the electrical plug and socket was revealed to the public in the first demonstration of the versatility of electricity, sparking widespread use. The first solar-powered steam engine was revealed at what was then the Universal Exhibition, in Paris in 1878. Augustin Mouchot won a gold medal for the invention, which inspired the concentrated solar power (CSP) technology utilised at Shams 1 in Abu Dhabi. Now, Expo 2020 is set to be a launch pad for a revolution in sustainability solutions. It will provide businesses – from innovators to startups, SMEs and multinationals – with invaluable connections between themselves, the public and policymakers, to explore some of our most pressing questions around how to preserve the planet while also boosting economies and job opportunities. Answers to how we can better manage existing resources more efficiently and effectively while finding new ones. How we can better design environmentally-friendly urban environments that support healthy communities. How we can mitigate and cope with climate change. How we can lead the way for future generations. We are at a crossroads in determining how our planet, and our population, builds resilience. Expo 2020 Dubai is set to leave a profound footprint on this journey.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
EDITORIAL
The Energy Revolution ENGIE embarks on ambitious plan to create a more sustainable business, aiming to be innovative in the renewable energy sector, storage grid management and in the design of a clean desalination process. Since 2016, global energy leader ENGIE has been progressing with an ambitious three-year transformation plan, restructuring its operations to position itself at the forefront of what it sees as an oncoming paradigm shift in the energy sector. Whilst seeking to ramp up its production of low-carbon electricity, and build its energy infrastructure development, ENGIE is also significantly reducing its coal business, the company has said. ENGIE, previously GDF SUEZ, now considers sustainable energy to be its core business, according to a senior company executive. “We have already more than halved our coal capacities, among others, through divestments in Indonesia, India, and Australia. We remain determined to gradually move out of this highly polluting energy source,” said Florence Fontani, EVP of ENGIE Strategy, Communications and ESR for ENGIE Middle East, Turkey, South and Central Asia. As the region’s biggest private producer of desalinated water, ENGIE also intends to move towards cleaner water desalination. The Parislisted company has developed more than 1,200 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of drinking water in the Gulf region, with a mix of thermal and reverse osmosis (RO) technologies, the latter in cooperation with sister company Suez. The group has also built many smaller RO plants as part of demineralization water supply to the power cycle (350,658 tons per day across its Middle East, South and Central Asia portfolio). ENGIE’s development and operation of the Marafiq independent water and power plant (IWPP) in Saudi Arabia stands out within its business, considering its significant role in
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supporting the local economy, says F. Fontani. “It is one of the largest power and desalination projects in the world, supplying water and electricity to industrial and non-industrial customers of Jubail Industrial City, 95 kilometres (km) north of Dammam and to the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia,” the executive said, adding: “The exceptionally high-water output is sufficient to satisfy the daily needs of 5.5 million people.” For engineering studies and follow up of construction, ENGIE says it is taking advantage of the know-how and expertise of its services subsidiaries. For example, its engineering arm Tractebel was the consultant for Dewa’s new desalination plant of 55 MIGD in Jebel Ali in 2013-14, and conducted studies on renewable powered desalination for Masdar, a state-owned renewable energy company based in Abu Dhabi.
Partnerships for Clean Desalination With climate change an ever-growing threat that is forcing energy companies to rethink their production and consumption modes, ENGIE says it is also putting decarbonization at the centre of its water strategy. “ENGIE is looking actively at applying decarbonization to desalination. Given the heavy energy consumption involved in the desalination process, the use of solar energy to power seawater desalination plants is a major technical and economic challenge, even though over the past 15 years significant progress has been made in cutting the energy required in half,” F. Fontani said. She added that ENGIE had partnered with its sister company Suez to “take on this challenge” in the Middle East.
The company says it is aiming to be innovative in the renewable energy sector, storage grid management and in the design of a clean desalination processes. To this end, ENGIE signed a research contract with Masdar in January 2015 to study seawater desalination, using only solar power. The signing took place at the World Future Energy Forum in Abu Dhabi, in the presence of Ségolène Royal, then French Minister of Ecology, Sustainable Development & Energy. The contract provided for a study to be performed by ENGIE’s research and development (R&D) team at Masdar in Abu Dhabi. ENGIE, as well as the Engie-led climate initiative Terrawatt, say they are seeking to support the acceleration of a massive deployment of solar energy globally, and in the region. Both organizations are founding members of the Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance, also known as H2O Minus CO2, which aims at reducing carbon emissions in the desalination industry. They intend to do this through both increased efficiency, and the development of a desalination process powered by renewable energy. ENGIE is collaborating with various regional partners and stakeholders in support of clean desalination, according to F. Fontani, a fact that is “illustrated by our recent partnership with Masdar to submit a proposal for a tender of KACARE on sustainable desalination studies, which we hope will be successful as part of the sustained efforts of the global community to finding clean technical solutions to solve water issues.”
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
ENGIE IWPP in the United Arab Emirates Over 10 GW power capacity and 609 MIGD desalination capacity in operation & under construction Combined-cycle gas turbine plant
Desalination plant
Mirfa
Fujairah F2
Under construction 1,600 MW power & 52.5 MIGD desalination capacity To be operated by M Power (100%)
PCOD 2011 2,000 MW power & 130 MIGD desalination capacity Operated by Fujairah F2 O&M Company (50%)
Umm Al Nar
Shuweihat 1
PCOD 2007 2,108 MW power & 143 MIGD desalination capacity Operated by ITM O&M Company (70%)
PCOD 2005 1,500 MW power & 100 MIGD desalination capacity Operated by Shuweihat O&M Company (50% owned)
Al Taweelah A1
Shuweihat 2
PCOD 2003 / 2009 (extension) 1,592 MW power & 84 MIGD desalination capacity Operated by Total Tractebel Emirates O&M (50%)
PCOD 2012 1,510 MW power & 100 MIGD desalination capacity Operated by S2 O&M Company (50%)
Gas: a Reliable Partner of Renewables “We do believe that gas will retain a strong role in the energy landscape, thanks to its environmental benefits and flexible usage and storage, which compensate for the intermittent nature of renewable energies” F. Fontani said, adding that ENGIE will therefore continue to develop natural gas projects, including power generation plants. According to the company, this fact makes ENGIE’s strategy well aligned with the capacity addition plans for the region. Both gas and solar form key components of the region’s energy objectives. The UAE’s clean energy targets, for example, expect that, by 2050, the country’s energy mix will be made up of 44 per cent renewables, 38 per cent gas, 12 per cent clean fossil, and 6 per cent nuclear energy.
“We believe that gas-fired power generation and water desalination will continue to play an important role in meeting the region’s energy and water needs while limiting carbon emissions” the senior executive said. As of 2017, ENGIE has a total gross portfolio of 29.4 gigawatt (GW) gasfired power in operation and under construction throughout the Gulf region.
“We do believe that gas will retain a strong role in the energy landscape thanks to its environmental benefits and flexible usage & storage
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Water is not the only industry in which ENGIE is pushing for a cleaner, more sustainable business, however.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
OPINION PIECE
Gulf States Must Prioritise Wastewater Reuse Treated properly, water from sewage is sustainable, economic and perfectly safe. It is encouraging to see GCC states show leadership by investing in this concept, says Hervé Faujour By Hervé Faujour Technical and Performance Director, Veolia Middle East
Water scarcity ranks among the top threats of our time, with global demand set to rise dramatically over the decades to come (World Economic Forum). Recent research indicated that two-thirds of the world’s population lives in areas prone to water scarcity; for half a billion of these – including those of the Middle East – water consumption exceeds locally renewable water resources by a factor of two (Mekonnen and Hoekstra, 2016). The arid Arabian Gulf is particularly at risk. Energy production – the region’s primary source of income – is the most water-intensive of industries and usage as a whole is rising. Recent statistics from Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) revealed the United Arab Emirates used more than 117,300 million imperial
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gallons of groundwater and desalinated water in 2016, a rise of 3,081 million imperial gallons on the previous year. In hot, dry climates, water can be taken from the environment in just two ways. Extracting groundwater from aquifers costs next to nothing, but in the GCC, the rate at which they are replenished falls far short of requirements. Instead, most water comes from the ocean, but desalination – the process by which salt is removed from seawater – is both costly and energy- intensive. In the short term, exhausting resources such as aquifers can appear cheaper than reuse, but the environmental consequences are drastic. For this reason, the introduction of legislation and charges for water usage (at least in the short term) could be big drivers of change. Wastewater is typically 99 per cent pure, and making it fit for human consumption is fairly straightforward. While high-income nations in the West typically treat about 70 per cent of the wastewater they generate, the figure is less than
half that for poorer countries (UNESCO). Regrettably, the potential of water reuse to alleviate shortages and carbon emissions has long been overlooked by governments, think tanks and industry alike. More recently, however, rising demand for wastewater treatment technology reveals a changing mind-set. The GCC treated 84 per cent of its municipal and industrial wastewater last year, 44 per cent of which was reused. As water scarcity increases, so does corporate involvement in the sector. Market analysis firm Hexa Research valued the global water and wastewater treatment market at USD 478 billion (AED 1,756 billion) for 2016, noting that the wider Middle East region was investing heavily in advanced water treatments. Meanwhile, another research consultancy, Global Water Intelligence (GWI), has predicted 50 per cent growth in the industrial water treatment technologies market by 2020, according to a report released in 2015.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
Demand for wastewater treatment technology is particularly strong in the region, according to Hexa Research, with the municipal sector accounting for the highest rise – 3.9 per cent for waste and wastewater treatment. In Saudi Arabia, which has the highest water consumption per capita globally, the wastewater market treatment accounted for USD 4.7 billion (AED 17.2bn), fuelled by demand for drinking water coupled with groundwater scarcity. Veolia has seen this on the ground in Saudi Arabia, where its subsidiary Veolia Water Technologies supplies vast quantities of filtration equipment to the country’s wastewater plants. Separate findings, released by GE in 2015, predicted that the Kingdom would triple its investments in wastewater treatment over the next five years, reaching USD 35 billion (AED 129bn) by 2020, with the goal of reusing 90% of industrial water by 2020 – up from just a tenth in 2010. It’s an ambitious target, but one that leaders across the region are becoming more willing to embrace.
whole treatment cycle, from collection to distribution and everything in between. This is crucial to any contract’s success. Veolia’s team includes experienced professionals from a variety of disciplines; fast and accurate communication is key. Dealing with water has obvious health implications, and should any aspect of the supply chain fail, the whole operation is jeopardised. As the Middle East’s largest water technology provider, Veolia has developed comprehensive, continuous monitoring systems to ensure full regulatory compliance. Veolia offers comprehensive coverage from A to Z, with regular risk assessments helps identify any bottlenecks in the system at the earliest possible stage. We also continuously monitor water quality over the long term to ensure it remains fit for use. For instance, the use of biological organisms to break down effluent – an approach we have pioneered – requires constant vigilance. Another risk is cross-contamination; industrial wastewater must also be kept apart from that obtained from homes to avoid the risk of heavy metals entering the supply chain. Our laboratory certification, quality assurance and maintenance procedures remain consistent at our plants all over the world. There must be a strong sense of trust in the provider to implement strict quality controls; using a large, multidisciplinary provider such as ourselves removes the worry of relying on outside contractors.
