The 7th Issue of the Innovation@UAE Magazine: Sustainability in the UAE

About the cover photo: Abu Dhabi Mangroves during sunset

2

ISSUE 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS WELCOME TO OUR SEVENTH ISSUE

4

NEWS

6

PROFILE

64

FEATURES

72

UAE’S YOUNG SCIENTISTS

121

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

129

ISSUE 7

3

WELCOME TO OUR SEVENTH ISSUE The UAE over the past years has made extensive efforts towards sustainability under the UAE’s Vision 2030, the Dubai 2040 Urban master plan, and UAE Green Agenda 2030 which encompass sustainable environmental activities, as well as ensuring awareness and making available the business incentives that will support eco-friendly manufacturing, alternative energy sources, and eco-friendly employment opportunities for UAE graduates.

In addition to these, the UAE is also working to implement the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals through various initiatives including decreasing CO2 emissions by utilizing clean renewable energy sources, empowering energy-related talent, and enabling the storage of CO2 as well as its utilization. Furthermore, the UAE is working to implement blue carbon systems that are environmentally friendly, as well as support sustainable agriculture and sustainable waste management projects.

The UAE will be hosting COP28 between the 30th of November until 12th of December 2023, which comes in conjunction with H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of UAE’s announcement that 2023 is the year of sustainability.

The UAE is well-placed to deliver practical solutions to slash emissions and ensure 1.5°C remains within reach by 2030.

4

ISSUE 7

Referring to the statement of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed, President of the UAE, Ruler of Abu Dhabi, and Supreme Commander of the U.A.E Armed forces when announcing the theme for COP28 He stated, “Effective climate action requires a shared vision and collective will. As host of COP28, we are committed to fulfilling our role as a global convener and will continue to support action and innovation in the field of sustainability.”. We, as such, reconfirm that the UAE Ministry of Education plays an essential role in promoting the research capabilities at higher education institutions and putting great emphasis and priority on research that aims to improve sustainability both locally and globally. In addition, we place intense focus on showcasing the role of talented researchers at these educational entities who have tirelessly worked to develop innovative solutions in the field of climate change and sustainability.

The stories in this issue of Innovation@UAE Magazine are rich with ingenious ideas, solutions, and innovative products, utilizing advanced technologies that help the UAE meet its sustainability goals in the energy sector, agriculture, water management, human and animal life, transportation, and smart city development.

Many interesting topics have been tackled in this issue such as carbon-negative bio-desalination process using algae, sustainable agriculture with hydroponics, photovoltaic plus thermal batteries, and date seeds that turn waste into wealth and energy, and many more.

Once again, I am impressed with the level of innovation that our universities are adding to our country and our youth. Hope you will enjoy this issue as much as I have.

His Excellency Dr. Mohammad Al-Mualla Undersecretary for Academic Affairs Ministry of Education

ISSUE 7

5

NEWS

6

ISSUE 7

NEWS

USING DATE SEEDS TO TURN WASTE INTO WEALTH AND ENERGY

Prof. Fawzi Banat

Professor & Chair of the Chemical Engineering Department

Khalifa University

Researchers from Khalifa University’s Center of Membranes & Advance Water Technology (CMAT) and Catalysis and Separations (CeCaS) have developed a sustainable electrochemical process to recover metal ions in wastewater, turning them into valuable end products using date seeds.

ISSUE 7

7

Dr. Bharath Govindan, Research Scientist, Abdul Hai, Research Associate, Dr. Rambabu Krishnamoorthy, Research Scientist, Prof.

Fawzi Banat, Chair of the Chemical Engineering Department, and Dr. Mohammad Abu Haija, Associate Professor, published their work in a special issue of Resources, Conservation and Recycling.

Professor Fawzi Banat, Chair of the Chemical Engineering Department, told Innovation@UAE Magazine - that using activated carbon derived from date seeds, a common waste product of the date fruit industry in the UAE, and a nitrogencontaining compound called polyaniline - the team was able to develop an electrode that could be used to sustainably cover and reuse metal ions from mining industry wastewater.

Date seed-derived activated carbon is a biodegradable and environmentally friendly material, making it a suitable choice for sustainable applications.

According to Banat, the idea came when the team found an opportunity to dispose of date seeds in an environmentally friendly way while adding value. The team found that date seeds contain bioactive compounds that can bind with metal ions. He explains, “This prompted us to conduct further studies and experiments, which showed that date seeds can effectively extract and recover metal ions from various industrial effluents and wastewater. As a result, date seeds offer an ideal solution for metal ion removal in the UAE. By using date seeds, we can address the issue of waste disposal while also providing a sustainable and costeffective solution for metal ion recovery.”

8

ISSUE 7

NEWS

The metal ions can then be used to yield and store energy.

When asked how much energy could be yielded from these metal ions, Banat stated, “ The energy yield from the recovered metal ions hinges on several variables, encompassing the nature and volume of metal ions, the effectiveness of the CO2 capture and conversion process, and the specific method of energy recovery. Accurate quantification of energy output requires a comprehensive analysis that considers system-specific characteristics. These factors include metal ion concentrations in mine wastewater, electrochemical efficiency, and scale of operation.”

The retrieved metal ions could also be used for metal production, which could support metallurgy industry, manufacturing: metal ions can be used as raw materials in manufacturing processes, such as the production of electronics, automotive components, or construction materials, certain metal ions serve as catalysts in chemical processes, including those used in the pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries.

In addition, the retrieved metal ions could be used for energy storage like lithium-ion batteries, and water treatment: making them suitable for water purification industries, as well as ISSUE 7

9

in renewable energy where some metals are crucial for the production of renewable energy technologies like solar panels and wind turbines, electronic manufacturing sector ad construction.

The initial study should be followed by a comprehensive feasibility study that includes economic and technical evaluations needed to assess likely success. Ongoing research efforts are actively working to advance this technology. Should it prove to be cost-effective, environmentally sound and marketable, there is significant potential to establish it as a commercially viable solution.

A thorough economic and market analysis is essential to assess the potential for developing these industries.

The process can help the UAE and other countries with their sustainability goals. Banat explains, “By repurposing waste materials like date seeds into valuable resources, UAE can effectively reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills, and implementing processes like metal ion recovery promotes a circular economy, contributing to sustainable consumption and production.”

In addition, carbon capture and utilization in the form of converting CO2 into fuels can help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation goals.

These initiatives not only contribute to sustainability but also yield economic benefits by effectively converting waste into wealth.

10

ISSUE 7

NEWS

RESEARCHERS AT KHALIFA UNIVERSITY ARE ON THE WAY TO DISCOVERING THE BEST PHOTOCATALYST FOR GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION Prof. Lourdes Vega

Director of the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and H2 and Professor of Chemical Engineering

Khalifa University

ISSUE 7

11

Consumption of fossil fuels for energy purposes increases the amount of greenhouse gasses emitted, having a negative impact on sustainability. As such governments are looking towards green hydrogen which is considered an ideal and sustainable energy carrier able to deliver or store a tremendous amount of energy.

This green hydrogen can be produced, among other methods, from water and/or hydrogen sulfide photocatalysis utilizing solar energy without any greenhouse gas emissions.

Producing green hydrogen efficiently The challenge is that while hydrogen is abundant on Earth, it is bound in water, hydrocarbons, and other organic matter, making the efficient extraction of that hydrogen difficult.

That is why the research carried out by Khalifa University’s 12

ISSUE 7

NEWS Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH Center) developed a novel approach for efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen production.

The research entitled, “Identifying the Best Photocatalysts for Green Hydrogen Production Using Computational Screening” with Prof. Lourdes Vega, Director of RICH, Dr. Mutasem Sinnokrot, Dr. Daniel Bahamon, and Ph.D. student Yuting Li published in npj Computational Materials (a Nature journal) identified four promising novel co-catalysts with very good performance to be further explored in experimental studies.

In summary, the RICH team focused on green hydrogen production, using renewable energy sources to split water or hydrogen sulfide, which is abundant in the UAE from natural gas processing. The splitting process used solar energy and semiconductors for photocatalysis and operated at room temperature and ambient pressure, simplifying the equipment needs.

As per Prof Lourdes Vega, low carbon hydrogen production and utilization has been identified by experts and intergovernmental agencies such as the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) as one of the key technologies to achieve net zero emissions, because of its potential contributions to clean energy and sustainable fuels.

She adds that “Hydrogen is not new, most of this hydrogen is produced today by methane (the main component of natural gas) and water vapor, in what it is known as the Steam Methane Reforming (SMR) process, generating grey hydrogen. This process is very efficient and it produces high-purity hydrogen, however the problem is that the production of hydrogen from ISSUE 7

13

this procedure generates a huge amount of CO2, emitted to the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.”

Some have tried to solve this by producing the same SMR but adding a CO2 capture unit to avoid emissions into the atmosphere, creating blue hydrogen, a low carbon hydrogen, or by water splitting to obtain green hydrogen. Yet the process is very energy demanding, and hence, not as industrially advanced as SMR.

Hydrogen as an energy vector for renewable energy However, Prof. Lourdes explains, “While Hydrogen might not be a source of energy, it is an energy vector that can be produced, stored, and utilized as a clean fuel or for other applications. Green hydrogen can be stored and used to 14

ISSUE 7

NEWS produce power when needed by using a fuel cell allowing the best use of intermittent renewable energy sources.”

The good news is that we are on the correct path towards achieving efficient photocatalytic water and H2S splitting.

Hydrogen can be used to decarbonize the industrial sector which emits large amounts of CO2. It can also be used as fuel for heavy transportation such as trucks, trains, ships, and airplanes. It can also be used to decarbonize the cement and steel sectors. In all these cases, the use of hydrogen allows replacing fossil fuels avoiding the emissions of CO2, hence decarbonizing these sectors.

Semiconductors utilized in H2O and H2S photocatalysis have attained considerable scientific attention for their potential to use solar energy for the hydrogen evolution reaction. As a result, cadmium sulfide (CdS) has been extensively studied as a visible light-active semiconductor by virtue of its low cost, proper band edges for visible light response, and proton reduction. However, the facile recombination of electron-hole pairs and the poor photo-stability of bare CdS make its wide application in various photocatalysis fields very challenging.

While photocatalyst is still less efficient than electrolysis and is still in the developmental stage, Prof. Lourdes states, “ The efficiency of photocatalyst depends on factors like the type of photocatalyst used, the wavelength and intensity of the light source, and the environmental conditions. Hence, improving ISSUE 7

15

efficiency remains a focus of research and development in this field before it can be implemented at a large scale.

Up to now, TiO2 is one of the most widely studied photocatalysts for hydrogen production. It is abundant, stable, and relatively inexpensive. However, it has limitations, such as a wide bandgap, which means it can only utilize ultraviolet (UV) light and relatively low quantum efficiency.

Procedure to screen potential photocatalysts The researchers at the Research and Innovation Center on CO2 and Hydrogen (RICH Center) at Khalifa University devised a procedure to screen and prioritize potential photocatalysts for water and H2S splitting by calculating some of the key properties in the wish list using computational chemistry and machine learning.

16

ISSUE 7

NEWS Using advanced computational techniques and machine learning tools, researchers were able to model hypothetical photocatalytic materials and predict their properties. As shown in the study, after the first screening, computational tools allow for predicting in detail the photocatalytic activity of materials based on their electronic structure and surface properties, understanding the charge transfer processes and reaction mechanisms happening in photocatalysts at the atomic and molecular level, all of them relevant to optimize the performance of these materials.

The results from the study show that most transition metals doped CdS photocatalysts improve the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance compared to the pristine CdS surface.

The results from the study show that most transition metals doped CdS photocatalysts improve the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) performance compared to the pristine CdS surface (without dopants) by providing additional pathways for the flow of electric charge carriers. From all studied materials researchers were able to rank the performance of the different dopants, with Pt, Rh, and Pd coming out on top.

Moreover, the analysis indicated that dual-dopant materials, such as Co-Pt, Pd-Pt, and Co-Rh, have potentially even better HER performance due to synergistic effects. Compared with the existing experimental work, the study predicted that a new type of catalyst (Co@CdS), not experimentally explored yet, ISSUE 7

17

showed promising excellent performance in water and H2S photocatalytic splitting.

Prof. Lourdes believes this is a very important step towards finding the most efficient photocatalysts for hydrogen generation, and researchers were able to fine-tune the best ones.

She explains that this is still far from commercialization, as they have first to be synthesized and tested at the RICH labs, stating: “The good news is that we are on the correct path towards achieving efficient photocatalytic water and H2S splitting.”

She emphasizes, “The process can be sped up with the right resources, investments are always needed. The hope is that the push for producing green hydrogen will accelerate this promising technology while putting in the needed resources.

Future of GCC countries and green hydrogen In conclusion, the UAE and GCC countries have a large amount of hydrogen sulfide available from natural gas processing, and given that from a thermodynamics point of view, and comparing Gibbs free energies, the direct decomposition of H2S requiring much less energy than the energy required for water splitting, hydrogen sulfide decomposition, is a more favorable route for hydrogen generation. Therefore, converting H2S into hydrogen and sulfur in an efficient manner will not only help to solve the issue of handling this toxic compound but also generate hydrogen in a less energy-demanding manner.

18

ISSUE 7

NEWS

CAN WE SAVE ARTIFICIAL ISLANDS FROM THE RISING SEA LEVELS? THE ANSWER IS YES!

