Masdar City’s innovative approach drives growth

Abu Dhabi / WAM

Masdar City in Abu Dhabi, one of the world’s most sustainable urban
developments, will undergo significant expansion over the next five years driven by its emergence as a hub for R&D and the commercialisation of clean technologies.
“Around 35 percent of the planned built-up area will be completed over the next five years — up from 5 percent today — and nearly 30 percent has been committed to, including private homes, schools, hotels and more office space,” said Anthony Mallows, Executive Director of Masdar City, adding that all available space within its existing buildings, and those under construction, is fully leased.
“Masdar City’s expansion is gathering pace because today we are recognised as an innovation ecosystem — a hub for R&D, technology, human capital building, business opportunity and investment.”
Plans for a purpose-built community serving the Middle East’s first dedicated R&D cluster integrated with a world-class research institute will be unveiled at Cityscape Abu Dhabi, the property exhibition and conference taking place from April 12-14.
Besides 2,000 residential apartments, the concept involves developing restaurants, cafes, a premium school and green open spaces within walking distance of a number of Masdar City’s flagship R&D and pilot facilities, which include ground-breaking projects in solar energy, energy storage, green building and urban sustainability.
The City’s growth will yield more opportunities for collaboration with the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the world’s first graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies and the nucleus of Masdar City, as well as opening the door to further research and training cooperation with the wider business and clean tech community.
“Effective research and development of viable technologies requires a culture of collaboration and an environment where scientific theory and practical insight can flourish,” said Dr Noura Al-Kaabi, Director of Research and Development Office at the Masdar Institute.
“The pilot research projects located at Masdar City, many of them led by or closely involving Masdar Institute scientists and students, are accelerating the acquisition of scientific knowledge in the clean tech industry and paving the way towards the development of real-world commercial applications. As the surrounding community at Masdar City grows, so the R&D cluster will also expand,” pointed out Al-Kaabi.
Masdar City’s participation in this year’s Cityscape Abu Dhabi will highlight the many R&D and pilot facilities within the development, including the Eco-Villa Prototype.
The project incorporates innovative water- and energy-saving technologies and design features that significantly reduce its environmental impact compared to existing villas – and it can even export excess electricity to the national grid when fitted with photovoltaic panels.
With a gross floor area of 405 square metres (sqm), the four-bedroom Eco-Villa is designed to consume 97 kilowatt-hours (kWh) per sqm per year (sqm/yr) without solar panels. That is 72 percent less energy than older villas in Abu Dhabi typically consume, and 46 percent less than newer
properties.
The Eco-Villa Prototype is also designed to displace up to 63 metric tons of carbon emissions each year and use 35 percent less water than regular villas.
The ‘Net Zero Energy’ version of the prototype equipped with 80 rooftop PV panels can supply up to 40,000 kWh per year to the national grid, easily offsetting its own electricity requirements.