International Reach Setting a Precedent As the global leader in water, waste and energy management, the Group Veolia provides water management solutions & operational excellence in all the water and wastewater treatment plants that it operates and maintains. Veolia has pioneered in managing the transformation of raw sewage and other polluted effluent into potable water that meets the same rigorous standards as those applied to its desalinated equivalent. It has literally hundreds of innovations at its disposal, developed in-house over several years, using processes from advanced filtration to biological agents and ultraviolet light. Our efficient, effective solutions, customised according to clients’ budgets and needs, cover the
In the early 2000s, Namibia’s capital city became the first major conurbation on Earth to recycle its water for domestic use on a major scale, using it to supply clean, potable drinking water for 350,000 people. While Windhoek’s average rainfall is more than double that of United Arab Emirates, just 1% filters down into groundwater, causing a chronic water shortage. In 2001, Veolia signed a trailblazing deal with the city’s municipality and Wabag to extract and treat wastewater from the polluted Goreangab Dam and the Gammams Reservoir. The treatment process is sophisticated, utilising Veolia’s own membrane bioreactor technology (MBR), which combines advanced filtration with a biological process in which living organisms digest the pollutants. The initiative offers great hope for more than two billion people currently living with water scarcity, and many more in places where poor infrastructure hinders access to aquifers.
In the ‘copper belt’ region of neighbouring Zambia, Veolia has just completed a USD 101 million contract covering a 147km of water supply network, and the construction of six aqueducts, 21 wells and 18 pumping stations in the landlocked country. It also upgraded nine wastewater treatment plants and wastewater collection system. This partnership has dramatically improved water and wastewater treatment services for the communities. By most major development indicators, Singapore could scarcely be more different than southern Africa; the city-state is a fast-growing economy with a gross national income of USD 52,090 per capita. Yet here, too, the uptake of effluent reuse is way ahead of its peers. Veolia’s plant in the city-state is one of the few of its kind worldwide to make wastewater highly potable within a single facility. Using advanced membrane technologies and ultraviolet disinfection, it is helping the Singaporean government to produce bottled water brand NEWater, a pillar of the city-state’s water sustainability strategy which done much to further the recycling cause. One client, Showa Kankyo Systems Singapore, has pioneered the production of ultra-pure water for the city-state’s microelectronics industry. Showa Denko HD, a maker of hard disks, is a longstanding client and Veolia’s technology is integral to its manufacturing process, which demands both high-quality, ultrapure water and a discharge quality of
“For industry, water represents expense and operational challenge, but handled properly it can also bring significant benefits and performance
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For industry, water represents expense and operational challenge, but handled properly it can also bring significant benefits and performance. Processing wastewater for reuse consumes less than half of the electricity needed to create the same volume of desalinated fluid, delivering clear cost benefits as well as environmental ones. Further savings can be made from reduced transport costs; for communities and factories based inland, removing the logistical challenge of pumping and transporting seawater from the coast.
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Shifting Perceptions The dynamics between desalination, reuse and traditional water sources depend heavily on differing regulations, costs and political climates. Some reuse applications are more viable in one region than another (GWI). At least 11 Arab countries have adopted legislation permitting the use of treated wastewater, issued by the relevant national institutions, including ministries of agriculture in Tunisia, environment of Kuwait, Lebanon and Oman; and housing in Egypt (WHO, 2006). However, to promote recycling on a major scale, governments will have to introduce bold legislation, for research shows that exhausting our region’s natural resources is cheaper in the short term than reuse. One method might be to levy charges on all types of water consumption, varied according to ecological impact. Much regional investment in water treatment technology is driven by local authorities, Hexa Research has observed, and many service providers are publicly owned. However, a lack of existing infrastructure in the emerging markets of the Gulf, which have experienced rapid industrialisation in a remarkably short timeframe, could pose a challenge. In centralised systems, typically in urban areas, effluent is collected from many users at once and transported elsewhere for treatment. However, as population growth drives development in more remote locations, however, smaller, decentralised facilities are preferable. These scaled- down plants can produce water of the same quality as their larger counterparts, and many such solutions bring significant cost and environmental benefits, slashing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with long-distance
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distribution. The only real drawback, albeit a significant one, is the additional expense. When communities are built from scratch, this becomes easier, as the pipes can be laid next to each other. For this reason, we are gradually seeing a shift towards installing these treatment solutions in newer purpose-built communities, such as Nakheel’s Deira Islands in Dubai. The real obstacle to wider water reuse is essentially psychological as opposed to technical. Wastewater use can meet strong public resistance due to a lack of awareness and trust with regard to human health risks. The linear economic model – ‘Take, Make, Use, Dispose’ – has reached its limit. By promoting a mode of production and consumption that stimulates the economy as well as safeguards the environment, everyone stands to benefit.
“The real obstacle to wider water reuse is essentially psychological as opposed to technical. Wastewater use can meet strong public resistance
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wastewater that exceeds regulatory standards. As an expert in recovery and transformation, Veolia’s water management solution not only translated into cost savings for Showa Kankyo Systems, where the facility was based on-site, but also reduced the water and carbon footprints of the plant for ecological benefit. The client has benefitted from our approach of reducing raw water usage by continuously recycling used water and refining treatment processes for optimal energy efficiency.
Editor’s note Data from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed/26933676
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
FEATURE
Transforming Global Goals to Results: Looking Ahead Towards a Water-Secure World for All The UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia) plays a leading role in reinforcing UAE’s position to support the Sustainable Development Goals
At Suqia, we believe that water is a basic human right and a driver for sustainable growth and development. Water is critically linked with food security, agriculture, education, climate and gender equality. Access to safe water can quickly turn problems into potential: unlocking education, improved health and create work opportunities. Clean and accessible water for all is an essential part of the world we want to live in.
The water challenge continues to persist. Together, we can overcome it and carry forward the philanthropic legacy of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, founder of the UAE in the “Year of Zayed” and take a step closer to achieving a water-secure world for all.
“At Suqia, we believe that water is a basic human right and a driver for sustainable growth and development
“In 2015 an estimated 663 million people were still using unimproved water sources
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The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) define global sustainable development priorities and aspirations for 2030 and present a unique opportunity to address the world’s biggest sustainable development challenges. The UAE has established a global role in international efforts to combat humanitarian challenges, among which is access to clean drinking water. At the UAE Water Aid Foundation, Suqia, an entity under the umbrella of the “Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation”, we are concentrating our efforts to achieve SDG 6: “Ensure access to water and sanitation for all” and achieving this goal relies heavily on joint action and collaboration by all sectors.
In 2 years we have achieved to influence the lives of more than 8 million people in more than 19 countries. This year only, more than 60 projects are currently in progress helping more than 137,000 people, a number that couldn’t have been achieved without the valuable support of our respected partners and donours. We worked with 13 charity organizations across the UAE and distributed more than 7.7 million water cups during the Holy Month of Ramadan 2017. Suqia’s commitment to reach out and aid underprivileged communities that suffer from access to clean water remains strong, and SDG 6 has become a valuable guide on how best to achieve that.
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Water is a fundamental human need, yet water scarcity affects more than 40 per cent of the global population and is projected to rise. A considerable progress has been made as 2.6 billion people have gained access to improved drinking water sources since 1990. However, in 2015 an estimated 663 million people were still using unimproved water sources. While there is sufficient fresh water on our planet, due to the poor infrastructure and lost economic opportunities millions of people die yearly from diseases associated with inadequate water supply.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
EDITORIAL
Market Grows for Water Filters The GCC region is currently witnessing the entry of globally established water purifier brands, which has resulted in increased competition in the market
These influences have, to a certain extent, ensured a marginal decline in the prices of residential water treatment devices in the retail market. However, this price decline has been largely confined to reverse osmosis-based (RO) water purification devices. The sale of such devices have grown rapidly in recent years.
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The Middle East residential water treatment devices market is expected to reach USD 855.3 million by 2025, expanding at a compound annual growth rate of 6.8 per cent from 2014, according to a report by research company Future Market Insights. This rise can be attributed to improved availability of purification and filtration devices, wide product choice, and the continued growth in population, the report said. The population growth has also led to an increase in the demand for drinkable, water. Many residents of the Middle East are turning to water purifiers to solve this issue: water purified from the tap is reportedly some of the safest for human consumption.