Prof Kosmas Pavlopoulos

Professor of Geology-Geomorphology Geography and Planning

Sorbonne

Since 1958, carbon dioxide emissions have increased by 25 percent, and sea levels have risen at a drastic rate from 1.7 mm/ year to 3.2 mm/year, this has prompted a research proposal that studies how a special type of construction technique can save UAE’s and other global artificial islands from drowning.

ISSUE 7

19

The research is entitled, “Climate Change Impact on the UAE Artificial Islands. Monitoring the coastal risk in UAE” was a project supported by Ph.D. student Walid Mekni, Ph.D. student from SUAD, registered in Sorbonne University doctoral school, supervised by Professor Kosmas Pavlopoulos.

The research proposal looks to study the challenge of infrastructure sustainability against climate change, given that ocean acidification and sea level rise are on different fronts of impact mitigation (economic, environmental, social, political, geological, etc.).

Land drowning is a real threat and should be considered before designing artificial islands.

There are two major risks facing both coastal areas and islands, even artificial ones. The first risk is flooding undersea levels due to climate change, which has been addressed in other research, however, the risk of land drowning, due to geological/geotechnical phenomena such as seismic-induced liquefaction, has not been addressed.

According to Prof Kosmas Pavlopoulos, “Land drowning is a real threat and should be considered before designing artificial islands. The risk is especially high from acidification of the seas and oceans due to the ever-increasing emission of carbon dioxide, degrading the strength and cohesion of the carbonate sediment’s structure that form the foundation of the artificial islands core.”

20

ISSUE 7

NEWS He believes the real threat to artificial islands is not so much from the rising sea level around the island but from the drowning of the island because of the geological effects on the core of the island’s body.

As such Pavlopoulos and PhD student Walid Mekni are studying soil body failure and geological-induced drowning focusing on the failure mechanisms that harm the soil body due to the higher sea levels and other climate change mechanisms.

The research aims to deepen the understanding of the coastal geomorphology, the geotechnical and the geochemical processes that have a negative effect on the artificial carbonate sediments that form the background of the ISSUE 7

21

foundation. The research sets to propose solutions that will improve the response of the artificial islands in sea level rise and reinforce/improve the geotechnical characteristics of the foundation background.

So how does this relate to sustainability and climate change?

Pavlopoulos explains, “The research’s purpose is to assess the sustainability of the artificial island’s bodies against the climate change features. This internal stability of the soil formation of the islands is a main sustainability challenge for the economic and social life.”

He adds, “The use of artificial islands in UAE is for different purposes; as examples, Khalifa Port (KIZAD) and Jebel Ali Ports have been built both on artificial islands, and both ports are main important facilities for the industrial economy in UAE. Das Island, Hail, and Ghasha are artificial islands used by ADNOC for oil exploration in the offshore oil fields, Jumeira Palm Island and “The World island are for touristic and residential/ entertainment purposes.” So, contributing to preserving these projects from survival threats is indeed a scientific contribution to preserving the economy and social life of the UAE. Moreover, by making the artificial islands sustainable and resilient, such as saving resources both water and energy, we are contributing to sustainable development and security.

One of the most interesting features of the research is that it will study real use cases of recently developed artificial islands built using different construction technologies. The 360-degree assessment will benefit all the available recent technology tools, such as Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) on the Dubai coast, as well as finite-element numerical modeling, as well as manual testing in the laboratory, as well 22

ISSUE 7

NEWS as literature review of previous case studies in Japan's artificial islands.

Based on the results of these different research fronts, recommendations will be provided for the preventions to be considered prior to the development of the artificial islands.

The prevention covers the concept stage of the artificial island, the engineering, and as well the construction stage, moving into the maintenance stage during the lifetime.

One of the most interesting features of the research is that it will study real use cases of recently developed artificial islands built using different construction technologies.

In addition, the results of the current research are basic for the consideration of investment efficiency in the classic artificial islands technologies (Sand Bodies).

Pavlopoulos comments, “Governments, such as Maldives, which are investing in classic artificial islands technology as a solution to the loss of territory due to sea level rise, may reconsider the adopted solutions, opting for a new generation of artificial islands such as the floating islands for instance. The commercial impact is also evident since adopting new construction techniques and planning will significantly affect the budgets of the artificial islands construction, making them resilient to sea level rise, ocean acidification, and climate change.

The research will be available when the Ph.D. thesis results are published in an international peer review journal.

ISSUE 7

23

UAE SORBONNE UNIVERSITY STUDYING A NEW PHOTOVOLTAIC MATERIAL FOR PV CELLS FOR ENHANCED ENERGY HARVESTING

Dr Joumana El Rifai

Assistant Professor of Sciences and Engineering Department

Sorbonne

24

ISSUE 7

NEWS One of the main concerns of both environmentalists, as well as energy sector experts, is to find solutions that can create a reliable, environmentally safe, and waste-free energy source.

Photovoltaic applications and materials have been the most investigated, yet the amount of solar thermal waste at the surface of PV panels, and the waste heat generated has been a concern. This wasted heat has not been put to use in most PV installations, and this leads to reduced power output and performance stability.

Dr. Joumana El Rifai, Assistant Professor of Physics, at Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi (SUAD), is researching the utility of thermoelectric materials in the fabrication of PV cells, to help make use of the large amount of waste heat.

This study aims to look into the fabrication and characterization of novel materials that are expected to increase light absorption and at the same time make use of energy in the form of thermal waste. The main goal would be to incorporate such materials in PV cell applications.

Energy harvesting provides a sustainable source generated from the smart device’s immediate surroundings.

The study is being carried out in collaboration with GREMAN a research laboratory of the University of Tours, focusing on materials, devices, and systems for the conversion and management of electrical energy with a main objective of improving energy efficiency.

ISSUE 7

25

El Rifai states, “Energy harvesting provides a sustainable source generated from the smart device’s immediate surroundings.

Current research in the field of energy harvesting examines a number of techniques that can be utilized to generate a selfsustaining energy source. Research groups worldwide have focused on four main types of energy harvesting. These include solar, thermal, piezoelectric, and radio waves. Our research mainly focuses on fabricating and testing materials capable of both solar and thermal energy harvesting processes.“

She explains further, “So rather than looking at the full photovoltaic structure, we focus on selecting materials suitable for both applications that may be used in photovoltaic or other similar devices. To elaborate further, we fabricate nanostructured Si and Si-based layers that are both capable of 26

ISSUE 7

NEWS

reducing the reflectivity (increasing absorption) on the surface of PV panels. These nanostructured layers offer a benefit as they are also capable of thermal energy harvesting, which can help further regional sustainability goals.”

More interesting is that the fabrication cost can be kept to a minimum since Silicon-based materials are commonly used and would therefore not require additional fabrication devices. This study is different in that it would post-process layers to create nanostructured layers using a laser ablation process.

The UAE could actually fabricate this material as the process is very similar to the standard microfabrication process. Thus, according to El Rifai as long as UAE is capable of producing Si Wafers, the remaining post-processing step only requires standard fabrication techniques.

The project is currently in the stage of journal submission.

ISSUE 7

27

AUS RESEARCH EXTENDS BATTERY-POWERED VEHICLES LIFETIME AND DRIVING DISTANCE

Dr. Habib Ur Rehman

Professor of College of Engineering Department of Electrical Engineering

American University of Sharjah

28

ISSUE 7

NEWS Fossil fuel consumption which creates environmental pollution is largely attributed to the transportation industry. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change ascribes nearly 14% of greenhouse gas emissions as a direct result of fossil fuel consumption by the transportation industry.

Battery-powered electric vehicles (BEV) have been an attractive alternative with their lower operational and maintenance costs while having no air pollution. However, one of the shortcomings of battery powered BEVs is that these batteries cannot run for very long distances, having a limited drive range because of low energy density compared to traditional Internal Combustion engines. For example, lithium-ion batteries have 200-300 WH/L while gasoline-fueled cars have 8800 Wh/L.

ISSUE 7

29

For this reason, UAE’s American University of Sharjah, Professor and Researcher Habibur Rehman and Dr. Shayok Mukhopadhyay along with graduate students have presented a project that can extend the drive range and lifetime of the battery.

The project presents two battery energy management (BEM) strategies that decrease battery energy consumption and state of charge (SOC) decline, thus lowering battery state of health (SOH) degradation.

The runtime represents the time required to go from 100% state of charge (SOC) to 20% SOC. In addition, they have developed a model-in-loop strategy employed to estimate the battery bank runtime and lifetime.

So, what is being looked into exactly? The runtime represents the time required to go from 100% state of charge (SOC) to 20% SOC. The battery lifetime is directly related to its state of health (SOH). Therefore, it is important to keep track of the battery's SOH because it indicates the maximum releasable battery capacity.

For EV applications, a battery reaches its end-of-life (EOL) when its SOH drops by 20% or becomes less than 80% SOC. A longer runtime will allow vehicles to travel longer distances before requiring recharging, and a longer lifetime will allow the batteries to operate for a longer time before requiring replacement.

By allowing battery management systems to accommodate 30

ISSUE 7

NEWS the effects of temperature and battery health degradation, the usable life of an EV’s battery can be accurately estimated and extended. The work can also be used to predict whether the batteries are overheating, which could help make newer generation EV batteries last longer and reduce the risk of fire.

In addition, the work can also be applied to other robotic systems and has been shown to need much less experimental data compared to other available methods. Prof. Rehman commented that this work could also be used in lithium-ion batteries being used for solar panels.

The work introduces a new way of tuning the MPC input weight using battery information using fuzzy-tuned model predictive controller (FMPC) The research, which was funded by AUS Faculty Research Grants and AUS Undergraduate Research Grants, presents two battery energy management (BEM) techniques for an electric vehicle (EV) traction system which incorporates an indirect fieldoriented (IFO) induction motor (IM) drive system.

In contrast to most of the existing work, the proposed BEM techniques operate without any prior knowledge of driving or road information.

The BEM technique incorporates two cascaded fuzzy logic controllers (CSFLC). In CSFLC, the fuzzy logic controller (FLC) generates the reference current signal for regulating the motor speed, while the second FLC generates a variable gain that limits the current signal variation based on the battery SOC. ISSUE 7

31

The second BEM technique is based on model predictive control (MPC) which generates the current signal for the speed regulation.

The work introduces a new way of tuning the MPC input weight using battery information using fuzzy-tuned model predictive controller (FMPC), where an FLC adjusts the input weight in the MPC objective function such that the battery SOC is considered while generating the command current signal.

Furthermore, this work utilizes a model-in-loop strategy comprising a Chen and Mora (CM) battery model and the experimentally obtained battery bank power consumption to estimate the increase in battery bank runtime and lifetime.

32

ISSUE 7

NEWS The experimental results validated that the proposed CSFLC and FMPC BEM techniques exhibit a lower reduction in the battery SOC and SOH degradation, thus prolonging the battery bank runtime and lifetime as compared to the conventional FLC and MPC speed regulators.

So exactly how much longer can a battery life increase?

Rehman explains, “We developed control techniques for extending the battery drive range without much compromise on the motor drive performance which propels the vehicle.

Also, our energy management techniques will operate the battery in a safe temperature mode and thus will not affect the battery's state of health badly. The battery drive range and life are expected to increase by about 5 to 10% using our energy management and control techniques.”

He states, “We have been working on the Li-ion high energy density batteries. These batteries are much smaller in size, and weight as compared to Lead Acid batteries which have been most commonly used in solar systems. However, Li-ion batteries, though expensive, are also being deployed in solar systems. In addition, the Li-ion batteries that are used in EVs can be reused in solar systems when their energy storage capacity goes below 80% at which time; they are no longer feasible for the EV application.”

In conclusion, the research assists in sustainability efforts in two ways according to Rehman, first, it consumes less battery energy for driving the same distance and thus less electric power for charging the battery and secondly, the battery life is extended which will reduce the number of discarded batteries that need to be recycled.

ISSUE 7

33

UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY ALLOCATES CLOSE TO $1 MILLION TO 104 STUDENTS' RESEARCH PROJECTS ON SUSTAINABILITY Within the activities of the year of sustainability and the sustainable development goals research program of United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), 104 students’ research projects were launched. This is in line with the UAE’s declaration of 2023 as the Year of Sustainability.

The Office of the Associate Provost for Research at United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) established the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Research Program to raise awareness about the United Nations SDGs among university students and the community. The program aims to find comprehensive and sustainable solutions to the world's problems and challenges related to sustainability.

Prof. Ahmed Ali Murad, Associate Provost for Research at UAEU presented the program to Innovation@UAE Magazine.

He explained that in the second cycle of the program, the university funded 104 research projects at a total budget of

34

ISSUE 7

NEWS

Prof. Ahmed Ali Murad Associate Provost for Research

United Arab Emirates University

ISSUE 7

35

3.62 million AED and the participation of 468 students from various colleges.

Prof. Murad stated, “The program is intended to support the national efforts towards COP28 and beyond as well as to raise awareness on the importance of the United Nations SDGs among the university community and the youth. The SDG research program offers students a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on global issues, develop essential skills, and prepare them for future careers that align with their values and aspirations. It is a platform for students to become active contributors to a more sustainable and equitable world.”

The SDG research program offers students a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on global issues.

The second cycle focused on four SDGs including, quality education, clean water and sanitation, decent work economic growth, and life on land. Of the 104 research projects, those having exceptional outcomes will be chosen for further funding and continued research. Of the funded projects, 32 addressed the fifteenth goal of the SDGs linked to ‹life on land›, 25 focused on the fourth goal related to ‹quality education› and 28 research projects tackled the sixth goal of “clean water and sanitation”. In addition, 11 projects were devoted to the eighth goal of “decent work and economic growth” and 8 projects, addressing common goals, were also funded.

