Abu Dhabi Goes Solar

[bruce]

Abu Dhabi which holds more than 90% of the oil reserves of the United Arab Emirates announced they are going to be spending 350 million dollars on a 500 MW solar plant. Which to me seems like a typo, as that seems like A LOT of solar for only 350 million. But if they even produce 1/5th that much it will be one of the largest solar power plants in the world. If it’s not a typo, well that is going to be one hell of a big solar plant.

The 500 megawatt plant, expected to begin operations in 2009, is part of Abu Dhabi’s drive to cut dependence on hydrocarbon power generation, said Sultan al-Jaber, chief executive of state-owned Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co.

…

The emirate eventually hopes to provide solar power to 10,000 homes and is setting up a special economic zone for the alternative energy industry, Jaber said.

“We … do not want to be 100 per cent dependent on (hydrocarbon power), Jaber said.

“We have an economic development programme dedicated to establishing an entirely new economic sector focused on alternative energy and sustainable technologies,” he said.

The plant will be the first of its kind in the Gulf, home to oil and gas producers who supply a fifth of the world’s energy needs, he said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/gc06/...83822320070218

"We don't need the oil, YOU need the oil, we have the sun!" ~ head of OPEC PR in 1973, during the oil embargo. Think he was sacked not long after that though

[freesola]

i think that would be the first solar project of this magnitude in all the asia sounds great

It's all a good step in the right direction.

Architects Foster + Partners have announced the Masder Initiative - a giant urban development in Abu Dhabi which they describe as the world’s first “zero carbon, zero waste” city.

http://www.dezeen.com/2007/05/08/abu...ster-partners/

It will be interesting to see just how far Arab states go to prepare for a post oil world.

Its ironic that a country so rich in oil resources, is now swinging their focus away from it... perhaps they are trying not to get invaded....thanx for posting.

[ATom]

Would this be the same norman foster that forgot to put electrical ducting in Land-rover's (award winning) design centre in warwickshire, which now exists with a mass of extension cables throughout...??? Oh, and he forgot the restaurant too.. employees now having to trudge 100yards in the rain to a makeshift cabin to eat..

Is it the same norman foster that designed the 'revolutionary' millennium bridge in london, sacking the structural engineers in the process.. which was actually closed throughout the millennium for 'structural modifications' due to a nauseous 27 inches of movement at the apex..??

Was he also the designer for the Tate museum extension, described as a 'monstrous carbuncle' by the UKs future king.. ?? (This design was rightly dropped at the last minute)

[arno]

Looks like the idea is catching on. German architect, Eckhard Gerber, wants to build self-sufficient office towers in Riyadh, Dubai and Bahrain that produce 100% of their own electricity supply. The first tower would be 68-storeys, making it the 22nd tallest building in the world, and he is currently in talks with potential investors for the $406 million project. The cylindrical shape presents the minimum surface area to the sun, and a solar shield covers 60 degrees of the building. This will reduce the need for air conditioning.

Seawater will be used to cool air, as well as three large cooling units in the building's cellar. The roof will house a 197 foot wind turbine and 161,459 square feet of solar cells. The additional energy requirements will be handled by a floating solar panel island which drifts in the sea, close to the tower. Any excess electricity will be used to extract hydrogen from sea water, which is used by fuel cells to generate power at night.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/...481938,00.html

That's very cool. I know of a similar building on the drawing board in Israel that has certain similarities to this project. But it's going to be related to that new technology to pull water out of the air, even with very low humidity. So it will produce 100% of its own water.

I assume they'll tie it in with the Grid so when the building is drawing less power, the excess will be used to power other businesses/homes in the area, cutting down on the use of conventional power stations.

Imagine: If most/all buildings had similar power-generating facilities, we could have a P2P electricity system and be rid of pollution-generating power stations and rip-off utility companies