“The Middle East water treatment devices market has seen stable growth over recent years
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Due to large scale industrialisation, the quality of water throughout the Gulf and Levant regions, has deteriorated in recent years. Furthermore, the GCC region is currently witnessing the entry of globally established water purifier brands, which has resulted in increased competition in the market.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
In more developed urban areas, people are more aware of the issue, so adoption of these products has grown. In the UAE, 91.2 per cent of the population is urban, whilst in Saudi Arabia the urban population stood at 83 per cent in 2015, according to the national statistics office. For residential water treatment devices, Saudi Arabia led the Gulf region in terms of value, accounting for more than one-third of the entire market value. In the Levant region, Turkey accounted for more than a 40 per cent share of the overall market value. Countries including the UAE, Egypt and Jordan expected to register a significant year-on- year growth in sales, between 2014 and 2025. Many Middle Eastern governments, particularly in the Gulf and the Levant, are investing in their domestic markets, whilst opening up the door to foreign direct investment (FDI), promoting increased industrialisation and growth. This has led to continual increases in the per capita income of the residential population, including in the UAE. Given the focus of regional governments on manufacturing and other nonoil sectors, water purifier and water filter sales are expected to grow in line with their economies. As far as the purification devices, whilst the RO segment dominated the Middle Eastern residential water treatment devices market in 2014 in terms of revenue, the gravity segment of purification devices led the region in terms of volume, making up more than 40 per cent of volume in the entire market. The RO industry is expected to grow at a relatively high compound annual growth rate between now and 2025.
“Due to rapid population growth, there is a significant demand for potable water, and many residents in Middle Eastern countries are opting for water purifiers
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Due to its infrastructure and business environment, the Gulf countries have become a popular point of entry for globally established water purifier brands to the wider Middle East. Around 44 per cent of the larger Middle East and Africa population lives in rural areas and is much less aware of the importance of purifying and filtering water, or the techniques associated with it.Penetrating such markets has proved to be difficult for many companies, as a lot of countries simply lack awareness about things like water purifiers and filters, or their importance.
Healthy growth rates across the region are expected to continue to fuel the growth of the residential water treatment devices market across the MEA region. In the UAE, demand for water is estimated at 4.2 billion cubic metres per year. Given the UAE’s location in an arid area, it has only a small amount of underground water and relies heavily on other water resources, such as desalinated seawater. While tap water in the country is safe to drink, many choose to rely on bottled water, which generates significant waste. The UAE is reported to have the sixth-highest consumption rate of bottled water per capita in the world, according to the International Bottled Water Association. In addition to a growing market and increasing uptake in water treatment devices, the market for such products in the Middle East is an attractive investment, FMI said in its report. Whilst it is a competitive market, it is also one that offers noteworthy prospects for growth. Editor’s note: This article is based on information from Sat PR News: http://www.satprnews.com/tag/middle-east-residentialwater-treatment-devices-market/
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
EDITORIAL
Water Savers Programme Educating consumer’s in-store on the need for water conservation
By focusing on research and development (R&D), and investing in developing new, sustainable products, the firm has taken solid steps to reduce its water footprint. These products include laundry, household cleaning, skin cleansing, oral and hair care, which account for the majority of the consumer use of Unilever’s water footprint, according to the company’s website. Unilever combines insights in consumer behaviour and water consumption with innovative technologies to develop new products
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and formulations that address water scarcity and so helps their consumers save water. For instance, in developing countries with poor infrastructure, water is only turned on at certain times of the day. This means that people, typically women, need to be at home to store it. By developing innovative products that reduce the volume of water needed for use, Unilever frees time to spend on employment, education or childcare, and saving water for other important uses such as washing hands to prevent disease. Unilever’s work across the GCC states has taken a slightly different approach, focussing on water conservation through in-store education and via mainstream media channels such as TV and social media.
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Initiated in 2013, the campaign has reached more than 15 million consumers
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Unilever, one of the world’s leading FMCG companies, and owner of global brands, has been addressing water scarcity across the world through the use of its products, helping its customers save water.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
With water consumption exceeding 350 litres per person per day throughout the Gulf, it ranks as one of the biggest water consumers in the world, requiring 26 times more than it has available, according to the Food and Agriculture Organisation. As a result, experts say that water scarcity is a serious concern in the region. Research indicates that a major portion of this consumption comes from households, at a rate of three times higher than the world average. Awareness levels are exceptionally low, whilst consumers are not willing to compromise on their lifestyle choices to reduce water consumption. To tackle this situation, Unilever Gulf launched its Water Savers campaign for conservation, aimed at educating consumers in-store on the need for water conservation. The campaign promoted water saving through the use of Unilever products such as shower gels, hand wash and dishwasher liquids. It has reached more than 15 million consumers since 2013. Its Middle East and North African (MENA) division has also reduced water consumption by 5
per cent per cubic tonne. Collectively, Unilever’s eco-friendly measures have led to a 26 per cent gigajoule (GJ) per tonne reduction in its energy use. This is equivalent to 75,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, or getting 16,270 cars off the road. Through Water Savers, the company’s Gulf division targeted customers and consumers within government bodies and its own employees. As part of the campaign, over 1.5 million students have been taught to turn off the tap while brushing their teeth and washing their hands. Unilever Gulf says it has sold over 23 million Water Savers promo packs to date. During the initial phases of the campaign, around 500,000 promo packs were sold with water conservation messages and tips that were endorsed by the government-run Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA). A memorandum of understanding was also signed with Sharjah Electricity and Water Authority. According to a study commissioned by Unilever, more than 50 per cent of the company’s customers said that they had undertaken concrete actions to save water.
“Unilever Gulf executed an ambitious 360-degree campaign called “Water Savers”, aimed at educating consumer’s in-store on the need for water conservation
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The GCC region has some of the world’s lowest renewable water resources, yet has some of its highest consumption rates per capita.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
CASE STUDY
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award Innovative technologies can be part of the solution towards the water crisis UAE Water Aid Foundation, Suqia, is an entity under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, and a non-profit organisation that provides humanitarian aid around the world and helps communities that suffer from water scarcity by providing them with potable water. Suqia has positively influenced the lives of over 8 million people in 19 countries up to the end of 2016. Tying in with the UAE’s goal to become a knowledge-based economy with a strong focus on technology, R&D and innovation, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of a USD 1 million global award to find sustainable solutions to water scarcity across the world. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award supports this goal, encouraging leading corporations, research centres, institutions and innovators from across the world to compete to find sustainable and innovative solar-energy solutions to the problem of water scarcity. The award is comprised of three categories: Innovative Projects Award, Innovative Research & Development Award, and Innovative Youth Award.
The first cycle of the award was announced in February 2016 and it became open for applications on the 22nd of March 2016 coinciding with World Water Day. The first cycle of the Award was promoted through international and national roadshows including at the United Nations General Assembly in New York, Conference of the Parties (COP21) in Paris, as well as, the Water, Energy, Technology & Environment Exhibition & Solar Show Roadshow in Holland, India, United Kingdom, China and Russia in collaboration with Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA). A total of 138 applications were received from 43 countries. The winners were announced at the Award ceremony that took place on the 27th of April 2017, at the Dubai World Trade Centre in the presence of HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, where he honoured 10 winners from 8 countries, who submitted innovative solutions for water desalination and purification. In line with the declaration of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, of 2018 being the “Year of Zayed”, Suqia will continue its efforts
to carry forward the legacy of the Late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder of the UAE, through the next cycle of the Award. In 2018, we continue our search for innovative, sustainable solutions and technologies for water purification and management, opening the door for young innovators, companies and research institutions worldwide to compete in the upcoming 2018 cycle.
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Encouraging leading corporations, research centres, institutions and innovators from across the world to compete to find sustainable and innovative solar-energy solutions to the problem of water scarcity
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The Sustainabilist | 23rd October 2017
A journey to a more sustainable future At KPMG, our team of 700 Power and Utilities professionals advise clients across a broad-spectrum of issues. From M&A in the renewables sector to traditional utility companies, our solutions deliver today while anticipating the challenges of tomorrow. kpmg.com/ae kpmg.com/om
© 2017 KPMG Lower Gulf Limited and KPMG LLP, operating in the UAE and member firms of the KPMG network of independent member firms affiliated with KPMG International Cooperative (“KPMG International”), a Swiss entity. All rights reserved. Printed in the United Arab Emirates. The KPMG name and logo are registered trademarks or trademarks of KPMG International.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
COMMENTARY
The Cost of Rain Enhancement A cost-effective and sustainable solution regions with absolute water scarcity, and twothirds of the world’s population could be living under water stressed conditions. Additionally, much of the projected global population increase over the next three decades will occur in developing countries, putting severe pressure on already limited supplies of potable, or drinkable, water.
By HE Dr. Abdulla Al Mandous and Alya Al Mazroui Director of the National Center of Meteorology (NCM) Director of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science
With water scarcity increasing rapidly, experts believe that one of the most cost-effective and sustainable solutions to limited rainfall in arid regions such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is rain enhancement. The United Nations (UN) estimates that by 2025, 1.8 billion people will be living in countries or
“One of the most
How Does Rain Enhancement Work?
cost-effective and sustainable solutions to limited rainfall in arid regions such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is rain enhancement
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Rainfall has become an essential water source. Without it, potable water sources are not replenished and extended dry weather can cause crops to fail. According to experts, the two most important benefits of cloud seeding are the promise of an answer to water scarcity, and the potential to create rain in regions affected by droughts, or arid regions with harsh climates. The process can increase crop yields and viability, which has the knock-on effect on food security.
In the UAE, the process for cloud seeding is an approach to alter the microphysical properties of tiny droplets through the use of flares containing particles of salt, such as potassium chloride and sodium chloride. These salt particles have the characteristic to attract moisture and hence, to form bigger droplets. The physical process of collision and the coalescence within the cloud are then activated, further increasing the size of droplets. This will continue until they can no longer be suspended and then fall to earth’s surface. The National Center of Meteorology planes fly at the base of clouds, searching for ideal updraft conditions to deliver the salt crystals into the clouds.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
Whilst there have been concerns expressed about tampering with natural forces, the amount of salts deployed is minimal when compared with their occurrence in the environment. In addition, the scientific literature demonstrates that these are not harmful chemicals; the amount of seeding agent used is small, and has no significant impact on plants, animals, trees or people. The benefits of enhanced rainfall, on the other hand, are immense, offering an economical, sustainable solution to global water shortage, with reduced environmental impacts compared with technologies like desalination.