36

ISSUE 7

NEWS Examples of funded projects include those pertaining to treatment of food waste using two bacterial-algal immobilized bioreactors with recycling by adjusting dissolved oxygen levels, self-sustainable harvesting freshwater system from UAE's humid climate, and advancing clean water production from solar-driven thermal-desalination using novel solar receivers.

As for the future, the UAEU's roadmap towards COP28 and beyond will be focusing on the 13th SDG goal, climate action.

Prof. Murad explained, “This program also involves collaboration with other academic institutions and industries.

We are ready to provide additional funding that might be needed to advance these outcomes. In addition, some of the projects have been selected for international research collaboration, exhibitions, and conferences.”

As for the future, the UAEU's roadmap towards COP28 and beyond will be focusing on the 13th SDG goal, climate action.

As per Prof. Ahmed, the UAE University will expand its SDG program to include collaboration with universities in Egypt, across Africa, and India.

The students of UAEU will continue to apply the gained knowledge and values in their personal and professional lives.

They will effectively contribute to the culture of sustainability and climate awareness in society. Several students have already joined environmental organizations and participated in climate activism. Some of them became leaders of sustainable initiatives on campus.

ISSUE 7

37

WHY GO FOR MANMADE CARBON CAPTURE TOOLS WHEN WE HAVE MANGROVES Dr. Maisa Elgamal

Associate Professor in the Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, College of Natural and Health Sciences

Zayed University

38

ISSUE 7

NEWS While the globe searches for man-made innovative solutions to halt the rise of global CO2 levels, the research team at Zayed University, UAE investigates how Mangrove forests can be a natural solution due to their exceptional carbon storage capability.

Dr. Maisa El Gamal, Dr. Imen Ben Salem, Dr. Ayisha Siddiqua, and, Prof. Yousef Nazzal at the College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, are working on a project titled “Assessment of the Potential of Mangrove Forests for Carbon Capture and Sequestration and enhancing its effectiveness in Climate Change Mitigation.”

The purpose of the research is to assess the role of Mangroves in CO2 capture and sequestration and to enhance their effectiveness. The main outcomes are very promising showcasing the extraordinary capabilities of dryland Mangrove forests in CO2 capture and sequestration.

The UAE is planning to plant a staggering 100 million Mangrove trees by 2030 to bolster the country’s commitment to environmental stewardship.

Why Mangroves Dr. El Gamal explains why Mangroves are unique among trees.

She explains, “Mangroves nearly store 1,000 tons of carbon per hectare in the biomass and soils, this is an ecological treasure known as blue carbon. Yet Mangrove trees are being threatened because of coastal development, fish farms, pollution, and tidal alterations.” Between 2000 and 2015, there has been substantial ISSUE 7

39

deforestation of Mangroves which has liberated 122 million tons of carbon into the atmosphere.

The United Arab Emirates coastal line is adorned with Mangroves both natural and planted. Abu Dhabi has 110 square kilometers of Mangrove forest. The UAE is planning to plant a staggering 100 million Mangrove trees by 2030 to bolster the country’s commitment to environmental stewardship. The Mangrove tree species Avicennia marina, commonly known as grey Mangrove, grown majorly in the UAE, has demonstrated remarkable resilience to high salinity and soaring temperatures.

Dr. El Gamal emphasizes that understanding the CO2 sequestration potential of Mangrove forests is paramount as climate change would result in soaring temperatures and coastal inundation leading to a highly saline coastal environment.

Studies of Mangrove forests would equip the UAE and the world

40

ISSUE 7

NEWS with crucial insights to refine and enhance Mangrove Forest conservation strategies.

Remarkable carbon capture machines The research also studies the efficiency of various management options for increasing Mangrove forests’ CO2 sequestration capacity and its economic and social ramifications.

Currently, extensive biomass assessments are being carried out to determine carbon reserves in the above-ground and belowground components of Mangroves with predictive models being developed. Preliminary CO2 sequestration studies of soil and aerial roots were carried out in the Mangroves from the Jubail Mangrove Park, Abu Dhabi, UAE. The results show that the soil sample at zero distance from the tree sequesters 10% more CO2 than the soil sample 10 meters away from the tree. The aerial roots showed 53% CO2 sequestration. These results show the immense capabilities of Mangrove forests.

Dr. Imen Ben Salem adds, “Mangroves rooted in water are remarkable carbon capture machines. A single Mangrove tree can snag as much as 25 kilograms of CO2 emissions annually, surpassing the carbon uptake of many other tree varieties, which typically lock in around 20 kilograms of CO2 per year when we compare trees with an average age of 25 years.”

Even when comparing soil carbon content across various forest types, Mangrove sediments shine, containing an impressive 36.1 kg m−2 of blue carbon within the top 1 meter of sediment.

ISSUE 7

41

This figure far surpasses the estimated soil carbon pools of different ecosystems like closed savannas, croplands, deciduous broadleaf forests, and more.

Interestingly Mangroves also demonstrate a distinctive ability to adapt to climate fluctuations. They compensate for rising sea levels by accreting their root remains, resulting in substantial carbon accumulation in their sediments—ranging from 900 to 3,000 Mg C/ha. This revelation underscores the unparalleled efficacy of Mangrove trees in water when sequestering and storing carbon.

Mangroves and Sustainability The research finds that the Mangrove forests are a natural remedy to combat climate change. Dr. Ayisha Siddiqua asserts that they not only excel in sequestering carbon but are resilient in the process.

As such in line with the UAE’s commitment to sustainability and its plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, Prof. Yousef Nazzal believes that this research will play a pivotal role in shaping conservation and restoration strategies for Mangrove forests in the UAE, thus mitigating climate change.

The future of Mangrove research Dr. El Gamal and Dr. Ayisha Siddiqua suggest that metagenomic studies are crucial in unraveling the CO2 fixation pathways, providing invaluable insights into the intricate interactions within Mangrove ecosystems. Such research has the potential to revolutionize Mangrove restoration and preservation strategies through a microorganism-centric approach.

42

ISSUE 7

NEWS Dr. Ben Salem concludes that by harnessing vegetation indices, tracking phenological shifts, and conducting health assessments, we can unravel the growth patterns and transformative journey of these vital Mangrove forests. Through this innovative approach, we aim to shed light on the intricate dynamics that dictate the evolution of these ecosystems over time.

Did you know?

The vision for the UAE was inspired by its Founding Father, the late Sheikh Zayed, known as the First Environmentalist and pioneered most of the environmental conservation efforts.

In the 1970s, massive mangrove plantation programmes were put in place by the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan.

Abu Dhabi has the older mangrove restoration and afforestation initiatives worldwide. Some mangroves in Abu Dhabi are nearly 100 years old.

In 2015, mangroves occupied an estimated 14,117 hectares in scattered locations throughout Abu Dhabi.

The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi works to rehabilitate and protect mangrove forests and in the last decade has been actively involved in leading the Mangrove Rehabilitation Programme, planting 3.1 million mangrove saplings on the coasts of Al Gharbia, Saadiyat, Jubail and Habitat Island.

During COP26 in Glasgow, the UAE Minister of Climate Change and Environment announced a nationwide plan to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030.

ISSUE 7

43

BRITISH UNIVERSITY RESEARCH REVEALS HOW ONBILL FINANCING PROGRAM SUPPORTS ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN DUBAI

Prof. Bassam Abu-Hijleh Dean of Engineering & IT

British University in Dubai

44

ISSUE 7

NEWS As more governments globally adopt energy efficiency as a mitigation measure, researchers at the British University in Dubai UAE, Engr. Hasan Zulfiquar Kamal (Ph.D. student) and Prof. Bassam Abu-Hijleh (Dean) at the Department of the Sustainable Built Environment conducted a feasibility analysis of the OnBill Financing Program (OBF).

The OBF scheme is used in several countries around the world. OBF has been specifically designed to promote the implementation of energy efficiency in buildings by balancing the risk-reward aspects between the building owners and tenants.

Speaking to Innovation@UAE magazine, Prof. Abu-Hijleh explains, “Sustainability is a holistic concept. All relevant stakeholders must work together in order to achieve it. This means that both businesses and individuals need to be included in all strategies and activities related to sustainability, including energy efficiency & savings.”

Through this innovative approach, we aim to shed light on the intricate dynamics that dictate the evolution of these ecosystems over time.

As per the paper, the researchers examined the factors that could influence the implementation of an OnBill Financing OBF program in Dubai. The study included interviews with a range of institutional stakeholders involved in OBF program implementation.

According to Prof. Abu Hijleh, the OBF model was developed ISSUE 7

45

specifically to deal with the issue of the high upfront cost of renewable energy. He explains, “It has proven its success in other countries. Yet it needs proper regulations to encourage customers to engage in such a program. It is hard to predict the percentage of customers who will be interested in this as it will depend heavily on the structure and financing options offered to the customers.” The research looked into the challenges when implementing an OBF program locally. As per the findings, an OBF program could be implemented, but it would have to be a tailored OBF program that addresses the local context in terms of the project costs, repayment model(s), and potential hurdles.

The study included interviews with a range of institutional stakeholders involved in OBF program implementation.

Utility providers implement Demand Side Management (DSM) which focuses on regulating the energy efficiency “after” the utility meter. This entails the modification of customer behavior and/or the utilization of efficient technologies. Historically, DSM initiatives were designed to delay the need for new power plants. Yet efficient technology adoption has been slow with the biggest challenge being the high upfront cost of energy-efficient technology projects.

This is where OBF comes in. It allows utility customers to buy energy-efficient equipment and improve their building envelope without upfront fees. The utility provider, or a thirdparty investor, pays for the initial costs of the improvements, 46

ISSUE 7

NEWS and the customer reimburses them through the utility bills.

The new utility bills will include a repayment clause to recover the investment made by the utility provider. Even with this repayment clause, the total amount of the new bill will still be lower than what it would have been if the energy-efficient equipment had not been installed. Over the last decade, numerous OBF programs were implemented in the US and Europe as part of their national strategies for promoting the adoption of energy-efficient equipment and technologies.

The researchers also conducted a qualitative analysis which comes under the interpretivism paradigm.

Interpretivism is a research paradigm that emphasizes the human interpretation of reality's actions and interactions.

The paper utilized forcefield analysis, Kurt Lewin introduced the forcefield analysis in the 1959s. It is an analysis tool that helps visualize and quantify (by strength) the driving and impeding forces, for a proposed change to understand the inducing and impeding force, which might affect the proposed OBF program after interviews were carried out. The researchers also conducted a qualitative analysis which comes under the interpretivism paradigm. Interpretivism is a research paradigm that emphasizes the human interpretation of reality's actions and interactions.

The results assessed that the OBF program should be run by ISSUE 7

47

third parties to keep the liabilities of the utility firm low. Yet the research also found that an OBF program in and of itself would not be enough to motivate building owners. The impact of implementing policy measures towards energy efficiency adoption was clear. Even in geographies having policies focusing on appliances, buildings, and automobiles, this may not be sufficient to drive efficiency adoption due to various technical, social, and economic factors. The need for exploring enablers to support the uptake of efficient energy adoption is crucial in this sense and makes such studies important. While the study focused on Dubai, the findings could easily extend to other emirates and even the wider GCC with minor tweaks depending on the utility providers in these emirates or countries.

The need for exploring enablers to support the uptake of efficient energy adoption is crucial in this sense and makes such studies important.

The importance of the research is that it emphasizes how government policies and regulations are essential for achieving sustainability. Prof. Abu-Hijleh believes that the transition from the current business-as-usual model to an ecosystem that empresses and encourages sustainable activities requires a revision of existing regulations and the introduction of new regulations enabling the integration of new technologies and practices.

The study will be published soon. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0957178722001199

48

ISSUE 7

NEWS

NEW YORK ABU DHABI UNIVERSITY IS FULFILLING SDG GOALS OF IMPROVING HUMAN AND ANIMAL LIFE

Dr. Kenichiro Kamei

Associate Professor of Biology/Bionegineering

New York University

ISSUE 7

49

Two of the 17 sustainable development goals (SDG) that make up the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development are related to healthcare and wildlife conservation. These two goals are also among the top priorities for the UAE, and researchers at New York Abu Dhabi University are developing a technology that can enhance healthcare, and longevity, for both humans and animals.

SDG goal 3 for example aspires to ensure health and well-being for all, including a bold commitment to end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other communicable diseases by 2030. It also aims to achieve universal health coverage and provide access to safe and effective medicines and vaccines for all. Supporting research and development for vaccines is an essential part of this process as well as expanding access to affordable medicines.

In addition, SDG Goal 15 “Life on Land” includes a commitment to halt biodiversity loss that is also applicable to marine species; by taking urgent action to end poaching and trafficking of protected species of flora and fauna, and address both demand and supply of illegal wildlife products.

How does Organ on a chip support SDG goals This is where the research of Ken-Ichiro Kamei, Associate Professor, Programs of Biology and Bioengineering, New York University Abu Dhabi comes in. He has developed a chip named “Organ on a chip” to mimic the physiological and pathological conditions of living systems in vitro.

50

ISSUE 7

NEWS

To accomplish this goal, he is taking an interdisciplinary approach integrating stem cell biology, chemical biology, physics, micro/nanotechnology, and materials science.

He is now applying his research strategy for regenerative medicine and drug discovery for humans and endangered animals to achieve proper global healthcare. This is significant today given that drug discovery is now facing issues such as high development costs (over $10 billion US per drug) and long development times (more than 10 years), as well as serious side effects occurring during clinical trials or after introduction into the market.

