15 Billion Dollar Initiative Proposed by Abu Dhabi
Posted on: Wednesday, 23 January 2008, 09:05 CST
A fifteen billion dollar, five year initiative to develop clean energy technologies has just been announced by the government of Abu Dhabi at the World Energy Summit. And they are claiming that it is “the most ambitious sustainability project ever launched by a government.”
It might be just that, since it will boast the world’s largest hydrogen plant along with a “sustainable city”. This “city” will produce no greenhouse gases, contain no automobiles, and provide housing for nearly 50,000 people.
The money is being provided by the Masdar Initiative, a company which develops clean energy technologies and commercializes them. Abu Dhabi’s government hopes this funding will lead to international joint ventures and more money.
The CEO of Masdar, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber believes that Abu Dhabi will become a leader of global energy because they are working so hard in response to the climate change problem and the global demand for energy
.The aforementioned hydrogen plant will link fossil fuel burning with hydrogen manufacture and carbon sequestration, two technologies likely to gain importance in a future with low-carbon.
A report from BBC News’ Environment Correspondant Richard Black says, “Hydrogen will be manufactured from natural gas by reactions involving steam, producing a mixture of hydrogen and carbon dioxide. The CO2 can be pumped underground, either simply to store it away permanently or as a way of extracting more oil from existing wells, using the high-pressure gas to force more of the black gold to the surface. When hydrogen is burned, it produces no CO2. Eventually hydrogen made this way could be used in vehicles, though in Abu Dhabi it will generate electricity.”
This way hydrogen can be created without fossil fuels releasing carbon. Keith Guy, a professor at the UK’s Bath University and an engineering consultant says, "When you look at how hydrogen could be made economically, the route that many people have been looking at, through electrolysis of water, is incredibly expensive."
The sustainable city will utilize solar panels and other renewable resources to generate electricity. Wind towers will be used for ventilation using natural convection in homes and offices and buildings will be designed to keep the air from the wind towers in, and the sun out.
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PHOTO CAPTION: Masdar City will be constructed in the desert on the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. The aims are to use only renewable energy sources, and to eliminate 99% of the waste stream. This artist's impression shows wind turbines on the edge of the city and public transport links running through.
Source: redOrbit Staff
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