An Increasingly Critical Issue With an average of 550 liters of water consumed every day by each man, woman and child, the UAE has the fourth-highest demand for fresh water in the world, meaning sustainable access to potable water is a critical issue. Additionally, the UAE’s ground water level is decreasing at an alarming rate. With this fast depletion of underground water resources, new rain enhancement technologies to replenish aquifers and alleviate extreme weather conditions are becoming ever more important. As cloud seeding operations contribute greatly to enhancing the amount of rainfall needed to recharge underground water reserves and increase rain collected in dams over the country, the UAE government is aggressively pursuing rain enhancement as a solution. Experts estimate cloud seeding is up to 60 times cheaper than desalination. The National Center of Meteorology (NCM) in the UAE has been researching and experimenting with rain enhancement since the 1990s, proving that cloud seeding today is a viable alternative to provide rain in arid regions and beyond. Scientists in the UAE estimate that cloud seeding operations can enhance rainfall by as much as 30-35 per cent in a clean atmosphere, and by up to 10-15 per cent in a polluted atmosphere.
Such an increase in rainfall levels illustrates the potential of this science to increase water supplies for countries and regions at risk of drought, experts believe.
The UAE Research Programme for Rain Enhancement Science 2015 - 2017
International Outreach Advancing the Science and Technology Behind Cloud Seeding Additionally, the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science has been established to improve water security in arid and semi-arid areas around the world, supporting the water pillar of the UAE’s Innovation Strategy, which aims to make the UAE one of the most innovative nations in the world by 2021. The Program has two main goals: to advance the science, technology and implementation of rain enhancement, whilst encouraging additional investments in research funding and research partnerships; and to increase rainfall for water security in the UAE and beyond. As the technology advances, so too do efforts towards rain enhancement. For her work on using nanotechnology to accelerate water condensation, Linda Zou, Professor of Environmental and Chemical Engineering at the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, was one of three awardees in the inaugural cycle of the UAE Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science in 2016. Through her research project, Prof. Zou is exploring the different ways of employing nanotechnology to develop novel cloud seeding materials and make rain droplet formation more efficient. Experts say these are important developments in the quest for water security, not only for the UAE, but also for regions facing similar weather conditions. Continued advancements in rain enhancement offer a new window of opportunity for the UAE to make a difference in the push for solutions and innovations to water security challenges.
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Cities Visited
50
Countries Involved
Submissions
1220 Scientists & Researchers
365 Proposals
Management of Programme
380
Researchers Engaged during Roadshows
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Research Areas
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
EDITORIAL
Partnering for Solutions The provision of sustainable water technology in Dubai
UAE-based Lootah Holding, and US-based environmental consultancy and clean technology firm Batta Technologies, have partnered to provide clean technology in Dubai, working under the name Lootah Batta Water and Environment. The company says it will provide comprehensive solutions to various water and environmental issues, including a wide portfolio of filters for onsite and mobile contaminated water treatment,
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proprietary microfiltration, ultrafiltration, and advanced sewage treatment plants. Water is a finite resource that is fundamental to human well-being and only renewable if well managed. Smart water management is therefore a pre-condition of sustainable development. According to a study conducted by the new company Lootah Batta Water and Environment, only 34 per cent of treated wastewater is sold, recycled or used for irrigation in the arid nation, offering opportunities in the market that the company hopes to capitalise on. Managed efficiently, this water could play a vital role in strengthening water security across the nation. Innovation is key to achieving efficiency and sustainability in the water sector. This is integral to Lootah Batta Water and Environment’s plan, with the company
“Managed efficiently, wastewater could play a vital role in strengthening water security across the nation
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Opportunities for the provision of stable water supplies in the UAE are plentiful, despite growing concerns over a lack of water security, according to the Dubai-based sustainable technology company Lootah Batta Water and Environment. In line with the government’s mission to achieve water security in the UAE, the company says there is much that can be done to provide sustainable water technology.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
“Water is a finite resource that is fundamental to human well-being, and is renewable only if well managed. Smart water management is therefore a pre-condition of sustainable development
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announcing it is committed to the 10x initiative, a roadmap launched in February 2017 that lays out Dubai’s path to technological advancements over the next 10 years. This initiative calls on all Dubai government entities to embrace disruptive innovation as a fundamental mantra of their operations and seek ways to incorporate its methodologies in all aspects of their work. Lootah Batta Water and Environment also meets the goals of the Dubai Future Accelerator and Dubai Municipality, both of which encourage innovative technology companies and government organisations that provide transformational solutions in all sectors. In addition, the organisation plans to integrate Internet of Things (IoT) technologies into its water body management, which it says will result in solutions that are more sustainable and costeffective. The implementation of sustainable management solutions can lower the costs
associated with the high volumes of hazardous and trade wastewater that are generated by ports, marinas, facility managers and industries. By joining forces to create this new entity, the new company will be in a position to deliver advanced solutions that use, and produce, water sustainably. The new joint venture will work in line with the Smart Dubai initiative and the so-called Smart District Guidelines, whilst its services are in line with European Union and US regulatory standards, it says. Water scarcity is defined as the lack of sufficient available water resources to meet water needs within a region. It affects every continent, and according to research by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) impacts around 2.7 billion people around the world at least one month out of every year. Balancing access to water with the demand for it results in water security, an issue high on the agenda for nations across the globe.
In the UAE, water consumption amounts to 550 litres per capita, as opposed to the average international water consumption of just 170-300 litres per day. Lootah Batta Water and Environment say they are sure that the joint venture will be a positive step towards the provision of sustainable water solutions and advanced products, in turn reinforcing the UAE’s position as a leader in environmental management and sustainability.
Editor’s note This article is based on information from (Khaleej Times, 2017)
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ISSUE NO. 1 | WATER
COMMENTARY
Desalination Comes at a Price The Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance The Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance H2O minus CO2
Over the last 30 years or so, in response to increasing water scarcity, desalination has evolved into a viable alternative water supply. With access to drinking water being a challenge for as much as a quarter of the world’s population and forecasts predicting that by 2030, 47 per cent of the global population will face water scarcity, desalination has become a vital measure. Desalination of sea water allows us to tap into water resources with the potential to provide a sustainable, longterm water supply to meet the growing demand. Consequently, desalination plants have grown rapidly, now operating in more than 120 countries. Estimates on the number of active plants vary between 15,000 and 20,000, with production totalling more than 20,000 m3 per day. The role that desalination plays is vital, but it also comes at a price. Energy is one of the largest costs associated with sea-water desalination and there is a corresponding environmental cost. The CO2 emissions associated with water desalination are considerable. It is estimated that the currently installed and operational desalination plants worldwide emit around 76 million tonnes of CO2 per year. These emissions are expected to grow to around 218 million tonnes of CO2 per year by 2040, if no action is undertaken. To address this issue, the Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance – H2O minus CO2 (GCWDA) was launched at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
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COP21, in December 2015 in Paris. Gathered under the Lima Paris Action Plan (LPAA), the GCWDA is dedicated to taking action to significantly reduce CO2 emissions in the desalination industry. The GCWDA was cofounded jointly by Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, Masdar, the French Government and the International Desalination Association (IDA), and now has over 150 members spanning the globe. The GCWDA aims to foster a faster transition to energy-efficient and cost-effective desalination technologies and clean energy in the production of drinking water, capable of meeting the growing worldwide need for clean water. The strategic goals of the initiative include powering new water desalination plants with clean-energy sources; replacing fossil fuel-based energy sources in existing water desalination plants with cleanenergy sources; retrofitting existing water desalination plants with more energy-efficient technologies; and attracting investment in the water desalination sector for CO2 emissionreduction purposes. The GCWDA lays the foundation for a coordinated international effort to provide more water without increasing the carbon footprint, while working towards a carbon-neutral desalination process. Collaborative action is essential to progress the uptake of more environmentally friendly water desalination technologies. The GCWDA brings together key water-desalination and cleanenergy stakeholders with the goal of reducing the CO2 emissions of the world’s water desalination plants. This is not about government; it is a commitment to change by major stakeholders, with the potential to trigger tangible change across the sector.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
The GCWDA calls on all organisations – governments, industry, non-governmental organisations, utilities and other stakeholders – to support efforts towards achieving CO2 emission reductions in the sector. The GCWDA framework covers four key categories, which are mobilised by four corresponding work streams. The first category is clean energy supply for desalination plants. The target for existing plants is 10 percent clean energy supply by 2030 and for new plants, there is a sliding scale, with 20 percent for new plants between 2020 and 2025; 40 per cent between 2026 and 2030; 60 per cent between 2031 and 2035; and 80 per cent after 2035. The second category concerns energy efficiency, systems integration and demand response and includes the development of incentives to advance the energy efficiency and system integration of desalination facilities. Incentives for owners of existing desalination plants and developers of new plants, including tax credits, rebates, special tariff structures and the like, can encourage reductions in energy intensity, progress on system integration issues, and the introduction of demand response measures to allow desalination plants to better follow the load on the electricity grid and synchronise with the grid. In improving the overall grid health, the combination of renewable power and water desalination becomes an opportunity to advance grid infrastructure, in addition to the water desalination technology.