ISSUE 7

51

The “organ on a chip” which could become the “body on a chip” using human cells, is promising for recapitulating human physiological conditions, it is highly desirable in investigations of the side effects of drugs to integrate more than one type of tissue using a designed circulatory system.

One of the examples where it has been used is with the development of a microfluidic device—an Integrated Heart/ Cancer on a Chip (iHCC), using human healthy heart cells (hCMs) and liver cancer cells (HepG2) to recapitulate the side effects of an anti-cancer drug, doxorubicin (DXR), to achieve individual cultures of cells from different tissues on a single device with three sets of artificial blood circulation loops, microfabrication technology for microvalves and a pump provides accurate fluid operation. Using improved soft lithography adopting numerical optimization simulation, the microfluidic device was fabricated with on-chip integration of pneumatic valves and a peristaltic micropump establishing precision fluid flow.

The “organ on a chip” which could become the “body on a chip” using human cells, is promising for recapitulating human physiological conditions.

The iHCC developed allows modeling of the side effects of DXR on heart cells caused by the production of toxic metabolites (doxorubicinol; DXRol) by HepG2 cells and the delivery of DXRol to heart cells via the circulation loop. The findings open the door towards the development of a “Body-on-a-Chip.

52

ISSUE 7

NEWS Kamei states, “Organs-on-a-chip is developed to make miniorgans, such as the brain and liver, in a chip and understand their communications via artificial blood circulation. It is useful to understand diseases and develop new drugs and treatments to improve our healthcare without the use of experimental animals.”

Bodies on a chip Kamei has come to the UAE and specifically New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) to accomplish the goal of developing “Bodies on a chip’.

As he explained, “I have studied stem cells, which can be almost any kind of our organs. In parallel, I also studied micro/ nanotechnology to make miniaturized objects and fluidic paths.

I always considered how these two studies could be combined to have a new breakthrough. Then, I came up with the idea of rebuilding mini-organs or mini-humans in a chip by combining these studies.

Organs-on-a-chip is developed to make mini-organs, such as the brain and liver, in a chip and understand their communications via artificial blood circulation.

He adds, “I started about 10 years ago. I had a chance to visit NYUAD a couple of years ago where I found UAE’s NYUAD has excellent biologists and bioengineers to work with, and ISSUE 7

53

realized that this was the great place to accomplish my goal to establish organs/bodies on a chip.”

“Bodies on a chip” serve as proxies for living beings, alleviating the need for lab animals, inspiring new cures for rare diseases and even offering a way to resuscitate dying species.

While traditional biochemical experiments carried out on lab plates are static and isolated, the chips Kamei uses contain an interconnected system of channels, valves, and pumps that allow for more complex interactions – to the point that they can mimic a living system. Recognizing the potential such

54

ISSUE 7

NEWS chips have for revolutionizing medical research, in 2016 the World Economic Forum named “organs-on-chips” in their top 10 emerging technologies of the year. but while those specialized chips mimic particular tissues or organs, Kamei and his colleagues aim to eventually mimic whole animals.

Kamei explains, “So one reason we developed this is so we wouldn’t have to use experimental animals for testing drugs, while the other reason is that we can develop stem cells from endangered animals and use them for organs on a chip.”

To operate the chips, he adds various types of cell tissue into six chambers connected to microchannels and then hooks the chip’s pneumatic micropumps up to a controller to create circulation. This gives him and others the ability to test the efficacy and side effects of new drugs, to design personalized medicine for individuals based on their cell cultures, and to better understand the underpinnings of disease.

In 2016 the World Economic Forum named “organs-on-chips” in their top 10 emerging technologies of the year.

This is also applicable to humans. In one experiment, for example, Kamei and his colleagues loaded a chip with healthy heart cells and cancerous liver cells. They then added doxorubicin, an anti-cancer drug known to cause toxic side effects on the heart but whose specific mechanism for toxicity was unknown. The researchers discovered that the drug did not directly cause heart damage; instead, the metabolized byproduct produced by the liver did.

ISSUE 7

55

Shinya Yamanaka, a stem cell researcher at Kyoto University won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his pioneering creation of Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cells.

We are working on developing the organs on a chip for understanding diseases and finding potential candidates for new therapy. iPS cells can proliferate many, many times outside of the body, whereas other types of stem cells cannot. iPS cells could also be used to synthesize lab-grown meat, for example, alleviating inhumane treatment of livestock and environmentally harmful side effects from farming, or to create endangered species products that satisfy market demand without killing wildlife.

The Future Kamei believes that this technology is making people's and animals' lives better and healthier and can be used for investigating environmental issues and biodiversity.

He adds, “We are working on developing the organs on a chip for understanding diseases and finding potential candidates for new therapy. Within 10 years, we aim to make endangered animals on a chip to investigate their disease and find new treatments.

This approach also helps us understand the difference between humans and other animals. I'm working on understanding such differences by using organs on a chip as well as genomic studies.”

56

ISSUE 7

NEWS

CREATING GOODS WITH REDUCED CARBON EMISSIONS IS AS IMPORTANT AS DECREASING ENERGY CONSUMPTION While most carbon emission reduction policies turn to decrease energy consumption, researchers Dr. Misbah Sadiq, Professor at the College of Business Administration, at UAE’s Umm Al Quwain University, and Dr. Umar Nawaz Kayani Professor at Al Ain University believe that this alone is not enough, governments and policymakers need to encourage businesses to create goods with reduced carbon emissions.

The paper entitled, “Examining the Relationship between Economic Growth, Financial Development, and Carbon Emissions: A Review of the Literature and Scientometric Analysis” while prior research has shown a negative correlation between financial development and green growth; green technology, green businesses, financial systems, and low carbon economic policies can play a positive effect on reducing carbon emissions.

The research using the bibliometric technique analyzed ISSUE 7

57

Dr. Misbah Sadiq

Assistant Professor, College of Business Administration

Umm Al Quwain University

the literature and found that most experts agree that a flourishing economy and expanding financial sector led to more pollution. When economies expand, their energy demands rise, as do their emissions of greenhouse gases.

Large-scale infrastructure projects or the rise of extractive industries are two examples of how financial development might make it easier to fund endeavors that could otherwise increase carbon emissions. Yet, there is not a simple connection between GDP growth, improved financial systems, and increased carbon emissions.

58

ISSUE 7

NEWS However, the research paper also concluded that businesses choose to increase output through financing rather than create energy-saving solutions. As such long-term policies should be developed to assist the financial sector and environmental conservation, striking a balance between the two goals in light of each country’s unique circumstances and the global climate change crisis.

Dr. Sadiq explains, “There is no simple connection between GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth, improved financial systems, and increased carbon emissions. The use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, for instance, may aid in cutting down on carbon emissions even as they contribute to economic development. Carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems are two examples of policy interventions that have been shown to encourage businesses to decrease carbon emissions while maintaining profitability. We also believe that governments should prioritize allocating resources for cultivating technical growth in the industrial sector through investment loans creating goods with reduced carbon emissions.”

He adds, “Additional options include granting subsidies for the implementation of “green” technology or encouraging the growth of energy output from renewable sources like hydro, solar, and wind. As a result, governments should prioritize policies that combine financial incentives with regulatory measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.”

Recommendations The paper recommends that governments including UAE, ISSUE 7

59

should prioritize policies that combine financial incentives with regulatory measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. As a preliminary step, developing the capabilities for trustworthy information collection and analysis is necessary so that national institutions can establish precise estimates of emissions and projections under different mitigation scenarios. Coordination between government agencies, think tanks, academic institutions, and businesses is the next step .”

The use of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power, for instance, may aid in cutting down on carbon emissions even as they contribute to economic development.

The research also found that while a large number of research has been conducted to investigate the connection between economic growth, financial development, and carbon emissions in certain nations, there is still a need for further comparative studies. This kind of analysis might be helpful in identifying parallels and variations in the techniques followed by various nations and areas to encourage sustainable economic development while simultaneously lowering carbon emissions.

More study on the efficacy of policy interventions in lowering carbon emissions while simultaneously fostering economic growth and financial development is required.

60

ISSUE 7

NEWS

How can the UAE benefit?

The UAE has already been taking pertinent steps towards addressing climate change and promoting sustainability.

Based on a study entitled “Foreign Direct Investment Settlement, Novel Energy Methods, and CO2 Emissions: Evidence from United Arab Emirates”, Dr Sadiq believes that clean energy should be a key initiative in the UAE. The findings of this research endorse the initiative of the UAE launched “Energy Strategy 2050.”

The UAE has recognized the importance of diversifying its economy and reducing its reliance on fossil fuels. They have made investments in renewable energy sources, particularly solar and nuclear power, which may aid in ISSUE 7

61

cutting carbon emissions and contributing to economic development.

Sadiq adds, “The UAE may apply carbon taxes and capand-trade systems which are two examples of policy interventions that have been shown to encourage businesses to decrease carbon emissions while maintaining profitability. In addition, the UAE may set some policies for the financial sector like banks and other financial organizations to lead the charge to save the planet. For those who can implement energy-efficient technology, for instance, they may be able to provide low-interest loans to contribute more towards sustainability.”

They have made investments in renewable energy sources, particularly solar and nuclear power, which may aid in cutting carbon emissions and contributing to economic development.

Future Research The biggest takeaway from the research is that while studies have shown that there is a complicated web of interconnections between GDP growth, financial development, and carbon emissions, some research indicates a positive relationship between economic growth and financial development and carbon emissions, other studies suggest a potential inverted U-shaped relationship 62

ISSUE 7

NEWS between economic growth and carbon emissions with emissions rising alongside economic expansion but leveling off after a certain threshold is crossed.

As such in the future Sadiq believes it is important to determine the effect that advances in technology have on lowering carbon emissions while simultaneously fostering economic expansion and monetary growth.

He also calls for more international collaboration between countries to strike a balance between economic development and environmental sustainability.

For those who can implement energy-efficient technology, for instance, they may be able to provide low-interest loans to contribute more towards sustainability.

Finally, when it comes to financial institutions in the UAE and other countries including banks and insurance firms, research might investigate the influence that green finance efforts, such as sustainable investment funds and green bonds, have on the rate of carbon emissions reduction and the promotion of sustainable economic development.

This could include studies that investigate the possibility of financial institutions using their power to encourage environmentally responsible behavior among the businesses in which they have invested.

ISSUE 7

63

PROFILE

64

ISSUE 7

PROFILE

UAE MAKING BETTER DECISIONS FOR A MORE SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT SECTOR In this issue of Innovation@UAE Magazine, we interviewed Dr. Hamad Al Jassmi, an Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering at United Arab Emirates University, as well as the Director of Emirate Center for Mobility Research.

In addition, he is a Research Fellow at the University of New South Wales in Sydney and holds the position of Vice-President of Al-Burj Engineering Consultants.

Dr. Hamad Al Jassmi

Assistant Dean for Research and Graduate Studies at the College of Engineering

United Arab Emirates University

ISSUE 7

65

Al Jassmi holds a Ph.D. in civil engineering from the School of Civil & Environmental Engineering at (UNSW) University of New South Wales in Australia. He is a well-published researcher with more than 50 research articles, as well as a US patent and several awards in research and innovation. Dr. Al Jassmi obtained his bachelor's degree with Honors and Master’s degrees from the United Kingdom at the University of Greenwich, and the University of Cardiff University respectively.

How environment shape his achievements Born into a family of Engineers, his father, a civil engineer, founded Al Burj Engineering Consultants in 1982 which has carried out projects worth 50 billion AED since its inception. Not only is his father an engineer but his 5 other siblings are all civil engineers.

Dr. Hamad Al Jassmi states, “My father is my mentor, he dedicated his life to his profession, and he believed a lot in education. I also thank God (Allah) that I live in a country which generously supports education. The UAE government invests in its citizens and offers opportunities for higher educational studies. We are blessed and we should take the opportunities being offered to us.”

Innovative achievements At just 38 years old he is already known for revolutionizing the 66

ISSUE 7

PROFILE delivery of infrastructure and transportation projects, which aligns with his belief that research is about challenging the convention. He is passionate not only about civil engineering but also about machine learning and data science and how both can deliver sustainable and efficient projects.

According to Dr. Al Jassmi, at the beginning of his research career, he was very much interested in digitizing infrastructure projects. As such, one of his first achievements was the design of a large-scale 3D printer which prints insulated compound material paste for building structures. This is how he received his U.S. patent.

This was in line with the UAE’s strategy to introduce 3D printing into the construction sector. The strategy entailed that a quarter of Dubai’s buildings will be 3D printed by 2030 as a part of the ‘Dubai 3D Printing Strategy’; led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Today, according to Al Jassmi, 3D printing complements the current construction sector in terms of building materials, methods, and codes and does not replace it.

Introducing artificial intelligence and advanced mathematical models for remotely controlling labor productivity at manufacturing and construction sites, managing crowds at Haj and Umra seasons, optimizing mobility trends for safe road use, and developing decision support systems for sustainable transportation projects are all examples of current research projects he is currently engaged in.

He served as a member of the Manufacturing Council that draws the strategic plan of the National Advanced Sciences ISSUE 7

67

Agenda 2031, a member of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces Innovation Award sponsored by H.H Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, a member of Mufakiru AlEmarat Science & Technology committee, a member of the national traffic safety committee of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, and many more high-profile committees.

