A model of the future metropolis was unveiled this week at the World Future Energy Summit where the entire city's electricity needs will be met by numerous renewable energy technologies, mainly solar power but also wind energy.
The World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Masdar, the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, are working together to make Masdar City the world's greenest city, planned to be fully functional by 2015.
The six-square-kilometre city will be close to the Abu Dhabi International Airport and to the south of Abu Dhabi.
Wind turbines will be placed at the south of the site and despite height restrictions because of the airport, the projected power output will be enough to contribute power to cover all lighting requirements of the development.
Photovoltaic panels will produce electricity while cooling will be provided by concentrated solar power. Plans include a solar-powered desalination plant.
Landscaping within the city and crops grown outside the city will be irrigated with grey water and treated waste water produced by the city's water treatment plant.
The zero-waste aspect of the city includes waste reduction measures, re-use of waste, recycling and composting. Fair trade and organic items will be sold in retail outlets. All the objectives Masdar City has to meet have been outlined by WWF's One Planet Living programme based on 10 principles of sustainability.
"Masdar City will question conventional patterns of urban development, and set new benchmarks for sustainability and environment friendly design - the students, faculty and businesses located in Masdar City will not only be able to witness innovation first-hand, but they will also participate in its development," said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of the Masdar Initiative.
Infrastructure is the most important point to consider when planning architecture of the future, said Lord Norman Foster, master planner and architect of Masdar City of Foster and Partners.
Incorporating access and transportation goes hand in hand with sustainable development, he told Gulf News. "We've been working on this for 40 years for individual buildings. The solutions in achieving sustainable development lie in looking beyond the building and looking at the whole," he said.
Different lifestyle
Living in Masdar City will take some adjustment for residents but according to surveys and focus groups, people are keen to set up home in the carbon-free environment and recycle their waste, said Ziad Tassabehji, director of innovation and investment unit.
"Not everyone will want to live there but the younger generations will be very interested. This is the future," said Tassabehji. "It will take some adjustment because people will be expected to walk to shops and restaurants. They can use segways to get around but we have planned a cool environment even during the summer," he said.
Alleys between buildings should create convection and circulate wind to keep residents cool. Naturally shaded areas will also add to a more temperate environment. "People will have to sort their garbage, the lights will come off when they leave the room and the air conditioning will switch off when they go on holiday. It will be a whole different lifestyle," said Tassabehji.
The city will provide homes as well as offices, schools and even embassies have requested to be situated there, he added. The population is expected to be around 90,000 with 40,000 residents and 50,000 commuting. Masdar city will be walled, and land outside the perimeter will be used to produce renewable energy for use within the city.
Solar-powered
Manufacturers of solar photovoltaic (PV) panels are going head-to-head to win the Masdar City contract that will see the community's main electricity needs provided by solar power.
Over the next 18 months 25 solar power systems are being tested against the harsh Middle Eastern weather conditions and which ever systems gives the best performance will be selected to meet the demand of the developers.
Power generated from the testing systems is currently being fed into the national grid for the first time in the UAE. Sameer Abu Zaid, project manager, said he does not believe there will be any limitations for residents using solar-powered appliances.
The site houses 26 one-kilowatt PV modules worth approximately $1 million (about Dh3.67 million) mounted on aluminium structures which are capable of powering three houses.
The entire Masdar development will function on between 120 and 180 megawatts from panels on rooftops. Masdar's 'PV Competition' will monitor how different technologies endure the effects of heat, humidity and sand.
The systems will be ranked for performance, durability and cost efficiency. Overall energy for Masdar will be produced from photovoltaic, concentrated solar power and wind. "The fact that so many companies are taking part is another global endorsement of our work in Abu Dhabi and a clear vote of confidence in the potential of solar energy," said Dr Sultan Al Jaber, chief executive of Masdar.
Vehicles barred
The city will achieve zero-carbon status by banning all vehicles from entering. After parking your car in one of the car parks located at the entrances of the city you will then be able to get around thanks to the underground personal rapid transport (PRT) system - an autonomous tram-like contraption with stops every 100 metres.
By selecting their destination, passengers will then glide their way home or to work. The PRT vehicles will be powered by photovoltaic installations. Shaded walkways and narrow streets will encourage walking in a pedestrian friendly environment.
The route will be located under street level, leaving pedestrians free to roam without any interruptions from traffic. The city will be linked to principle transport infrastructure and surrounding communities.
High speed coastal rail links and local light rail links to Abu Dhabi City and Al Raha beach have been proposed. In general, these podcars are small and typically cater for two to six passengers travelling along a network of guideways and travel from point to point. They can be individually hired and shared with others. On street level, pathways will be outlined for people who choose to get around on a Segway Personal Transporter. Zero-emissions are given off during operation, allowing you to go indoors with your Segway PT.
Studying alternatives
The first batch of students is expected to start studying at the Masdar Institute in September 2009. Initially the school will offer full fellowships to 100 students who will be able to choose to study from five Masters and Doctorate programmes.
"The courses will focus on alternative energies. The number of students is low to keep the quality up," said Russel Jones, president of Masdar Institute. The institute developed with the support and cooperation of the Technology and Development Programme (TDP) at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The Masdar Institute's high research profile will help speed up development, transfer and adaptation of technology in both the public and private sectors, he said. Research will focus on advanced energy, advanced materials, engineering systems, water, environment, sustainable technology, transport and logistics.
"By 2015, we expect to have 800 students and the number of programmes to have doubled, from five to 10. The programmes are very important in terms of the investment Abu Dhabi wants to make. It's very practical to have a school like that here," said Jones. Entry requirements will be similar to those for MIT and all courses will be taught in English. "For better or worse English is the language of technology. Technical programmes in universities here are taught in English," he added.
Towards zero-carbon, zero-waste
- 40,000 residents will live there
- 80 per cent less consumption of energy
- 50 per cent less water usage
- 6 square kilometres is the size of Masdar City
- 1 per cent of waste only will go to landfill
Ready by 2015
The World Wide Fund for Nature and Masdar are working to develop the world's greenest city, planned to be fully functional by 2015.