“Estimates on the number of active desalination plants vary between 15,000 and 20,000, with production totalling more than 20,000 m3 per day
The third category is research, development and demonstration, with members committing to increase investment in solution-driven research and development to the tune of USD 100 million from 2017 onwards, both in cash and contribution. Research should focus on increasing the energy efficiency of desalination technologies and preparing desalination processes to be powered by clean energy sources, as well as covering systems integration aspects, including demand response capabilities. Pilot and demonstration projects validating the reliability and commercial viability of new solutions are particularly welcomed in the research and development (R&D) stream to accelerate market adoption of advanced desalination technologies and overcome the barriers between R&D and commercialisation. Finally, as regards education, training and outreach, the GCWDA supports the dissemination of information on CO2 emission reductions within the desalination sector through a dedicated web-based platform. Currently, there are no detailed studies and therefore, the GCWDA plans to undertake a detailed inventory analysis to document the CO2 emissions in the sector as a baseline. This category also covers outreach activities to build public awareness about sustainability initiatives in the industry and provide professional training opportunities for industry members. An action plan has been developed to support these categories, which includes corresponding goals: amplified commitment by all GCWDA members to use clean energy sources to power new desalination plants and to retrofit existing plants, wherever and whenever possible; further focus on improved energy efficiency of desalination processes; increased efforts in R&D demonstration projects; proactive dissemination of innovative technologies; capacity building and analysis; and formulation of adequate policies and regulatory frameworks. The aim is to ensure the sustainability of the entire desalination process is taken into account, beyond the sole issue of energy sources. GCWDA.Secretariat@masdar.ae
For future plants, the targets are as follows:
20% clean energy supply for new plants between 2020 and 2025
40% clean energy supply for new plants between 2026 and 2030
60% clean energy supply for new plants between 2031 and 2035
80% clean energy supply for new plants after 2035 31
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
FEATURE
Tapping Potential of Reject Brine from Desalination The UAE is taking the lead in providing sustainable agricultural solutions By ICBA International Center for Biosaline Agriculture
There is no denying that almost everything on this planet depends on water and we are blessed to have almost 70 per cent of earth’s surface covered with this extraordinary chemical compound. Water has kept the life going on the planet for over three billion years. Fresh water, which makes up a small fraction of just 2.5 per cent of the total water available, remains the main requirement for human consumption and agricultural production. However, fresh water supplies are fast declining due to several factors including changing climatic conditions and population growth. This is alarming at the local, national and international level. It is estimated that globally around 70 per cent of the freshwater is used for irrigation, 22 per cent for industry and 8 per cent for domestic use. Looking at the water footprints, a whopping 15,000 litres of water is needed to produce one kilo of beef, 1,000-3,000 litres to produce one kilo of rice and even a cup of coffee needs around 140 liters of water for its production (IFAD). Over the period to 2050, these finite water resources will be required to support billions of additional people as the world population continues to soar and is expected to go up by 31 per cent from 7.5 billion today to 9.8 billion in 2050 as per the recent 2017 World Population
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Data Sheet from the Population Reference Bureau (PRB). Moreover, increasing temperatures and other effects of climate change continue to have a devastating impact on fresh water resources leading to severe problems such as droughts, food insecurity and political instability. These negative impacts on water availability call for urgent action to allocate and use water more wisely and call for sustainable pathways for food and water security. Unfortunately, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region includes some of the world’s most fragile and water stressed countries posing critical challenges for policymakers to ensure water security and proper water management in the region. Evading further burden on the limited fresh water resources, several nations, particularly those in the MENA, have been increasingly deploying methods to use alternative water resources such as seawater over fresh water by removing salt from seawater, a process known as desalination. Saving fresh water resources using seawater is a good idea, but comes at a heavy price. Not only is the process expensive, but the reject brine, an extremely concentrated waste by-product of the desalination process, is dumped back into the soil and sea, thereby causing several environmental and health hazards, and negative impact on agricultural production and marine ecosystems. Estimates show that globally over 8.7 million cubic meters of desalinated water is used for irrigation and over 3.5 million cubic meters of reject brine is produced every day. It is
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
expected that the demand for desalinated water in the Gulf region will increase in future (Dawoud and Al-Mulla, 2012) and the impact from reject brine will lead to fluctuations in salinity levels. As a consequence of brine discharge from desalination, Bashititalshaaer et al. (2011) forecast that salinity levels of the Gulf, Mediterranean Sea, and Red Sea will significantly increase by extra 2.24, 0.81 and 1.16 g/l in the year 2050. Another recent report from the World Bank Beyond Scarcity - Water Security in the Middle East and North Africa shows that brine discharge in the Gulf region from desalination plants is estimated to have increased ambient seawater salinity by about 20 per cent. Furthermore, increased salinity levels of these seas will result in less potable water production from the desalination units for the same amount of energy input, meaning more cost for desalination. While challenges will remain daunting, the region has an opportunity to explore innovations and technologies available in the region. The Dubai-based International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA) along with its partners such as the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCaE) provides an innovative solution by transforming brine discharge from a reverse osmosis (RO) unit into a valuable resource and profit for farmers through an approach called modular farming. The center has been running this project since 2013, and so far the results are promising and have shown that the innovation not only safeguards our environment, but also proves to be a great business model for farmers living in the MENA region especially for young entrepreneurs. Scientists warn that water quality has been negatively getting altered in the region and needs an immediate action. It is an indisputable fact that the quality of land and water has deteriorated over the last decade, thus farmers in the region need to move towards more innovative, sustainable and climate- resilient production systems to mitigate the growing issues. Dr. Dionysia Angeliki Lyra, a halophyte agronomist at ICBA and a lead scientist in the project, believes that modular farming systems offer a great advantage to utilize reject brine for fish farming, use seawater and aquaculture effluents in a sustainable way for the cultivation of halophytes (salt-loving plants) in coastal desert areas, and combine vegetables, forages and halophytes in inland farms. This
integrated aqua-agriculture approach creates economic opportunities for local farming communities by using degraded or barren lands for improved agricultural production. With support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and in collaboration with the International Water Management Institute (IWMI), ICBA has been studying the economics of the modular farms. The recent results have shown that due to multiple advantages of treated reject brine, there is a huge market potential when it comes to return on investment in inland and coastal farms across the UAE. For example, in inland farms, the fresh biomass yields of Salicornia, a halophytic crop with multiple uses, increased from 8 tons per hectare (t/ha) using reject brine to 24 t/ha by using aquaculture effluents. Also, the fresh biomass yields of forage grass increased by over 1.3 times from 56 t/ha to 75 t/ ha. Similarly, aquaculture effluents have been also used in coastal farms, where ICBA studies show an increase in Salicornia seed production by 3.25 t/ha – the highest yield obtained for domesticated Salicornia germplasm based on literature. In addition, the nitrate content in aquaculture water was 12 times more compared to seawater. The beneficiaries of this innovative project include farmers from the UAE who use desalination units for crop irrigation, farmers who use saline groundwater for fish farming, farmers in the coastal regions, and rural communities located in the MENA region, Mediterranean, Central Asia and South America that deal with land degradation, desertification and saline water resources. Due to its invaluable significance in the region, the innovation has been already recognized by international organizations and government agencies. The Expo 2020 Dubai’s Expo Live Innovation Impact Grant Programme provided a grant to ICBA to conduct an innovative research project on inland and coastal modular farms in the UAE. ICBA was among three organizations in the UAE and 29 global innovators from around the world to have won this grant in the initial round of the Expo Live funding. With growing challenges in the world, more innovations like modular farming are needed to ensure food, water and nutrition security for future generations. Among many other fields, the UAE is also taking the lead in providing sustainable agricultural solutions, thereby setting examples for other countries.
Modular farms in desert environment are:
Sustainable Increase efficiency in water usage
Climate Resilient Increase in diversity of crops
Food & Nutrition Mult-source food
Innovative Low-quality water, halophytes
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
EDITORIAL
Sustainable Choices Drive Green Returns to Capital DROP IT Re-think plastic
Plastic pollution is one of the greatest burdens to the environment. Enough plastic is discarded every year to circle the globe 4 times. It is estimated that 50% of the plastic on this planet is used only once before being thrown away.
UAE has one of the highest consumption of bottled water per capita in the world
We produce 60,000 tonnes of CO2 just to produce our annual bottled water consumption in the UAE
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How Dubai businesses can save money and CO2 emissions by consuming water more sustainably Companies are being urged to switch from bottled to filtered water, in order to halt the rise in plastic pollution and reduce the harmful physical effects of solely drinking bottled water. The UAE has one of the highest consumptions of bottled water per capita in the world, and experts are warning of the hazards of this dependence on plastic. “Only drinking water from plastic containers is proven to disrupt hormones and expose individuals to hazardous bacteria,” said Tatiana Antonelli Abella, Founder of Goumbook, a Dubai-based social enterprise raising awareness about sustainable living and green practices in the UAE since 2010. “Plastic is a significant and imminent health threat, because beyond the polymers it contains, it is also embedded with plasticizers, flame retardants, colourants and other chemicals that have now entered our food chain through our waterways,” Abella added. In 2016, Goumbook launched a campaign against plastic pollution named Drop It, aimed at raising awareness around the environmental and health concerns related to single-use plastic consumption. With the UAE recording high levels of bottled water consumption, at almost 82 per cent more than the world average, the purpose of the campaign is to highlight the impact such behavior is having on people’s health and the environment, versus consuming filtered tap water, Abella says.
The secondary aim is to tackle the plastic pollution issue in the UAE. “We felt it was a compelling argument to encourage people to stop consuming water in plastic bottles, and instead consume filtered tap water in reusable, non-toxic containers, made of glass or stainless steel,” she added. Local bottled water sold in the UAE is not mineral water, but rather, filtered tap water, says Abella. Moreover, reportedly less than 20 per cent of used plastic bottles are collected and recycled, with most waste sent straight to landfill. Once in landfill, the bottles take up to 1,000 years to decompose, and fill oceans with microscopic particles that enter our food chain after they are ingested by fish. The UAE government invests heavily in the provision of high-quality tap water throughout the emirates, however given the difficulty of ensuring housing piping is clean, filtering tap water at the point of collection provides a safer, cheaper and healthier alternative to bottled water. The Drop It campaign targets companies with a simple business proposition: by switching to filtered water, they can consume less plastic bottles and dramatically reduce their CO2 emissions, as well as unlocking sizeable financial savings. Goumbook hopes that this awareness will have a knock-on effect on employees’ mindsets, encouraging them to install water filters at home, too. “By offering to switch companies to filtered tap water within offices, our main objective was to raise awareness about the health issue to UAE
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
“Many people are unaware that the UAE Government invests heavily in the provision of high-quality tap water throughout the UAE
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In line with the company’s sustainability objectives, 17 water filters and dispensers were installed throughout the company’s headquarters. The main objective was to provide a healthier, more sustainable source of hydration that was better for employees and the environment, saving 16 tonnes of CO2 annually on plastic bottle production alone.
residents. As the campaign started to pick up, our member companies also realised that after their original investment in filters, they quickly started to save money, alongside reducing CO2 emissions, storage space rent and wastemanagement expenses,” Abella said. In its first year of operation, Drop It reached 900 employees through 12 companies, who collectively saved over 27 tonnes of CO2 emissions (in excess of 225,000 small plastic water bottles and 4,400 five-gallon plastic bottles) from landfill every year. The Sustainabilist met some of these companies to discuss their experiences. Global legal firm Linklaters employs around 60 staff in the UAE, who said they previously consumed over 6,000 small plastic bottles and 600 five-gallon-bottles a year. This represents 1.71 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually, excluding the CO2 generated by delivery logistics. In addition to the CO2 and plastic savings gained through switching to filtered tap water, Linklaters said they regained office space previously dedicated to the storage of plastic water bottles.