As per Al Jassmi, the integration of his role as an academic and an industry professional has been essential in his success and innovations. He explains, “Engineering is a very applied domain, and as such it's essential to capitalize on state-ofthe-art theories and tools in light of what needs to be done on the ground. In short, I strive to get to know what science and innovation have best to offer the industry, as well as working on research topics that serve in advancing the transportation sector by keeping my hands dirty working on industry-related projects; this is a two-way process.”

He adds that by holding a professional position in the construction sector this has made him a better scholar because he is more in sync with the needs of the industry and as such doesnt feel out of context as a professor.

Sustainability through roads transport research One of the most relevant research papers carried out by Dr. Al Jassmi is his research on “A Microsimulation Modeling Approach to Quantify Environmental Footprint of Autonomous Buses” published in Sustainability Journal 2022.

According to Al Jassmi, the research is significant because 68

ISSUE 7

PROFILE it carried out a life cycle assessment of road projects with sustainability in mind. As he explained, “When we start road construction projects, we start with a feasibility assessment that usually focuses on cost-benefit analyses, but we believe that there are always difficulties in comprehending the complexities involved in such a decision-making process given that planners today more than ever need to account for multi-criteria including a series of social and environmental sustainability implications.

As such, we work on developing quantitative decision support systems that aid in assessing transportation project alternatives from a comprehensive life-cycle perspective, which blends micro-simulation models, mathematical optimization models, and carbon footprint estimations. We address the impact of transportation projects in their entire lifecycle, from day one of, say, road material extraction to 50 years of operation.”

This helps to better understand what the best alternatives for transportation are, whether adding three lanes all for private vehicles, or with one dedicated for autonomous rapid-bustransit service in the same right-of-way. He adds, “Our target is to develop methodologies that help decision makers decide what is the best alternative with the comprehensive life cycle assessment. This is more sustainable because it takes into account cost balanced and socio-environmental sustainability.”

Autonomous vehicles are a beneficial yet disruptive innovation propelling a potential paradigm shift in how we perceive mobility.

AV-based mass-transit systems provide the added benefit of improved lane occupancy as the rapid vehicle-to-vehicle information exchange allows the vehicles to operate closer to each other (e.g., 2m for regular-size passenger cars). Transport accounts for 24% of global CO2 emissions with 45% contributed by passenger transport while NO x and PM emissions are ISSUE 7

69

also high. Yet, techno-economic transformation is missing an environmental assessment. This study projects the lifecycle quantitative benefit of the smooth acceleration-deceleration profile of AVs with the added value of better V2V communication for mass-transit units operating under optimum lane capacity, thereby advocating its opportunity to deal with climate change.

In the research, Al Jassmi states, “Our method used a traffic microsimulation modeling tool Vissim with EnViVer emission modeler based on VERSIT+ tailpipe pollutant emissions database using more than 12,000 vehicle and fuel types.

High-resolution models were developed with the ability to predict acceleration-deceleration and vehicle fuel consumption behavior of individual vehicles (both AV buses & humanpiloted vehicles) within large urban traffic fleets. We modeled real-world vehicle volume, speed-time, and accelerationdeceleration profiles for a case study highway traffic fleet in Abu Dhabi under different traffic scenarios based on penetration rate, fuel-technology distribution, vehicle age and Euro-standard compliance level, public transport patronage, and frequencies.

These models simulated vehicular transport on a per-second resolution scale over 30 years from 2015 to 2045. Results projected a 56% reduction in energy consumption (173,000 TJ) (A terajoule) a unit of measurement for energy consumption, 55% in CO 2 emissions (5.2 mega-tons), 50% in NOX (Nitrogen Oxides) emissions (6 kilo-tons), and 25% in PM ( Particulate Matter)emissions (141 kilo-tons).”

According to Al Jassmi, decision-makers can make use of microsimulation-based methodology for environmental assessment of urban systems developed to address the performance of autonomous mass-mobility against conventional approaches given the complexity involved when 70

ISSUE 7

PROFILE planning for road construction projects and all the factors that go into the planning.

Al Jassmi believes that the benefits incurred include saving millions if not billions of Dirhams.

The research was supported by the Department of Transportation in Abu Dhabi, now known as Integrated Transport Center in Abu Dhabi, and Abu Dhabi Municipality. Yet the implementation of this model within the organization will require new business models.

The future As per Al Jassmi, he will continue to utilize data science and the advancements of machine learning and open-source tools to develop methods that will help the decision-making process and optimize transportation projects to improve safety, sustainability, and cost.

He will focus on emerging technologies that have been tested and proven to be feasible because future foresight is less about science fiction and more about being wise and understanding what is coming and what to focus on.

In conclusion, Al Jassmi believes that challenging the convention is what being a scholar and researcher is all about.

The great thing is that your job pays you to be innovative, so UAE nationals should utilize this.

He ends “Our government and families have supported us, go study and flourish.”

ISSUE 7

71

FEATURES

72

ISSUE 7

FEATURE

SMART NET-ZERO BUILDINGS ARE NOT ENOUGH SUSTAINABILITY INCLUDES SOCIETY Dr. Vian Ahmed

Professor of College of Engineering Department of Industrial Engineering

American University of Sharjah

Sustainability requires a synergy of actions taken on many fronts, across dimensions that include social, economic as well as environmental. Dr. Vian Ahmed, Professor and researcher, at the Department of Industrial Engineering, at the American University of Sharjah UAE, has along with ISSUE 7

73

her students developed decision-making tools that assist stakeholders in making smarter, more efficient sustainable projects and programs touching both the soft side of humanity and hard side of concrete.

Her research aligns with the UAE’s efforts to meet its Net Zero 2050 strategic initiative as well as the country’s preparations for hosting the upcoming COP28.

The Social aspect of Sustainability According to Dr. Ahmed, in the past, social sustainability was not clearly defined in literature. The United Nations Global Compact defined, “Social sustainability is about identifying and managing business impacts, both positive and negative, on people including employees and workers.”

Dr. Ahmed took this definition further and applied it to the mental health and well-being of employees by setting criteria for mental health well-being, and validating these criteria, because it is her belief that it has become important to be mindful of the long-term impact of what became known as ‘social sustainability’ on employee retention and productivity.

Her supervision of an AUS doctoral study focused on the construction industry not only because it is the backbone of economies but also because it has the highest documented suicide rates. The research developed a decision support tool based on 37 underpinning criteria that define employee mental health and well-being in the construction sector.

74

ISSUE 7

FEATURE

As she explained, the aim of our study was to underpin the criteria that define Employee’s Social Sustainability and develop a Decision Support Tool that assists decision makers with making strategic decisions that enhance employees’ mental health and well-being within the UAE construction sector. The Decision Support tool (DST) identifies training and development, work environment, Equity Factor, Contract type, organizational support, work-life balance, and work control as the optimal way of investing to ensure the social sustainability of its employees.”

The decision support tool would allow organizations to invest in equipping employees with what is needed to lift their mental health and well-being, a very important dimension in overall sustainability goals.

ISSUE 7

75

The decision support system entails a Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT), the most popular Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) technique. The MAUT, which is an extension of Multi-Attribute Value Theory (MAVT), is known as the most rigorous approach to include risk preferences and uncertainty in multi-criteria decision-support strategies.

The MAUT approach integrates expected utility theory to determine the best and optimum solution in a given scenario by allocating a utility to each possible attribute and measuring the best possible utility.

The utility function allows organizations to determine rational choice theory to analyze human behavior and preferences. Besides, the major benefit of adopting MAUT is that it considers the uncertainty, which is not accounted for in many MCDM methods.

The Smart Campus As noted, sustainability goes beyond just one dimension, and at many times smart technology is considered automatically as ensuring sustainability, but this is not always the case because smart technology needs to be accompanied by smart decision-making.

In the research paper “An Investigation into Stakeholders’ Perception of Smart Campus Criteria: The American University of Sharjah as a Case Study”, Dr. Vian Ahmed, Karam Abu Alnaaj, and Sara Saboor, looked into what constitutes a smart campus and developed a decision support tool to aid in deciding what smart applications should be implemented.

76

ISSUE 7

FEATURE In the study, a smart campus consists of integrating and combining applications based on the Internet of Things, cloud computing, and GIS technology to support the campus information acquisition, sharing, and services, in order to promote the intelligence process of teaching, scientific research, and services. Based on these definitions, it can be concluded that Smart Campus applications require a sophisticated infrastructure to operate on.

In addition, the report highlighted several smart campus applications, such as smart lighting, video surveillance with analysis, parking, transportation management, facility access control, interactive signage and kiosks, asset protection, and wayfinding.

Dr. Ahmed’s research found that stakeholders’ perceptions are certainly important to validate the smart applications since they are the targeted people who will deal directly with these features and changes in educational institutes.

The study concluded that to comply with and integrate the concept of a smart campus, it is important to initiate deeper technical research on each of the designated criteria inside the proposed framework; implement guidelines on each of the smart applications inside the Smart Campus framework; carry out cost–benefit analyses on each of the proposed Smart Campus criteria; and engage industry experts to help develop a full understanding of all challenges and limitations.

As such the research study developed decision support tools that aid with decisions regarding which smart application to invest in or not invest in, based on the budget, vision, and current preferences of campus stakeholders.

ISSUE 7

77

Dr. Ahmed noted, “The multi-criteria decision support tool helps stakeholders to assess which criteria is most important to the university using mathematical modeling giving each criteria certain weights, giving decision makers the information they need to help them know which is most viable economically and strategically.”

She adds, “This tool, while developed for smart campuses, could be utilized for other organizations depending on their processes and taking into consideration what would make it a smart organization based on its nature.”

78

ISSUE 7

FEATURE The economic dimension of Sustainability In addition,heading a team comprising AUS undergraduate and graduate students, Dr. Ahmed developed an accurate machine learning model that identifies patterns and relationships between socio-economic factors and solid waste generation, providing valuable insights for policymakers on effective waste management strategies.

The major benefit of adopting MAUT is that it considers the uncertainty, which is not accounted for in many MCDM methods.

“The findings suggested that economic growth alone, as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP), may not be the primary driver of waste generation. Instead, the countries Gross National Income (GNI), which considers account income generated domestically and abroad, and indicates a shift towards a more affluent lifestyle, potentially results in the generation of the more non-biodegradable waste and packaging materials. As such, policymakers and waste management authorities should consider GNI as a factor when designing waste management strategies and policies,” she said.

In a more positive light, it shows that after a certain period of time, nations will have gained sufficient capital and economic resources to begin investing in effective MSW management systems. Citizens will start to gain awareness on how crucial it is to adopt strong waste management practices.

ISSUE 7

79

However, in a more realistic sense, it shows that if countries aren’t careful, then they may reach the tipping point far too late, to the point where landfills reach full capacity and waste begins to be dumped into water bodies, roads, and much more.

The environmental dimension Dr. Ahmed also carried out a study on Net-zero buildings comparing them with traditional and sustainable buildings.

The study found that net zero buildings consumed 38 percent less energy than traditional buildings, resulting in significantly reduced CO2 emissions as well as lower energy costs.

The study was carried out with the cooperation of SEWA (Sharjah Electricity and Water Agency) as well as the UAS (American University of Sharjah) sustainability unit. By studying the electricity bills of three buildings, traditional, sustainable, and net zero buildings, the study revealed the vast differences in energy consumption.

As per Dr. Ahmed, “The net zero buildings consumed 38 percent less energy than traditional buildings. In addition, if traditional buildings are retrofitted, like introducing ventilation systems, and cavity walls in buildings allowing less energy to be wasted, these buildings can become sustainable as well.”

She adds that there are also net zero-plus buildings that are so self-sufficient in terms of energy that they actually have a surplus that can be given back to the grid.

80

ISSUE 7

FEATURE Currently, in the UAE there are three net zero-plus buildings under construction in Abu Dhabi at Masdar City, one of which will be completed by the end of the year. The buildings will run on solar power. Its solar panels will produce 9 percent more energy than it needs during the course of the year, and the excess will be fed back into the grid.

Retrofitting traditional buildings to make them sustainable has faced resistance from landlords because of the high costs of installing solar panels, insulated walls, and sustainable components. Dr. Ahmed explains, “If landlords were to retrofit buildings this would mean increased rent which tenants would find hard to accept, however while the initial cost may be high in the long term the return on investments is lucrative.”

However, the UAE is currently implementing locally-relevant green building regulations and rating schemes for new buildings have been adopted across UAE’s Emirates. A federal-level program has been implemented to retrofit government buildings. Abu Dhabi’s Building Retrofit program, similarly, targets retrofitting of government buildings and will be rolled out in due course to nongovernmental buildings. Dubai has set a target to retrofit 30,000 buildings in the Emirate by 2030. Ras Al Khaimah’s Retrofit Program aims to retrofit 3,000 buildings by 2040.

Dr. Ahmed noted that more financial, technical,social and policy work is required to transform traditional homes into sustainable ones.

ISSUE 7

81

Conclusion As a result of these various researches, Dr. Vian Ahmed presented that sustainability is not a standalone activity, it is more than just having smart buildings but includes the human element, their well-being. It also includes policies that foster net zero targets and an understanding of the economic impact on sustainability. As such sustainability is the sweet spot between many disciplines and sectors.

