Workable renewal energy solutions symbolized World Future Energy Summit 2010
Category: Waste Management
World Future Energy Summit (WFES) 2010 witnessed over 23,000 participants. They were from 130 countries across the continents of Europe, the Americas, Asia, Africa, Australasia and the Middle East.
Running over 4 days- 18th to 21st January 2010- it had over 30 individual conference sessions and more than 200 international speakers addressed the latest developments in future energy strategy, policy and technology.
World Future Energy Summit, the world’s platform for sustainable future energy solutions, provided an ideal networking platform for industry leaders, investors, scientists, specialists, policymakers and researchers to discuss the challenges of the increasing energy demand and actions to achieve a cleaner and more sustainable future for the world at large.
In April 2006, Abu Dhabi took a historic decision to embrace renewable and sustainable energy solutions. Under the patronage of H.H. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, Masdar hosted the inaugural World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi in January 2008. This highly successful debut exhibition paved the way for an even larger and better World Future Energy Summit 2009, also held in Abu Dhabi.
A star attraction: Masdar
A major attraction at the WFES this year was the Masdar arena. With Masdar, Abu Dhabi seeks to invest in all sectors of renewable energy and sustainable technology industries. This entity is a focused hunt for solutions to the questions that threaten our survival; namely, energy security, climate change and innovation in sustainable technology.
As the first major hydrocarbon-producing player to take such a step, with Masdar, Abu Dhabi established its leadership position as a global cooperative platform dedicated to finding and deploying solutions to some of humankind’s most pressing issues: energy security, climate change and truly sustainable human development.
Masdar can be divided into four integrated units:
Masdar Institute of Science and Technology will be at the centre of the Masdar city offering a Master’s degree and the institute hopes to host 600 students eventually.
Masdar City is a clustered development and will be known for its best environmental practices.
Masdar Power strives to add renewable energy to the power generation mix. The unit makes investments in singular utility scale projects in all areas of renewable energy and sustainability with attention on concentrated solar power (CSP).
Masdar Carbon strives towards low-carbon economies worldwide. It is also developing a carbon capture and storage network within Abu Dhabi
Innovative products on display this year
This year’s exhibition came across as even more spectacular in all respects- be it participation, seminars or ideas and executions towards a greener future. What follows is just the tip of the iceberg; some first-hand insights into initiatives underway for a safer, greener and sustainable world ahead.
Mexel Industries, an innovative French company, after extensive research has developed and patented 3 emulsions: Mexel 432 for water treatment for large cooling water circuits, Mexfuel as a green fuel additive for fuel/diesel/HFO engines and Aquamexoil, a release agent for building construction’s frameworks.
Mexel 432 provides a technically superior green alternative which is cost-effective. It is better than the usual techniques which use oxidants, ferrous sulphate and anti-scaling and anti-corrosion agents. The Mexel 432 process offers a global solution to treatment and protection in a wide range of applications such as: open and semi-open cooling water systems in power stations, industrial plants, ships, water networks, irrigation, desalination plants and air-conditioning systems.
Christophe Renaud, Director, Mexel said, “It is a product for the treatment of water cooling circuits. It is used in the large-scale operations of big industries like shipping and oil and gas. It removes all the fouling. It is a biodegradable product. So, when the water is thrown back in the sea, it will not cause any adverse reaction and it is small in a dosage of a few ppm and not a continuous injection. So it is not very expensive and easy for the user to use.”
Solar energy ruled the roost
The option of alternative and sustainable energy sources seemed to be a forgone conclusion. The message appeared to be one of propagation of renewable energy and execution of such projects. Herein, it was made definitively clear that research and development need to be carried out on a massive scale and that such energy alternatives ought to be sought which are friendly on the pocket. One of the most powerful and popular sources of alternative energy that came to the fore was solar energy.
Hong Kong Ever Green Holding Group’s latest offering is the 3DS efficient photovoltaic water pumping system which can pump out water from a depth of 200 metres from under the ground and also throw it up to a height of several hundred metres. This energy efficient solar powered water supply system can resolve issues related to water supply in barren hilly areas and assist immensely in ecological management vis-à-vis water supply, crop irrigation, human and livestock drinking needs.The photovoltaic pumping system uses its solar cells to convert the sunlight directly into electricity and then drives the pump to secure water from underground.
Enviromena Power Systems is the leading developer of solar projects in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It offers zero-carbon solutions to satiate the increasing energy demands.
“We are a solar power developer based out of Abu Dhabi. We construct large-scale solar projects. Our 10MW solar power plant built as the first phase of Masdar city forms the largest grid connected solar plant in the Middle East. It’s over 200,000 square metres in area. 87,777 modules will produce 17,500 mega watts of electricity. It is connected to the Abu Dhabi grid,” elaborated Mr Sander Trestain, Vice President-Technical.