Both their Dubai and Abu Dhabi offices generate considerably less waste and a mindset change took place across the firm, with a handful of employees pursuing water-filtration solutions for home consumption. The firm says it is now having water filters fitted in the corporate apartments used by their trainee solicitors.“Installing water filters in both of our offices was straightforward when you consider the environmental, health and cost benefits. There are zero disadvantages to switching,” said Allison Hosking, Head of Business Development and Strategy, Linklaters Middle East. Omnicom Media Group MENA, an advertising and communications company, counts 400 employees working over six floors in their Dubai headquarters. The company said it used to go through a monthly average of 80 five-gallon water bottles and over 15,000 small water bottles in Dubai. Five rooms were dedicated to storage and the company used to spend around AED 9,000 per month (AED 108,000 per year) on water, yet frequently ran out of stock before the next delivery, according to staff.
“Following our filter purchase and a primary investment in reusable bottles for each of our employees, we broke even in just eight months and started to save money,” said Alanna Turpin, Group Sustainability Manager, Omnicom Media Group. “We expect to save approximately 27 per cent of the bottled water cost in the first year of our switch to filtered tap water, and 87 per cent in two years, which includes filter maintenance,” she said, adding: “Joining Drop It was an interesting and rewarding journey that led to Omnicom Media Group MENA aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Goal number six: Clean water.” In tougher economic climates, or when operating on a tighter budget, environmental concerns may appear costly and discourage business owners to focus on sustainability. However in light of recent research, experts say that when companies make a point of placing environmental protection and sustainability at the heart of their strategies, the benefits go well beyond the company’s reputation. For more info: http://goumbook.com/
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
OPINION PIECE
Dubai is Up for the Challenge Changes in water availability
Founding Director of the Center for Leadership in Global Sustainability, Virginia Tech, USA
Water is at once the most critical resource on the planet, and one of the most frustrating. It occurs too often or too violently in some places, while being horribly absent from others— monsoons in the Indian city of Mumbai have left more than 1000 dead, while at the same time persistent drought has left millions of people at risk in East Africa. Water is fickle indeed. But the facts are not in dispute. Between now and 2050, water demand in the Middle East and North Africa will increase by 50 per cent while the available supply will fall by 12 per cent. Climate change will likely exacerbate both the flooding and the droughts within the region. A combination of climate change and socioeconomic factors will interact to influence both water supply and demand. Interestingly, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), changes in water availability will be driven exclusively by socioeconomic factors, not directly by climate change. That said, demand for freshwater in the UAE is expected to increase. In Dubai alone, demand will increase from 41.4 million gallons in 2000, to 155.1 million gallons in 2020. Most of that need has and will be met by parting the ocean from its salt through desalination. Though effective and necessary in a sea-side desert city, the cost, the energy demands, and often the carbon footprints of desalination plants are extreme. So in Dubai, the challenge may not really be water availability, but rather the energy needed to make that water available.
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Water availability has both supply and demandside elements. The sustainable use of water can take advantage of both sides of that equation. On the supply side, increasing use of renewable energy such as solar to power desalination plants is both feasible and desirable. And Dubai is well on its way to tapping its immense solar potential. On the demand side, water use conservation can ease the pressures on ground water and in the short term lower the demand for the desalinated one. Water conservation in Dubai holds great promise. The vast majority of the urban water demand is for residential uses. Educational programmes to change cultural practices and behaviours towards personal water use can be effective tools. The Emirates Wildlife Society World Wildlife Fund Heroes of the UAE works to profile examples of
“Between now and 2050, water demand in the Middle East and North Africa will increase by 50% while the available supply will fall by 12%
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By Michael Mortimer
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
Global cities are the path to the future; we are all part of the urban century. Yes, cities may be responsible for as much as 70 per cent of the greenhouse gases emitted worldwide. But as many national governments around the world continue to struggle with climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and land use conversion, the world’s cities are nonetheless acting aggressively to protect their citizens, their infrastructure,
their supply chains, and their future development from the worst of these impacts. Dubai has told a remarkable urban development story over the last half century. What will its story be for the next half century? What will it require of Dubai’s leaders? The story is already starting to unfold. The vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, and Ruler of Dubai, articulated in the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050—to transform Dubai into the global city with the smallest carbon footprint by 2050—is an example of the powerful, proactive steps that the leading global cities will be taking. Can you imagine Dubai being one of the most sustainable cities in the world? That would require leading both citizens and businesses, but in the end it would be leading the world. History has demonstrated, that of any city around the globe, Dubai is up for the challenge.
“Business leaders from companies all over the world have come together in the CEO Water Mandate as part of the Global Water Compact
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such success and innovation. But the business sector can also play a powerful role. For example, consider the Emirates Green Building Council’s water reduction benchmarking process for hotels in the UAE. It is a step towards the vibrant and high-profile hospitality sector doing its part for reduced water use. And business leaders from companies all over the world have come together in the CEO Water Mandate as part of the Global Water Compact. Finally, policy approaches that apply integrated water resource management principles can ensure that water is being looked at holistically as a system across both the city and the Emirate.
The world’s first digital video platform focused on sustainability, innovation and happiness in the Middle East
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
COMMENTARY
Less Water, Greener Villas With one of the highest water consumptions in the world, the UAE must drastically cut down on its water consumption
By Darren Martin General Manager, IAN Head of Marketing and Sales, Arms Group
The Ozzi Kleen system, an Australian technology that recycles wastewater for use in garden irrigation, has great potential for the sustainability of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to Ibn Al Nafees (IAN), a green technology company. The environmentally friendly system, which has a low carbon footprint and a low power requirement, making it economical to run, uses oxygen and bacteria to treat the wastewater efficiently. With a reported reduction of total water consumption of up to 70 per cent for an average villa in Dubai, this can equate to a significant saving for the owner, in addition to the environmental benefits of reducing reliance on the main water supply grid. Villa owners watering their lawns and gardens account for half of all the water consumed in the UAE, according to experts. In 2013, Mohammed Saleh, Director-General of the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA), said that the UAE had the highest water consumption of anywhere in the world, spurred by the need to irrigate villa lawns, hotel landscapes, and golf courses in a country surrounded by desert. Producing nutrientrich water for reuse in irrigating gardens and
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landscaping, Ozzi Kleen uses a patented cyclic, fully aerobic sewage treatment process that does not involve a septic process. This means there is no septic smell produced as a result. “I have had these operating seamlessly now for several years without any technical issues. The systems are very low maintenance and have exceptionally low operating costs,� said Abdul Rahman Mohammed Sharif, a sustainability advocate and founder of IAN. Dubai-based IAN operates primarily in the solar and wastewater treatment sectors. He founded IAN several years ago to deliver his vision of sustainability. Sharif says that he has three units operating at his villa in Jumeriah, providing over six cubic metres of wastewater treatment per day to his residence. The Ozzi Kleen system has a very small carbon footprint, making it an attractive investment proposition for eco-conscious residential villa owners in the UAE. Removing the environmental and commercial cost of providing water for irrigation purposes, the system supplies clean irrigation water for any large area of landscaping or lawn. Because of its low power consumption, the system can also be easily solar powered. IAN says it has previously installed an Ozzi Kleen system for travel services company Dnata and Arabian Adventures, a tour provider, in a remote camp located in the desert. The sewage system can also be applied to large scale commercial wastewater treatment plants for many industry needs, according to IAN.
In a villa, the technology processes all wastewater produced by the household, including from the kitchens, bathrooms, and washing machines, diverting it to be treated in a tank below ground, which the company says improves the visual appeal of the system. A small amount of consumables, such as testing kits, are required for the Ozzi Kleen, which IAN provides as a monthly maintenance service for the system. Depending on the location and site conditions, a fully installed Ozzi Kleen system costs around AED 35,000, which, given the savings in water consumption and other factors, means a relatively short return on investment timeframe.
Bringing together a global audience of industry leaders, policy makers and sector specialists, International Water Summit (IWS) is the leading exhibition for innovations, product launches and valuable business networking opportunities. It is the place for making connections that will offer you unparalleled access to decision makers from fast growing water sustainability.
Co-located with
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
FEATURE
The Water Project Bright futures begin with clean water
Regional Manager, The Water Project
A child arrives at school on time for the first time. Farmers have strength and health to work a full day in hot arid conditions. Women have time and resources to run businesses and earn income for their families. These are the amazing stories we at The Water Project hear all the time. But we also hear stories of sickness, impoverishment, and death. This tragic state is avoidable, but ultimately inevitable when a community doesn’t have access to safe and affordable water and sanitation services. Though much progress has been made over the last two decades, far more investment is needed. One
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healthcare costs, increased productivity at work, and better education. Despite the obvious benefits, a large funding gap remains. Financial estimates suggest that achieving universal access to basic water, sanitation, and hygiene could cost roughly USD 50 billion per year. To meet these challenges partnerships must be strengthened
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Despite the obvious benefits, a large funding gap remains
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By Adam Torrey
of the major problems is that much of what has already been invested, has not been properly managed or maintained, usually resulting in a return to previous conditions. According to UNDP, recent data shows that at least 1.8 billion people globally use a source of drinking water that is contaminated, and 2.4 billion people lack access to basic sanitation services, such as toilets or latrines. In 2015 the United Nations spearheaded a deliberative process concerning the Millennium Development Goals that culminated in The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with targets to achieve by 2030. The respective targets for water and sanitation in the SDGs aim to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all, and to achieve adequate and equitable sanitation and hygiene for all. For water and sanitation alone, research shows that benefits exceed the cost of an intervention by 3 to 6 times. These benefits usually translate to reduced
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
to achieving sustainability. We carefully recruit, train, equip, and partner with local implementing partners who have demonstrated long term relational commitment to the people they serve.