Title of published Paper: An Investigation into Stakeholders’ Perception of Smart Campus Criteria: The American University of Sharjah as a Case Study Published In: Sustainability The Impact Factor: 3.889 It is published by MDPI AG

The Journal is indexed UGC CARE Scopus The SJR ( SCImago Journal Rank) 0.656

82

ISSUE 7

FEATURE

SAY “AU REVOIR” TO EXPENSIVE ELECTROCHEMICAL BATTERIES AND HELLO TO PV PLUS THERMAL ONES

Dr. Matteo Chiesa

Head of the LENS (Laboratory for Energy and Nano Science)/Professor of Mechanical Engineering

Khalifa University

One of the biggest problems facing renewable energy projects whether for individuals or governments is the cost of storing energy to deliver it back when the sun sets, or when the winds stop blowing. The importance of variable renewable energy resources is critical to the decarbonization ISSUE 7

83

of electrical power systems and as such key to sustainability goals, but long-term storage is needed to allow for the optimal utilization and expansion of renewable energy grids.

A new research entitled “Power availability of PV (PhotoVoltaic) plus thermal batteries in real-world electric power grids” co-lead by Khalifa University Professor Dr. Matteo Chiesa (corresponding author) has come up with a prototype PV plus Thermal Battery that can solve this issue more economically than other thermal storage products available today.

The importance of variable renewable energy resources is critical to the decarbonization of electrical power systems and as such key to sustainability goals Dr. Matteo Chiesa, a Professor at the Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, at Khalifa University, has been working during the course of his career to solve real-life industrial problems, in the energy sector spanning from the oil and gas business to renewable energy.

His research at the Laboratory for Energy and Nano Science LENS focused on the creation and the establishment of technologies necessary to adapt the current energy system into a more sustainable, competitive, and secure one.

During his post-doctoral fellowship at MIT, he investigated thermal transport over length scales from nanometers upward in solids and liquids. It was there where he met 84

ISSUE 7

FEATURE Dr. Asegun Henry who eventually became professor at MIT. They both started to work on Thermoelectric and Photovoltaic Energy Conversion as lab mates back in 20062007. Currently, Dr. Henry has taken a leave of absence from his professor position at MIT and has set up a startup called Thermal Battery to commercialize the very technology discussed in the research.

ISSUE 7

85

Why long-term storage through thermal batteries While the world is filled with different types of batteries, these batteries are either too expensive or lack long-term storage capabilities at affordable prices.

According to the research, Lithium-ion batteries for example have been the state-of-the-art technology for short-term storage but cost between $80 to $100 / kWh making them unaffordable for time horizons above a few hours not to mention the multi-day storage required to completely decarbonize the grid.

Studies suggest that achieving cost-efficient multi-day storage requires a capital cost reduction to $3–30 kWh compared to the $80 cost for lithium batteries. Resolving this issue could enable more rapid decarbonization of the power system, resulting in a 25% reduction in global GHG emissions.

Dr. Chiesa explains, “We believe that our study of hightemperature thermo storage can scale up in an economically viable way given the need for storage of 12 hours or more when the sun is not shining or period when the wind is not blowing. Today with electrochemical batteries we can theoretically get up to 8 or 10 hours but it is unrealistically costly.”

Dr. Chiesa adds that while electrochemical batteries are very good commercially for shorter time periods that can cover rapid fluctuation during the day, they are not the solution to deliver stored electricity while the sun is not shining.

86

ISSUE 7

FEATURE This is why the thermal energy storage concept published in the recent research has shown promising potential to achieve sufficiently low capital cost in the multiday storage regime. TES stores the electricity as heat rather than electrochemically and then converts it back to electricity when needed.

How does Thermal Energy Grid Storage work?

The Thermal Energy Grid Storage (TEGS) concept stores electricity as sensible heat in graphite storage blocks and uses Thermo-Photovoltaic (TPV) to convert heat back to electricity on demand. Storing energy as heat at very high ISSUE 7

87

temperature has a much higher round-trip efficiency than heat at low temperature. It is still not as efficient as storing electricity in electrochemical batteries, but the heavily reduced investment cost can justify the energy penalties.

He states, “So for example, if you take 1 kilowatt of electricity from the grid you can transform it into heat with 100 percent efficiency, however, you cannot transform back that heat into the same amount of electricity, it loses a lot and this is because of thermodynamics. The higher the temperature is, the higher the possible efficiency in getting it back to electricity. In the study we store the heat at 2400 C degree temperatures thus our round trip efficiency is demonstrated at 41 percent but we are convinced we can bring it up to 50%.”

Chiesa conveyed that currently at the solar testing lab platform at Khalifa University in Masdar, two companies have been commercially testing their heat storage into cement technologies which can store 500-600 degree temperature but have a round trip efficiency of just above 20 percent.

So while electrochemical batteries have the highest round trip efficiency, there are two issues with them, you cannot take out all the energy from the battery without affecting the lifetime of the battery, and it is super expensive.

So according to Chiesa, giving up some efficiency for something much cheaper is the most logical solution. The technology tested by Chiesa and the team achieved a projected cost below $20 Kwh1 at Gigawatt scales.

Another unique property of TEGS (Thermal Energy Grid 88

ISSUE 7

FEATURE Storage) is that given that heat is stored in chains of graphite blocks and then converted to electricity using TPV (a special photovoltaic cells optimized for the spectrum radiated at the operating temperature) the TEGS can charge (i.e., store heat) at a much higher capacity than that required for discharging.

The benefit of such a mechanism is that a large amount of energy can be charged in a short amount of time when generation surpluses exist and discharged over a longer period to cover the electricity load in periods where demand exceeds supply. The TEGS system also has advantages in terms of durability, safety, and replaceability which make this technology a promising option to adopt into a decarbonized electricity grid.

ISSUE 7

89

Future of Thermal Battery Study One of the most important aspects of this study was that it was not modeled as a greenfield case study abstract in nature but was represented on an existing grid, a brownfield model to analyze how adding a PV storage system can contribute to decarbonizing the grid. This way to look at the problem is very important for transmission and distribution system operators.

The two brownfield grids were in New England and Texas.

Dr. Chiesa stated, “It is very important to integrate this technology into an existing brownfield system fixed in time.

We will continue to model this over a longer time span and study the dynamic of the possible capacity expansion of these electricity grids and the adoption of variable renewable energy when low cost energy storage becomes available.”

Dr. Chiesa believes that the UAE is one of the best proponents of solar energy, but this solar energy cannot meet the needs for 24 hours a day, and here is where Thermal Battery technology can take the surplus electricity from the sun and store it. He affirms, “We need storage or we will never be able to have fully renewable energypowered grids.”

Dr. Chiesa is waiting for permission to connect the 500 KW PV plant at the Masdar Institute Solar Platform and create a microgrid that will allow testing the integration of thermal storage energy solutions in the UAE. He is eager to test the integration of energy storage through Virtual Power Lines to manage grid congestion efficiently.

90

ISSUE 7

FEATURE Finally, even the technology itself has a lower carbon footprint than those of electrochemical batteries.

Electrochemical batteries’ carbon footprint stems from the material used and how they are mined. The TEGS hightemperature thermal battery storage has a much lower carbon footprint because of the material used and the difference in the way it is mined.

Currently, Prof Asegun Henry, who holds the Guinness World Record, has launched a startup Thermal Battery, and is looking for investors. The startup is currently working on scaling up the technology, with a 1 MWh pilot and commercial demonstrations in the future. It would be good to test it at the Masdar Institute Solar Platform.

Title of Published Paper: Power Availability of PV plus Thermal Batteries in real-world Electric Power Grids Published in: Applied Energy Journal Metrics: The impact factor: APPLIED ENERGY is 11.446.

The APPLIED ENERGY is a reputed research journal.

It is published by Elsevier BV.

The journal is indexed in UGC CARE, Scopus, SCIE. The (SJR) SCImago Journal Rank is 2.907.

ISSUE 7

91

UAE CAN PRODUCE SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE

BY SUPPORTING HYDROPONIC FARMING Ajman University Professors have published a research paper on “Business valuation strategy for new hydroponic farm development, a proposal towards sustainable agriculture development in United Arab Emirates.” The paper was co-authored by Gyanendra Singh Sisodia and Raweya Alshamsi College of Business Administration, Ajman University, with the participation of Bruno S. Sergi Harvard University, to evaluate a hydroponic farm (nutrient film technique) while considering uncertainty, sustainability and the system’s utility in the dominant desert geography and its usefulness in UAE and the Gulf region for food security and sustainability.

The researchers approached the study using the following design and methodology, evaluating the hydroponic farm using Net Present Value (NPV) and real options approach.

The authors studied five scenarios: First, business as usual, second 50% subsidy on initial investment through Khalifa 92

ISSUE 7

FEATURE

Dr. Gyanendra Sisodia

Associate Professor, College of Business Administration

Ajman University

University's funding, third 4% premium, fourth subsidy plus premium and fifth solar panel installation with bore well.

In all the scenarios studied, implementing the hydroponic business showed positive net present value results, while ISSUE 7

93

scenarios 4 and 5 report the significantly highest net present and delay value.

As per Gyanendra Singh Sisodia, “The study has environmental, economic and social implications, given that the local production of food ensures higher employability while fresh food consumption is directly associated with good health.”

The study also was novel because it addressed the effect of Khalifa funding and investment analysis on solar wells which has not been evaluated before in any hydroponic studies.

UAE agriculture situation The UAE depends heavily on imported food to meet its population’s needs. In 2018, the UAE imported 21,564 million AED worth of vegetable products. As such the UAE government is encouraging domestic production to decrease its dependence on imports in a more sustainable manner.

Already farmers are supported by 50% of the farming supplements, despite the arid conditions, limited water, and limited fertile soil. The UAE is studying some agricultural technologies, including hydroponics, to adopt them in the future. When hydroponics was evaluated in Dubai, the results were satisfying because it consumed 60–70% less water.

With the development of sustainable cities, there is a strong focus on reducing carbon emissions and producing goods through cleaner production throughout the world.

94

ISSUE 7

FEATURE

Hydroponics in UAE a sustainable solution According to the research hydroponic agriculture is a sustainable solution that can have good potential in desert areas as it can manage pH and extract the required nutrients from the water. The system can recycle the water that is unused by plants, which can significantly eliminate the wastage of water, making it almost 90% more efficient compared to traditional farming. Furthermore, hydroponics is 90% more efficient.

There are four main types of hydroponic systems: ebb and flow, drip system, nutrient film technique (NFT), and passive.

ISSUE 7

95

In the UAE and GCC regions, the system may serve the community by providing a healthier food choice and supporting national production, which reduces import rates.

The study adds novelty to the literature already available as we presented the results with tornado graphs using the NPV (an approach used for investment evaluation) risk and real options approach in the Gulf context.

It can be adjusted to the climate and suit certain crops that grow faster such as herbs, tomatoes, and eggplant that do not grow into large trees.

The hydroponic system’s financial viability may be high. It can produce more crops cheaply, which can be exported and sold at higher prices, thus making the business context of the system’s adaptability stronger in the economic environment.

The research recommended that the UAE shift to hydroponic farming for various reasons such as around 80% of the UAE’s land consists of sand desert where only 3% of the total area can be used for agriculture purposes. Hydroponic systems can be adjusted to suit any crop and climate, and they could work in the UAE. In addition, the system does not require high-quality water; desalination or recycled water can work very well, making it an 96

ISSUE 7

FEATURE inexpensive option. The system can be implemented at varying scales through single or multiple partners. Thus, a creative partnership may lead to better performance, and global research and development partnerships can improve innovation.

Sisodia explains, “This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of government premium, finding, premium, and solar panels and bore wells and Monte Carlo simulation with the net present value (NPV) with real options approach. The study adds novelty to the literature already available as we presented the results with tornado graphs using the NPV (an approach used for investment evaluation) risk and real options approach in the Gulf context.

Results of study with UAE in mind The study used NPV is defined as “the present value of the cash flows at the required rate of return of your project compared to your initial investment”. It helps the practitioners measure the return on investment of a project after generating the amount of money made from the project and converting it into today’s dollar rates. This process will determine whether the project is worth the investment or not.

Under the assumption that Khalifa University's funding covers 50% of the initial investment, the return on investments is higher than the business as usual scenario.

When new regulations are added to support emerging businesses, where the government actually purchases the goods produced at a premium price and sells them in the market, the results are highly positive in the NPV. ISSUE 7

97

However, this scenario also includes an elevated risk in terms of acceptance because it increases government investments with a limited budget for project funding in various fields. This scenario can succeed if the number of businesses is limited and the government seeks encouragement.

With the installation of solar panels and tube wells taking full advantage of solar power availability in the UAE and its reduced installation costs, the proposed project would integrate solar panels instead of an excessive cost electricity generator profits for Hydroponic entities becomes higher.

Hydroponics is a wonderful area to work and advance in, especially with all the policies, funding, and support of innovation which encourages investors happening in the UAE. Sisodia states, “Hydroponics is a wonderful area to work and advance in, especially with all the policies, funding, and support of innovation which encourages investors happening in the UAE. This is an important sector because it gives food security, less reliance on imports and fresh fruits, and vegetables.”

He adds, “If the UAE government introduces subsidies for this technology it will flourish in the UAE. The banks could also play a role by offering funding through loans with less interest rate, as well as the government buying all the produce and then reselling it.”

98

ISSUE 7

FEATURE This support will not be forever explains Sisodia but just for a period of time until the sector matures. This can be even faster in the UAE where there is awareness from people towards organic fresh vegetables and fruits as well as good purchasing power.

In addition, as investors make a return on their investments and cover the capital costs, prices will go down as well. In addition, these startups will have a more trained workforce and this ecosystem and knowledge will grow in the society.

Finally, Sisodia believes that Hydroponic agriculture will foster sustainability as it reduces water consumption, energy, and affords a better life for the citizens of the UAE.