He further said, “Abu Dhabi has 7% renewable energy target by 2020. In this direction, another project that we have just finished is the 291 kilo watt customized building integrated photovoltaic system at the Yas Marina Circuit. This system can provide 50% of the building’s electricity.”
Are you a carbon neutral company?
However, one needs to realize that there are certain companies which attempt to reduce their carbon emissions first. Their focus is on checking the carbon emissions and reducing the Green-house gases.
TUV Middle East is a member of the TUV NORD Group, the leading German 3rd party inspection certification and training body. The company’s management systems department deals with numerous system certifications; one of the more significant ones being the certification as “Carbon Neutral Company.”
With the growing environmental concerns the world over; companies can have their carbon footprint checked, demonstrate the sustainability of their operations through an audit and document success with a carbon neutral seal of quality.
“We have a special certification for carbon neutral companies and we have designed special standards for that. This is based on TUV NORD Standard TN-CC 010 which is a result of the extensive experience of TUV NORD CERT in the area of international climate protection. We have our technical people who carry out the audit which is evaluated on matters related to the company’s sense of responsibility towards the global climate change,” revealed Mr. Syed Zafer Ul Islam from TUV.
Added Qaisar A. Nowesheri, “The procedure includes verification of the company carbon footprint and examination of carbon neutrality, where GHG (Green House Gas) emissions verified are offset by CO2 certificates from climate protection projects.”
Manage waste efficiently for a better standard of life
With the burgeoning population worldwide and the increasing outflow of waste material across sectors, waste management becomes of paramount importance. In fact, the United Arab Emirates has one of the world’s highest per capita waste rates.
“To lessen the load of the sewerage, we are working on constructing a tunnel which will help the waste to gravitate away from the city to a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP). After treatment, we will bring back the Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) and use it for irrigation. This end product will be absolutely safe from pathogens and any bacteria which could be harmful to people,” explained Mr. Majed Murad, Operations Maintenance Team Leader at the Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company (ADSSC). The company employs state-of-art technology to treat wastewater and recycle it for irrigational purposes.
Another meaningful project of the ADSSC will be the sludge treatment plant. The study has been done and this endeavour will concentrate on converting sludge into fertilizers.
Another player in the waste management sector is Mil-tek, a leading international supplier of balers and waste presses. The aim of the organization is to reduce waste and waste volume. Its solutions are aimed at supplying resolutions to compact many different types of material, including cardboard, plastic, paper, polystyrene, tins, cans and drums and general mixed/food waste.
“We use clean air for the compressor rather than using hydraulic oil or any such component. We look at waste not as just waste, but a valuable commodity and this is the most environment-friendly and efficient way to treat it. Our method of waste management prevents landfills and the end product is a recycled one as well,” said Mark Lard, Managing Director Mil-tek.
Development with an environment-friendly perspective
The Mohammed Bin Zayed (MBZ) City under the Abu Dhabi municipality is a primary example of sustainable living. It will witness the new energy efficient fittings with solar powered LED lighting in the entire neighbourhood. Solar panels on bus shelters will work towards providing power for lighting and air-conditioning.
A city is a complicated ecosystem in itself with an inter-play of technology, environment, lifestyles and cultures. In this light, it becomes all the more imperative that the living therein and its physical paraphernalia is designed in such a way that it offers quality living.
“The MBZ City is being made from the sustainability perspective and it is a big opportunity to reduce the energy usage. Thermal pollution should be reduced by about 30 %. The landscape will be such that it will reduce water consumption by bout 50%. Solar energy and LED technology will take care of the energy needs,” explained proudly Mr. Abdullah Al Shamsi, Acting Executive Director of Municipal Infrastructure and Assets Sector, Abu Dhabi Municipality.
He gave greater insights when he said, “It is a 5 year plan and now we are in the final stage of the master plan and the second phase of construction. The things are planned in such a way that for example, our expenditure on lighting will be recovered within 7 years.”
Thus, WFES 2010 came across as the meeting ground for influential thinkers working towards effectual sustainable growth options. The focus seemed apparently on advanced solar technology, carbon capture technologies and sustainable fuels. Energy evolution and sustainable living sprung up as the highlights of the World Future Energy Summit 2010.
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A major attraction at the WFES this year was the Masdar arena. With Masdar, Abu Dhabi seeks to invest in all sectors of renewable energy and sustainable technology industries. This entity is a focused hunt for solutions to the questions that threaten our survival; namely, energy security, climate change and innovation in sustainable technology.