As an organization passionate about unlocking potential, we’re committed to addressing the water crisis through sustainable projects, and our main focus is on investing in people and partnerships. In 2017, The Water Project established a branch office in Dubai at the International Humanitarian City with the purpose of developing new programmes and partnerships in the region.
We’re committed to funding projects that last. To ensure that we are producing outcomes for and with the people struggling most from lack of access to clean water and sanitation resources, we work closely with our implementing partners to establish clearly defined goals for each water project through reliable communication and action.
For the last ten years we have been drilling wells, constructing sand dams, installing rainwater catchment systems, building sanitation systems and improved latrines, and protecting vulnerable freshwater springs all around the world. Through this work we have found that comprehensive, sustainable water projects require time, commitment, investment in people, a willingness to measure (and take responsibility for) both success and failures, and a passion to care for people more than hardware. The Water Project works very hard to build long-term, truly sustainable water projects that are held to a measurable standard of success over the long term. Pursuing shared goals through local, in-country leadership and indigenous staff is key
We’ve developed a five-point process to help ensure true project sustainability: 1. Community engagement; 2. Hygiene education; 3. Infrastructure installation; 4. Training and hand-over; and 5. Monitoring and Evaluation. In addition to supporting communities with our core infrastructure projects, we support capacity building initiatives that promote water governance and water integrity for institutions in the MENA region. We also support school education programs raising awareness about the global water crisis, teaching the importance of water conservation. This educational support is critical for communicating the value of water. Our commitment to sustainable projects is something we at The Water Project call the Water Promise. The Water Promise is a bold
commitment to provable, reliable access to water and sanitation services through the use of smart-phone based tools, new remote monitoring sensor technology, publicly available monitoring data, and trained available maintenance teams. Through our partnerships we are committed to resolving problems with 5+ years of guaranteed repair funding. And because seeing is believing, we provide our donors and investors opportunities to experience the impact of their generosity and philanthropy and to celebrate with the people they help. With our new app, Impact Snapshot, supporters get stories, maps, photos and other information on their smart phone about who and how they’ve helped. These are just some of the exciting ways we’re innovating to make sure the water keeps flowing for generations to come. At The Water Project, we believe that bright futures begin with clean water. Providing a reliable and safe water source will unlock potential by returning time for study, work, and imagination. After all, water doesn’t change anything; the people we serve do.
“We’re committed to funding projects that last
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and new ones forged on the basis of a sustained commitment to the community and to the next generation so that they too will have safe and reliable water and sanitation.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
FEATURE
A Switch to Filtered Water The cost and culture of consuming plastic bottled water
Founding Partner, Liquid of Life LLC
There is no denying that plastic is a wonder material that has transformed our lives. In a paper authored by the industrial ecologist, Dr Roland Geyer, US scientists calculated the total amount of plastic ever made and put the number at 8.3 billion tonnes. This is an astonishing mass of material that has essentially been created only in the last 65 years or so. The 8.3 billion tonnes is as heavy as 25,000 Empire State Buildings in New York, or a billion elephants. We are rapidly heading towards “Planet Plastic” and if we don’t want to live on that kind of world then we may have to rethink how we use some materials, in particular plastic, Dr Roland Geyer told BBC News.
• • • • • • • • 42
8,300 million tonnes of virgin plastics have been produced Half of this material was made in just the past 13 years About 30% of the historic production remains in use today Of the discarded plastic, roughly 9% has been recycled Some 12% has been incinerated, but 79% has gone to landfill Shortest-use items are packaging, typically less than a year Longest-use products are found in construction and machinery Current trends point to 12 billion tonnes of waste by 2050
In a more recent British-led expedition to the Arctic, scientists discovered sizeable chunks of plastic. The find is significant as it was discovered in an area that was previously inaccessible because of sea ice. It is a sign that plastic waste is flowing into the Arctic as the ice melts because of climate change. The rise of plastic usage has had a detrimental effect on the the oceans and recent studies found traces of micro-plastics in 83 per cent of drinking water samples taken globally. In the UAE and across the Gulf there is a heavy reliance on plastic bottled water. No one can dispute the importance of staying healthy and hydrated but the documented damage to the environment as a result of our general plastic consumption is starting to resonate with businesses who are keen to engage in new practices that have a positive impact on the local and global environment. Implementing point-of- use filtered drinking water systems in an office/facility can help to provide a sustainable alternative and reduce/ eliminate the need to purchase and consume plastic bottled water. It can be a hard task for businesses to consider a switch to filtered drinking water, where the general perception has been that plastic bottled water is a safe option to keep their employees healthy and hydrated in the workplace. In the past, running a business sustainably usually meant, “is it financially viable”, “will it be profitable”, “is it scalable”, but as the concept of running a business sustainably continues to evolve, most businesses consider that running a business sustainably involves acting in an economically sustainable way that limits the negative impact their business has on the environment. Futhermore, many business owners and shareholders would agree that there is almost an ethical and moral duty to protect the environment. More day to day business
“ROI on the capital expenditure can be achieved within 12 months, and on-going costs can be reduced by between 60 percent and 90 percent when compared to plastic bottled water consumption
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By Rukhsana Kausar
decisions are made on the basis of how waste can be reduced which helps to also reduce operational costs whilst protecting the environment. The cost and culture of consuming plastic bottled water is generally just accepted. For businesses, the cost of providing drinking water to staff is a cost that no one can generally cut down on unless they negotiate a cheaper price with the bottled water company or they change the brand of bottled water – because you can’t tell people to reduce the amount of water they drink. In the last 12 months, the UAE has seen an increase in the number of businesses entering
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
A switch to filtered water has numerous benefits for businesses both commercially and reputationally. Switching to filtered drinking water helps businesses to save money and reduce operational costs associated with ordering, storing and consuming plastic bottled water. Depending on consumption and requirements, the ROI on the capital expenditure can be achieved within 12 months, and on-going costs can be reduced by between 60 per cent and 90 per cent when compared to plastic bottled water consumption. Etihad Airways made the switch to filtered drinking water in 2013 having installed bottle-free filtered drinking water dispensers across their offices in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Al Ain. In 2016, the total consumption of
filtered drinking water was 502,590 litres. This eliminated the consumption of 25,774 five gallon plastic bottles and reduced the carbon footprint by 51.55 tons. By 2030, the UAE Government wants to have reduced energy consumption by 30 per cent and eliminate the waste sent to the landfill and devise more sustainable methods of water generation. All these aims are central to reducing the carbon footprint of the country as a whole. As businesses begin to pursue more carbon footprint reduction strategies because of their environmental commitment, a switch to filtered water can be seen as a quick-win. A 5 gallon bottle has an associated carbon footprint of just under 2kg, which includes the carbon footprint of the the production of the plastic and transportation (this does not include the carbon footprint of the production of water or the eventual disposal of the bottle). A typical 500ml plastic bottle has an associated carbon footprint of just over 80g. A switch to filtered water can therefore be an attractive proposition for businesses that have local/global mandates to reduce their carbon footprint. As well as the environment and commercial benefits of a switch to filtered water, there is also the consideration of health factors. Filtered water is also a healthier alternative to plastic bottled water in so far it eliminates the exposure to people of plastic chemicals such as BPA and dioxin which can have a contributory effect towards the development of some illnesses.
“Businesses can be a positive catalyst for change
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the filtered drinking water market, providing a range of filtered drinking water solutions for corporates and to residential customers. Increased competition is good for the end consumers who have a choice and a sign that there is more demand and acceptance in the market for filtered drinking water. Typically, the solutions range from simple under-the- sink water filters to bottles-free dispensers that have an in-built filtration system and can be retrofitted to existing offices. The filtered water solutions are connected to the existing water supply and will filter the water, removing impurities and thus providing everyone with access to filtered drinking water and eliminate the need to purchase and consume plastic bottled water.
Top 4 things businesses need to be aware of when considering a switch to filtered drinking water in their office:
1
Does the filtered water supplier have a successful track record of providing these solutions to other companies and can references be provided?
2
Are the filters genuinely tested and accredited by international bodies such as NSF? (visit nsf.org to verify)
3
Can the filtered water supplier demonstrate a strong commitment to provide the ongoing support and maintenance of the filtered water solutions that are implemented?
4
Are water tests done independently by municipality approved laboratories to ensure that the water meets municipality and WHO Standards for drinking water?