Title of Published Paper: Business Valuation strategy for new hydroponic farm development a proposal towards sustainable agriculture development in United Arab Emirates Published in: Emerald Insights The Impact Factor: 3.224 It is published by British Food Journal

The Journal is indexed UGC CARE Scopus Web of Science (SCIE) The SJR (SCImago Journal Rank): 0.645

ISSUE 7

99

A GIFT FROM THE UAE TO THE WORLD, A CARBON-NEGATIVE BIO DESALINATION PROCESS USING ALGAE Dr. Aly Hassan Ashraf

Associate Professor, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering

United Arab Emirates University

100 ISSUE 7

FEATURE As the global population increases and resource-intensive economic development continues, many countries' water resources and infrastructure are failing to meet accelerating demand. Water scarcity will continue to increase at an alarming rate due to climate change globally.

Coastal areas are extremely affected by a lack of drinkable water because of limited freshwater availability, and an estimated 1.3 billion people will have no access to drinkable water by 2035. Thus, seawater treatment is the only viable option for coastal regions. Desalination using reverse osmosis (RO), multistage flash distillation (MSF), multi-effect distillation (MED), and thermal distillation are the most used technologies.

According to the United Nations, water scarcity affects more than 40% of the global population. This has prompted Associate Professor Ashraf Aly Hassan to develop and study how algae can be used to desalinate seawater, brackish water and produced wastewater.

The United Arab Emirates University researchers Dr. Ashraf Aly Hassan and his Ph.D. student Abdul Mannan Zafar, from the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, in their paper on “Seawater bio desalination treatment using Phormidium keutzingianum in attached growth-packed bed continuous flow stirred tank reactor” have developed the first of its kind process for bio desalination using carbon negative algae.

This study presents the utilization of the phormidium keutzingianum strain, algae in an attached growth-packed bed reactor to treat seawater in real-time in a continuousflow stirred tank reactor for bio desalination.

ISSUE 7 101

The idea behind bio desalination using algae Dr. Ashraf Aly Hassan has been working in the field of environmental engineering, with assignments spanning North America, Europe, and the Middle East, allowing him to gain invaluable insights into diverse environmental challenges and their solutions.

His biggest passion has always revolved around sustainable approaches to air and water pollution reduction. He is passionate about utilizing cutting-edge technologies that are environment friendly and cost-effective.

In 2010, while he was in the USA receiving his post-doctoral 102 ISSUE 7

FEATURE fellowship at US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Cincinnati, Ohio studying air treatment and desalination and in his search for inspiration he stumbled upon an article that utilized algae treatment. As he explained, “At the end of the article the scholar mentioned that while implementing their research, they found that the salinity of the water also decreased. This intrigued me more than the rest of the paper.”

Upon further research, he found that in the 1980s a German scholar had written an article on how algae could alter the salinity of water, yet no other information could be found.

As a result, Dr. Aly Hassan applied for a grant from the EPA and received funding for the first proof of concept.

When he joined UAE University, the idea once again came back to the forefront especially because he realized that this was much needed in the Middle East and GCC region.

On receiving the startup grant from the university, the bio desalination journey began.

Bio desalination using algae in a negative carbon process According to Dr. Aly Hassan, while the journey started in a lab, the latest research was the first proof of concept carried outside in the scorching heat of the region and bright daylight. For the first time, real daylight was used instead of artificial light, and real seawater was used.

ISSUE 7 103

The researchers were able to decrease the salinity of the water by 45% while enhancing energy efficiencies thus reducing cost. As Dr. Aly Hassan explains, “It has been a journey from lab to real-world proof of concept and we have done very well. Not only have we been able to decrease salinity to a point where the water is drinkable, but we have done this using a negative carbon process.”

The researchers were able to decrease the salinity of the water by 45% while enhancing energy efficiencies thus reducing cost.

Carbon negative means that you emit less than zero carbon dioxide and carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) greenhouse gasses. However, since it is impossible to emit a negative amount of carbon (or any other physical substance), being carbon-negative refers to the net emissions you create. To be carbon negative means to offset more carbon, through carbon capture, sequestration, or avoidance, than you contribute to the environment.

He explains, “Our process is energy efficient and uptakes carbon. Carbon uptake is the process by which the oceans (or plants and forests) absorb carbon. Algae absorb carbon when they are growing, so while we might use some energy to pump the water into the reactors, we are negative CO2 because the alga updates CO2 in the total process.”

According to Dr. Aly Hassan, this was the very first trial in real conditions and much was learned about how the 104 ISSUE 7

FEATURE algae handle the heat in the UAE finding that algae-covered reactors performed better than uncovered for example.

He adds, “With our trials, we are perfecting desalination in shorter time periods. It is more important to be faster because it means you can be economical in terms of water treatment. The goal is to achieve the same efficiency in less time, and we have achieved this.”

Currently, the researchers are preparing a manuscript on the feasibility and economic gains. As Dr. Aly Hassan explains, “Here four scenarios are under review, the completely traditional methodology of desalination, our system followed by reverse osmosis, our system in two different setups, and in all these scenarios our process is more energy efficient and much more cost-efficient.”

What can the algae desalinated water be used for?

Desalinated water using algae can be used in several ways. For example, algae desalination combined with reverse osmosis can create drinking water; without reverse osmosis the algae-treated water can be re-injected into the groundwater decreasing the overall salinity as well as less nitrogen and phosphorous. According to Dr. Aly Hassan, this is important for ensuring sustainability to future generations.

The algae-desalinated water can be also used for irrigation as algae treatment could drop the salinity down below 10 grams per liter making it possible for some types of irrigation. By going through the reactors in two or three ISSUE 7 105

FEATURE

cycles followed with reverse osmosis, the water becomes possible to drink as well. As Dr. Aly Hassan explains, “Current desalination entities can use our technology in the pre-treatment phase allowing them to decrease cost, energy consumption, and CO2 emissions in the process.”

This is significant because the current process of desalination using reverse osmosis (RO), multistage flash distillation (MSF), and multi-effect distillation (MED are highly energy-intensive and require significant chemical additions, which increases the operational expenditure (OPEX) of the desalination plant. An average RO desalination 106 ISSUE 7

FEATURE

plant consumes 1.2–10 kWh/m3 of electricity to desalinate seawater and the cost of treated drinkable water has increased owing to extensive energy-intensive water treatment processes.

Therefore, innovative low-energy-consumption and natural seawater treatment options are urgently required. These strategies reduce the energy consumption load and eventually the carbon footprint in response to low-energydemand technologies. Bio desalination requires low energy for operation, which makes the technique highly energy efficient. Algal and cyanobacterial desalination requires ISSUE 7 107

fewer chemicals and operational elements than other seawater desalination techniques, and different techniques are available to grow these microorganisms in seawater and brackish water.

In addition, the brine that is produced out of reverse osmosis is very highly concentrated with salt. It usually needs to be diluted before it is sent back into the sea which in the long term is not environmentally friendly. However, with bio desalination, the algae itself absorbs the brine salt turning it into a biofuel source. Dr. Aly Hassan states, “Since the 1970s algae have been seen as a green energy source, and by utilizing the algae saturated in brine salt for energy we are not throwing anything away. This is the big picture.

Biofuel is the way to go.”

So, the algae being used for bio desalination will then be utilized as green energy given it is a biofuel. Studies have shown that the higher salt levels in algae the more biofuel is produced.

The future of bio desalination research project The proof of concept implemented by Dr. Aly Hassan and the research team is moving towards a prototype version on a big scale.

For the first time, cyanobacteria which is toxic and if it is available in huge amounts in wastewater and seawater can kill all living organisms is now being put to even better use.

108 ISSUE 7

FEATURE The researchers have utilized different approaches using indigenous algae adapted in the lab making sure it can grow in UAE waters.

In other tests, Dr. Aly Hassan and his team were able to desalinate and clean one of the most toxic waters, that of water extracted from oil and gas wells. As Dr. Aly Hassan explains,” This water is even more salty and full of heavy metals, the most dangerous type of wastewater ever. Yet we managed to adapt an alga that wouldn’t die in this toxic wastewater and were able to achieve desalination as well as extraction of metals to the point where this water could be used for irrigation or put back into the wells.”

Since the 1970s algae have been seen as a green energy source, and by utilizing the algae saturated in brine salt for energy we are not throwing anything away. This is the big picture. Biofuel is the way to go.”

Even though the treatment will need reverse osmosis, before this breakthrough even with reverse osmosis you couldn’t re-inject it into groundwater or well because it was still extremely polluted.

Bio desalination and the road to Sustainability The importance of desalination is paramount, and Dr. Aly ISSUE 7 109

Hassan believes that by 2030 bio desalination using algae will be part of any desalination project as the world cannot continue to do what it is doing today.

He gives the example of the latest desalination plant in Dubai which had a groundbreaking cost of just 0.36 cents per cubic meter, yet this is still very expensive according to him. The proof of concept has proven that bio desalination using algae costs much less and saves the environment in the process.

As he concludes, “My passion has always been the safer/ better environment; and this is what guided the research.”

Title of Published Paper: Biodesalination and treatment of raw hypersaline produced water samples using indigenous wastewater algal consortia Published in: Desalination The Impact Factor: Desalination is 11.211 It is published by Elsevier BV

The journal is indexed in UGC CARE, Scopus, SCIE The (SJR) SCImago Journal Rank is 1.471.

110 ISSUE 7

NOT ALL GREENERY IS GOOD FOR THE ENVIRONMENT; THE MESQUITE TREE IN UAE IS LIVING PROOF!

Dr. Yousef Nazzal

Professor and Chair LES

Zayed Universtiy

ISSUE 7 111

While most countries and governments believe that planting greenery is always environmentally sustainable and friendly, and the UAE has been at the forefront of green strategy; yet, not all green vegetation is good.

The Mesquite tree, Ghweif in UAE, was introduced from South America by the UAE to green the deserts. However, it escaped the plantation and is currently covering huge areas in the UAE, especially the east regions of the country. As this tree has a very deep root system, it accesses and depletes the UAE’s groundwater resources at an alarming rate since 1990. These are the findings of a recent study conducted by researchers of the College of Natural and Health Sciences, Zayed University, and the Department of Applied Biology, College of Sciences, University of Sharjah.

Entitled “Changes in the Invasion Rate of Prosopis juliflora and Its Impact on Depletion of Groundwater in the Northern Part of the United Arab Emirates” a team of researchers included Fares M. Howari, Manish Sharma, Yousef Nazzal, Ali El-Keblawy, Shajrat Mir Cijo M. Xavier, Imen Ben Salem, Ahmed A. Al-Taani and Fatima Alaydaroos used high resolution satellite imagery dating from 1990 to 2019. They showed that Mesquite trees (Prosopis species) have invaded an area reaching maximum expansion in 2019 of 16 km2 compared to just 0.2 km2 in 1990. The study also unveiled that this increased expansion has come hand in hand with increased groundwater consumption.

The findings showed that these Mesquite trees consumed 22.2 million m3 of groundwater in 2019 in the study region; a 7372 % increase from 1990! All data recordings were obtained from the field spectroradiometer camera and were then decoded in ENVI software for analysis. This study 112 ISSUE 7

FEATURE monitored the spread and propagation of the invasive P. juliflora in newly invested areas in the Ajman and Sharjah Emirates. Researchers utilizing integrated geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing images, and meteorological station data detected and quantified the rate of invasion around the most affected area in Ajman Emirate from the early 1990s to 2019. Researchers also calculated its impact on groundwater by estimating evapotranspiration using Sharjah Airport meteorological station data.

The Mesquite tree Prosopis juliflora, known as Mesquite trees or Ghweif in UAE, was introduced in the 1970s for desert greening.

According to international studies, there are over 40 ISSUE 7 113

Mesquite species native to South America, where the trees originate. There are also two species in the southwestern United States in Texas, mainly found along Texas rivers, creeks, and draws.

Prosopis juliflora (Mesquite) is a hardy and aggressive invasive species that has spread across various ecological landscapes, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions.

The deep root system of this species is one of its primary strategies for colonization. A deep-penetrating root system not only allows Mesquite to access water from deeper layers of soil, often outcompeting native vegetation but also stabilizes sand dunes and soils, facilitating its dominance in a new environment. Mesquite roots have a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria, enhancing the plant's ability to thrive in nutrient-poor soils. Nitrogen-fixing can enrich soils, which makes the environment unfavorable for some native species adapted to low levels of nitrogen.

It is also known for its robust bark and trunk, is valued by carpenters, and has been traditionally used by natives for making furniture and utensils. The roots of Mesquite trees make the soil under them highly resistant to erosion, preventing landslides.

The reproductive strategy of Mesquite is another significant advantage that aids its invading nature. The plant produces a multitude of seeds with a high germination rate and are known to remain viable in the soil for years. Many herbivores are attracted to these seeds because they are encapsulated in pods. Animals ingest these pods unharmed, and the seeds are dispersed in their droppings over vast areas, further facilitating the plant's spread. Due to its hardiness, nitrogen-fixing ability, and seed dispersal mechanisms, P. 114 ISSUE 7

FEATURE juliflora is a formidable invader, capable of colonizing and dominating new habitats quickly.

The Mesquite dilemma in UAE In the UAE, these trees have grown dramatically in several places. It dominates and covers a huge area in Sharjah, near the airport, Um Fannan, and Al Talla. According to Prof. Yousef Nazzal, the situation has become a problem, especially given the limited groundwater resources available in the UAE.

The plant produces a multitude of seeds with a high germination rate and are known to remain viable in the soil for years.

As mentioned by Prof. Ali El-Keblawy,the Mesquite tree was introduced during the 1970s to combat desertification in the Abu-Dhabi Emirate. However, as seeds of the tree can be disseminated by domestic livestock such as goats, cattle, mules, camels, and wild fauna such as gazelles, it invaded large areas in the northern and western Emirates, such as Ras Al-Khaimah, Fujairah, Ajman, Sharjah, Dubai, and Umm Al Quwain. The higher rainfall, in addition to shallow groundwater in the northern and western Emirates, makes these regions even more suitable for the invasion of P. juliflora.

As Prof. Yousef Nazzal explains, “As a professor in the field ISSUE 7 115

of environmental science researching water management, it is known that the groundwater in UAE is limited and deteriorating due to overconsumption in the agricultural and industrial sectors. With limited rainfall and heat, the country consumes more than it saves. Evapotranspiration (ET), the sum of evaporation and plant transpiration, also increases the problem of groundwater resources. So, we needed to understand how much woody plant life was utilizing fresh groundwater. When quantifying the patterns of hydraulic redistribution by Mesquite and assessing how this affects tree water use and productivity, we found that Prosopis juliflora (Mesquite) switches between shallow lateral and deep 116 ISSUE 7

FEATURE taproots, which allows them to extract more groundwater.

The study sheds light on the fact that the increase in the number of introduced invasive species can change the social–ecological systems of a particular region. The biological invasion by Mesquite is recognized as a primary threat to indigenous biodiversity.

Nazzal warns that based on the study, if the Mesquite tree is not controlled, it will continue to spread and consume more groundwater, making it detrimental to agriculture, fresh drinking water, and other areas where it is utilized.

He outlines the consumption of the Mesquite tree and how it has increased over the years and in certain months during the year, especially summertime. He gives an example of how in June 1990, consumption was 420,000 cubic meters increasing to 3 million cubic meters in June 2019.

He emphasizes if this is not managed the groundwater consumption of these trees will become too much to handle.

The study sheds light on the fact that the increase in the number of introduced invasive species can change the social–ecological systems of a particular region.

He explains, “Agriculture will be strongly affected especially because Mesquites are growing next to huge agriculture areas in Ajman and Sharjah, yet it will also affect our chances of recharging groundwater which is already very ISSUE 7 117

slow in arid regions especially if we consume more than we can get back.”

The solution As a result, Prof Nazzal believes that there needs to be a management plan for the sustainable use of this species 118 ISSUE 7

FEATURE in the UAE region in particular and other similar countries in the arid land regions that are suffering from freshwater depletion because of Prosopis invasion. This could include countries in the GCC region as well as Sudan where it was introduced in the 19th century to combat desertification and as a source of fuelwood.

He adds “As a scientist we publish papers for decisionmakers to review. We are open to any approach from the government or private sector and are ready to support it. We need to remove and control these trees in the study area as well as carry out a full assessment of the cost and benefits.

In the future, we need to have a national strategy plan to guide the management of green plants and criteria for choosing which ones to allow in the UAE because not every tree is good for the country.”

According to Nazzal, we have to look at vegetation that does not need large amounts of water, whether surface water or groundwater. Species which can be stated as being wholly native and still widespread in the UAE are the Ghaf Tree (Prosopis cineraria), Samur or Salam (Acacia Tortilis), Garath (Acacia Arabica), Sidr (Ziziphus Spinachristi), and the Date Palm (Phoenix Dactylifera).

The researchers will be carrying out further studies in the future on this subject.

It is noteworthy that in 2017 Dr. Taoufik Ksiksi, a professor in the Department of Biology at UAE University in Al Ain, in a paper published in the Emirates Journal of Food and Agriculture, Landscaping with native plants in the UAE: calls for the increased use of native plants in the Emirates.

He discussed how the Mesquite tree has created havoc and ISSUE 7 119

is a nasty species, as it stifled the growth of native plant species because of the chemicals in its leaves, lowering the biodiversity in the desert.

Prof. El-Keblawy indicated that Mesquite is very hard to control, i.e., eradicated. The Ministry of the Global Environment and all Environmental agencies and municipalities in the different emirates are trying to eliminate it but with limited success. Therefore, we should live with the problem. Prof. El-Keblawy mentioned that we can transform this plant from a curse to a blessing by converting it into different sources of biofuels or quality charcoal.

So, for many reasons, it seems the Mesquite tree needs to be eradicated or at least highly controlled despite its needed green color because sustainability and the UAE’s groundwater are in danger.

Title of Published Paper: Changes in the Invasion Rate of Prosopisjuliflora and Its Impact on Depletion of Groundwater in the Northern Part of the United Arab Emirates.

Published in: Plants The impact Factor: 3.899

It is published by MDPI AG

The Journal is indexed UGC CARE Scopus The SJR ( SCImago Journal Rank) 0.656

120 ISSUE 7

UAE’S YOUNG SCIENTISTS

ISSUE 7 121

THE TROJANS OFFER INSIGHTS INTO SUSTAINABLE FINANCE SOLUTIONS TO THE UAE

Team Trojans

Higher College Technology

122 ISSUE 7

UAE’S YOUNG SCIENTISTS The Higher Colleges of Technology’s Abu Dhabi Women's College’s business students’ team won 1st place in the ADNOCBloomberg Trading Challenge 2023 in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of the UAE in August of this year. This challenge is part of the ADNOC-Bloomberg Education Initiative..

The group of students was able to beat 41 other teams.

In 2019, the UAE Ministry of Education, the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), and Bloomberg agreed to implement a training and development program called the ADNOC-Bloomberg Education Initiative.

The HCT team dubbed, the Trojans, was one of the five finalist teams in the nationwide competition alongside other finalists from Higher College of Technology (HCT), United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD),, and Herriot Watt University.

The Trojan team comprised Asma Ameen Al Saleem, Bashaer Eissa Alameri, Fatima Ahmed Al Amodi, Maha Omar Almentheri & Wasmeia Abdulla Almansoori, and was supervised by Business Faculty member, Dr. Kamran Lakhani participated in the 3rd edition of the Trading Challenge that enables students to simulate analysts’ trading and produce original analysis on a range of topics.

The competition, which started in February 2023, was launched under the theme of clean energy translation and the UAE’s role as host of COP28, the UN climate conference, which takes place from November 30 - December 15, 2023, on the site of Expo 2020.

The competition comprised two phases. The first phase was stock trading on the ADX or Dubai Stock Exchange, using Bloomberg Access to achieve the highest capital gains for ISSUE 7 123

stocks while the second phase was a detailed research presentation on sustainability technologies that are and could be utilized by UAE businesses and governments.

The program aims to help students develop their skills in financial data analytics and view the market through the eyes of those who use the Bloomberg Terminal every day, such as portfolio managers, investment analysts, and traders, including at ADNOC. H.E. Dr. Amna Al Dahak Al Shamsi, the Assistant Undersecretary of the Care and Capacity Building sector at the UAE Ministry of Education, praised the effective collaboration among the Ministry of Education, ADNOC, and Bloomberg. H.E. highlighted how this cooperation illustrates the positive influence of public-private strategic partnerships, which aim to refine the skills of young people and empower them to play a pivotal role in shaping a knowledge-based economy, in line with the national development strategy.

H.E. Dr. Amna stated at that time: «The Ministry of Education remains committed to supporting all national initiatives focused on educating the youth and fostering practical experiences.

This commitment aligns perfectly with our ongoing efforts to offer educational and intellectual avenues for students, ultimately enhancing the nation›s competitiveness across all sectors and domains.»

Innovation@UAE Magazine spoke with the Trojans to learn more about the competition, their learning experience, and their outlook on the future of sustainability in the UAE and globally.

124 ISSUE 7

UAE’S YOUNG SCIENTISTS The importance of Bloomberg ADNOC competition The graduating students of the Higher Colleges of Technology viewed the competition as not only a great opportunity but a useful experience.

According to Bashaer Eissa Alameri, “As an accounting student, it was an honor to enter a competition being held by well-known entities ADNOC, Bloomberg, and the UAE Ministry of Education.”

Wasmeia Abdulla Almansoori explained, “While we study as finance students how to buy shares and stocks, it was really interesting to go into real markets and real training learning firsthand about trading and stock markets.”

ISSUE 7 125

Why the theme of Sustainability While the competition is carried out on a yearly basis, this year, the theme was sustainability given that the UAE is implementing various sustainability programs and given that the UAE is hosting Cop28 in December 2023.

Dr. Kamran Lakhani, a Business Faculty member who supervised the Trojan team explained, “While the first phase of the competition focused on stock market rating, the second part focused on climate change and sustainability.

We worked with the team to advise UAE what kind of alternative technologies were available and could be utilized by the UAE.” The team using the Bloomberg report and their own research presented to jurists what different types of technologies were available globally, such as Blue Hydrogen, and Green Hydrogen, and made suggestions. According to Lakhani, most of these technologies are new, such as carbon capture and storage which are starting to be implemented in ADNOC. The team presented cost analyses and challenges that could face the UAE. Sustainable energy solutions that could be used by the UAE There were several solutions presented by the Trojan team, some already being implemented in UAE and some that are just starting.

126 ISSUE 7

UAE’S YOUNG SCIENTISTS Wasmeia Abdulla Almansoori explained that the technologies discussed include carbon capture and storage, solar energy, electro-vehicles, wind turbines, and nuclear energy.

As per the team, the UAE has already signed several agreements and MOUs with Chinese, Korean Scottish, German, and Australian companies to develop these technologies.

The UAE has a strategy of developing 6 percent of its electricity from nuclear energy.

One of the most interesting technologies that is still new in the UAE is Carbon capture and storage, Blue Hydrogen, and Green Hydrogen. ANDOC has started to invest in these.

Even energy from waste was also put out as a solution.

One of the most prominent suggestions made by the team was solar. As per the team they suggested solar energy because the UAE has 365 days of sunlight even with challenges from the sandstorms. Also, wind turbines were considered by the team as a good investment both in coastal areas as well as offshore.

Future Considerations The team confirms that while introducing new sustainable energy solutions is expensive at the onset and it is not easy for countries to transition to renewable energy overnight, there is a gradual move towards reducing dependency on fossil fuels.

ISSUE 7 127

Climate change is a reality, and it is important to integrate different disciplines when deciding on strategic sustainable solutions. Cost analyses and sustainable finance are important tools that can be utilized by businesses and governments.

Proactive action is needed. Bashaer Eissa Alameri said, “A key point is awareness. People and citizens need to be aware of global warming and this will create movement towards environmentally friendly solutions. We are responsible for our environments as it affects our daily lives, whether through climate change, energy, food security, and others.”

Wasmeia Abdulla Almansoori adds “Sustainability is very important for our future, for a healthier and cleaner environment. “ Dr. Kamran Lakhani states that the Higher Colleges of Technology is introducing a new course on sustainable finance as part of the finance degree and will be offered starting in January 2024. He explains, “Today, less than 3% of UAE youth are in the field of sustainable finance, this is an opportunity for their career as well as for their country.”

Fatima Ahmed Al Amodi agreed and noted that the UAE and countries in the region can “reduce their carbon footprint and emissions using green bonds and green loans.”

Maha Omar Almentheri concludes that through this competition they were able to “develop skills in the valuable fields of investment and renewable energy.”

128 ISSUE 7

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

ISSUE 7 129

November 13-14 14-15 14-16 15

International Conference on Science & Technology Metrics 2023

Dubai

Smart City Expo - Dubai 2023

Dubai

International Conference on Computation, Automation and Knowledge Management 2023

Dubai

World Blockchain Expo 2023

Dubai

15-16

International Conference on Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Summit 2023

Dubai

18-19

World Innovative Research International Conference on Sustainable Business Management, Humanities, Science and Engineering 2023

Dubai

21-22 21-23 22 22-23

PU Tech Arab 2023

Sharjah

IDC Alliance 2023

Ras Al Khaimah

Future of Digital Innovation in Industry 4.0 Global Digital

Abu Dhabi

Smart Data Summit 2023

Dubai

23

Digital Workplace Tech Summit MENA Edition 2023

Dubai

23-24

2nd Global Conference on Pharmaceuticals and Clinical Research

Dubai

23-25

The International Conference on Mechatronics and Robotics, Structural Analysis 2023

Dubai

27-29

International Conference on «Innovations in Engineering & Technology» 2023

Dubai

130 ISSUE 7

November 28-01 Dec 30

26th International Cybersecurity Conference 2023

Dubai

AI Fraud & AML Summit 2023

Dubai

December 02 04-06 07-08 09-10 10-12 11-13 11-14 13-14 14-15 22

International Conference on Innovative Engineering Technologies 5th International Conference on Artificial Intelligence, Robotics & IoT

Abu Dhabi Dubai

Global Conference on Education (GCEDU 202

Dubai

Artificial intelligence and innovation in Healthcare Conferences & Exhibition

Dubai

2023 IEEE Global Conference on AI & IoT

Dubai

Reimagine Education Conference and Awards 2023

Abu Dhabi

PowerMEMS

Abu Dhabi

World NFT Business Summit

Dubai

9th Global Summit on Renewable Energy and Resources

Dubai

National Conference on Recent Advances in Science, Engineering, Technology and Management

Abu Dhabi

ISSUE 7 131

TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! Help the Ministry of Education enhance your experience.

Share your thoughts about the Innovation@UAE Magazine.

CLICK HERE A SHORT ANONYMOUS SURVEY TO FILL OUT

Follow us on Instagram: @innovationuae 132 ISSUE 7