It is clear that having filtered drinking water a part of mainstream sustainable consumption in the office is a growing alternative to plastic bottled water consumption. Businesses can be a positive catalyst for change and by considering a switch to filtered water in the office/facility, they can have a good effect on the welfare of their employees and on the planet.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
COMMENTARY
Sustainable Solutions: Solving Fresh Water Security A reliable water supply from unlimited resources
The Dubai Government recognises the value of innovation in promoting a sustainable economy. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award aims to support this, encouraging leading corporations, research centres, institutions and innovators from across the world to compete to find sustainable and innovative solutions to the problem of water scarcity, using solar power. The first cycle of the annual USD 1 million-dollar international award, launched in 2016, received an overwhelmingly positive response from around the world, with a total of 138 applications entered from 43 countries. After reviewing the
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applications, the jury selected 10 winners from eight countries, including India, Germany, the UK, Italy, the Netherlands and China, to be awarded for their innovative ideas and solutions for water desalination and purification. The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Water Award was founded to seek out mature solutions to global water scarcity through desalination driven by solar energy. The award has three different categories: Innovative Projects, Innovative Research and Development and Innovative Youth, with the submitted projects all proven solutions with measurable results in operation for at least 12 months at the date of project submission in September, 2016. The solution awarded as winner of the Innovative Projects Award was submitted by Dutch cleantech company Elemental Water Makers (EWM) who provided a sustainable answer to solve the
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The Dubai Government recognises the value of innovation in promoting a sustainable economy
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By Elemental Water Makers
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
Founded in 2012 by Sid Vollebregt and Reinoud Feenstra, graduates in the field of water treatment and sustainable energy technology from the University of Technology in Delft, EWM secures fresh water without limiting the future, through desalination driven by renewable energy. Sea water is turned into fresh water using only the energy from the sun, wind or waves. As a result, a reliable and affordable water supply is enabled, replacing the finite resources used in standard power and water generation methods. This produces a reliable water supply from unlimited resources for municipalities, communities, resorts, industries or private properties on islands and coastal regions. EWM’s patented mature solution was first tested through a field pilot in Indonesia. Since then, the company has executed projects for resorts, municipalities, communities, industries and
private properties on four different continents. Currently, EWM is working on the implementation of a water supply solution for a remote village in Cape Verde. The solar-powered innovation will replace the water trucks the municipality has to send daily and will result in cost savings while limiting environmental impact. The technique developed by EWM has already successfully been implemented in several alternative locations, including a desalination project executed on the British Virgin Islands in 2015. To date, this project has produced over 8 million litres of fresh water from sea water, using only the energy from the sun. Receiving this kind of recognition in the centre of the desalination industry is an important milestone for the company, which is relatively young, yet ambitious. “The credibility of being selected as winner from the entire sector will help our company move forward. Receiving global recognition is an important milestone for the company” says Co-founder and Managing Director of EWM, Sid Vollebregt.
“To date, this project has produced over 8 million litres of fresh water from sea water, using only the energy from the sun
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issue of fresh-water scarcity. The award was presented in April by HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
COMMENTARY
Private Sector in the Water Industry Opportunities in Water
CEO, Dubai Carbon
Independent water projects are on the rise in the UAE, generating new opportunities for developers and lenders as the growing country races to keep up with demand. Currently, in the Gulf region, the UAE records the highest projected increase in demand, which is expected to continue growing at a minimum rate of 10 per cent per annum, according to the UAE’s Ministry of Economy. Since 1998, the UAE has been pushing for increased privatisation in the water industry. Last year, the UAE underlined the growing importance of water security when it issued a ministerial decision that assigned specific watersector development competencies to the UAE Ministry of Energy (MOE). This move paved the way for increased privatesector participation in the development of the water industry. The UAE saw in 2016 a number of large scale public-private deals to finance water projects, including a USD 150 million loan facility, arranged by private venture capital fund United Ventures & Investments Limited, to finance the development of 22 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) desalination plant in Ras Al Khaimah. Later in the year, the Federal Electricity and Water Authority (FEWA) requested an expression of interest from developers for the design, build, finance and operation of
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a 45 MIGD reverse osmosis (RO), seawater desalination independent water project (IWP) located in Umm Al Quwain. The project received more than 40 expressions of interest from potential developers and subsequently FEWA pre-qualified 13 consortiums.
“The UAE has built up momentum in the pursuit of sustainable growth and these openings in the water industry consolidate its position as a global hub in an expanding market
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By Ivano Iannelli
Additionally, FEWA has since announced further plans to increase the capacity of its Ghalilah plant from 15 million to 45 million gallons per day, with the intention to construct a desalination plant in Al Zawra, Ajman, with a total capacity of 30 million gallons per day. These projects are the first IWPs in the UAE. Furthermore, they are also likely to be the first IWPs in the UAE to be entirely privately financed, whilst FEWA’s project will also be the first federally procured IWP in the UAE. With these, FEWA will aim to replicate the success of the IWPP programs that the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) and Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) have implemented in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Fujairah. These recent developments signal that watersector opportunities for the private industry in the UAE are on the increase. With a well established infrastructure, a competitive business environment, investment initiatives by the government, and strategic plans such as Vision 2021, the country continues to open up opportunities for private sector participation. The UAE has built up momentum in the pursuit of sustainable growth and these openings in the water industry consolidate its position as a global hub in an expanding market. Since as far back as the late 1990s, the UAE has undertaken strategic privatisation moves within the water industry.
Issue 01 | 23rd October 2017
“These projects are “
the first IWPs in the UAE
In October 1998, the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA) signed a landmark agreement with CMS Energy Corp to develop the UAE’s first independent water and power project (IWPP), the Taweelah A-2. This was the first privatisation move by any Gulf state. In doing this, the UAE emphasised that privatisation was a strategic option for sustainable development in the country, simultaneously expanding private sector investment opportunities and raising efficiency. Fast forward to 2017, and the demand for water in the country continues to increase year-onyear, and along with the steady growth in population and industry, existing water supplies are being strained. While the UAE Government is working to manage demand, according to all estimates, consumption will continue to rise in the near future. With the UAE likely to continue to exhibit significant economic and population growth in the coming years, water remains a priority for the country. There is also a government-led focus on technology and innovation that can make drinking water production more efficient, as well as solutions for storage and wastewater treatment and reuse. The result is a continual increase in water and electricity production to meet the rising demand, matched by an increase in the opportunities for private-sector participation in the UAE’s water industry and the subsidiary industries that service the sector. Editor’s note This article is based on information from: “Latham & Watkins” (2016, August 25)
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The Sustainabilist |SUSTAINABLE. BUSINESS. DEVELOPMENT
INDEX
Indexes on Water Consumption and Resources in the GCC Countries UAE
SAUDI ARABIA
OMAN
KUWAIT
BAHRAIN
78E(2014)
59(2014)
125(2014)
121(2014)
83(2014)
6.521E(2014)
126.8K(2014)
38.69K(2014)
2.156K(2014)
0.064K(2014)
Surface water produced internally (10^9 m3/year)
0.15(2014)
2.2(2014)
1.05(2014)
0(2014)
0.004(2014)
Groundwater produced internally (10^9 m3/year)
0.12(2014)
2.2(2014)
1.3(2014)
0(2014)
0(2014)
Overlap between surface water and groundwater (10^9 m3/year)
0.12(2014)
2(2014)
0.95(2014)
0(2014)
0(2014)
Total internal renewable water resources (IRWR) (10^9 m3/year)
0.15(2014)
2.4(2014)
1.4(2014)
0(2014)
0.004(2014)
16.38K(2014)
76.09K(2014)
311.7K(2014)
0K(2014)
2.905K(2014)
Groundwater: entering the country (total) (10^9 m3/year)
0(2014)
0(2014)
0(2014)
0.02(2014)
0.112(2014)
Groundwater: accounted inflow (10^9 m3/year)
0(2014)
0(2014)
0(2014)
0.02(2014)
0.112(2014)
Groundwater: leaving the country to other countries (total) (10^9 m3/year)
0(2014)
0.394(2014)
0(2014)
0(2014)
Groundwater: accounted outflow to other countries (10^9 m3/year)
0I(2014)
0.394I(2014)
0I(2014)
0I(2014)
Water resources: total external renewable (10^9 m3/year)
0(2014)
0I(2014)
0I(2014)
0.02(2014)
0.112(2014)
Total renewable surface water (10^9 m3/year)
0.15(2014)
2.2I(2014)
1.05I(2014)
0(2014)
0.004(2014)
Total renewable groundwater (10^9 m3/year)
0.12(2014)
2.2(2014)
1.3(2014)
0.02(2014)
0.112(2014)
Overlap: between surface water and groundwater (10^9 m3/year)
0.12(2014)
2(2014)
0.95(2014)
0(2014)
0(2014)
Total renewable water resources (10^9 m3/year)
0.15(2014)
2.4I(2014)
1.4I(2014)
0.02(2014)
0.116(2014)
0(2014)
0I(2014)
0I(2014)
100(2014)
96.55(2014)
16.38K(2014)
76.09K(2014)
311.7K(2014)
5.139K(2014)
84.24K(2014)
Interannual variability (WRI) (-)
3.6E(2013)
3.5E(2013)
3.1E(2013)
2.7E(2013)
3.1E(2013)
Seasonal variability (WRI) (-)
0.6E(2013)
1.6E(2013)
0.5E(2013)
0.4E(2013)
0.3E(2013)
Total dam capacity (km3)
0.0611L(2015)
1.004L(2015)
0.0884L(2015)
Dam capacity per capita (m3/inhab)
6.672K(2015)
31.83K(2015)
19.68K(2015)
Long-term average annual precipitation in depth (mm/year) Long-term average annual precipitation in volume (10^9 m3/year) National Rainfall Index (NRI) (mm/year)
Total internal renewable water resources per capita (m3/inhab/year)
Dependency ratio (%) Total renewable water resources per capita (m3/inhab/year)
source: www.fao.org References: 1. (Government of Dubai Media Office, 2017) 2. (Khaleej Times) 3. (Gulf News, 2017)
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4. (Wam Emirates Agency, 2017) 5. (Gulf News 2017) 6. (The National, 2017)
7. (Gulf News, 2017) 8. (Gulf news, 2017) 9. (Khaleej Times, 2017)
A major global player in the solar market through Solairedirect
10 GW gross low-carbon power and 608 MIGD gross drinking water production in the UAE
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Activities in 70 countries
In the businesses of power, natural gas, and energy services
No. 1 Independent independent electricity electricity producer producer in in the the world
Leader of the Energy Transition focusing on three key activities: low-carbon power generation, energy infrastructure development, and
14 LNG tankers, including 2 regasification vessels
A partnership with Abraaj Group to develop India’s wind potential
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EUR 16 billion of growth investment over 2016-2018
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810 MWp solar PV in India (operation, construction & development)
EUR 66.6 billion in 2016 revenues
EUR 1 billion for innovative & digital projects
1,082 TWh natural gas supply portfolio (100 bcm)
energy and transformational energy services to improve the performance and efficiency of cities, infrastructure and industry.
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118 GW power in operation & under construction
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