The Ideal Eco-City Beyond Masdar City - Assignment Example

Introduction The global concern on the environment has forced many international country organisations to reconsider their priorities. Many efforts were geared towards lessening carbon footprint as global warming has drastically changed previously considered natural weather as coasts were flooded due to melting ice in the opposite poles, temperatures rise in record levels, and concerns about pollution escalate. Update on ecological and environmental policies not only became mandatory for national and local governments. Many individuals have, in their own efforts, adopted many ways to halt or reduce the many problems on environment pollution and degradation. The Middle East has for a while seen to have a vast potential for the development of solar powered energy production with its climate and weather, indicative of high insolation as well as large tract of space ideal for the technology. Its potential will initially be showcased via the 10-megawatt solar park at Masdar City in Abu Dhabi as it started development in May 2010. It will be able to supply Masdar City with 17,500 megawatt-hours annually. This paper will try to discuss what made Madar City innovative in its 21st century sustainable economy campaign as well as carbon neutral town. It will also provide an ideal eco-city or better model based on the Masdar City goal. Discussion Masdar City Masdar City is a planned carbon-neutral and zero-waste town in Abu Dhabi (Appendix A), a federate state of the United Arab Emirates. Abu Dhabi has abundant hydrocarbon resources that generates up to 70% of its gross domestic product or GDP. The emirate owns about 95% of the United Arab Emirates oil resources. Abu Dhabi started its policy on the promotion of renewable energy through the Masdar initiative in 2006. Masdar City is its focus to develop a carbon-neutral town (Reiche, 2009) with a targeted realisation by 2016. Already by that time, the population will be about 90,000 composed of 40,000 residents and 50,000 daily commuters. Masdar is a 212,000 square metres or 55 acres development with more than 87,000 solar modules. It uses 50% thin film from First Solar and 50% crystalline from Suntech. As mentioned earlier, it produces some 17,500 MWh of electricity per year and offsets about 15,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year (Asian Solar, 2009). In contrast, the UAE requires 6,600 MW or about $5,000m (Asian Solar, 2009). Aside from the solar power plant, Masdar City will also develop the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology with focus on information technology, water and environment, engineering systems and management, materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, amongst others (Reiche, 2009). It targeted to open by fall of 2009. Masdar also is geared towards attracting some 1500 technological companies engaged in sustainable energy. It helps that Masdar is a free zone, which meant that companies maybe 100% foreign owned, zero taxes and zero import tariffs (Reiche 2009). To start achieving its goals, the local government of Abu Dhabi has already offered the International Renewable Energy Agency of IRENA to be host of its headquarters, which was accepted. IRENA was founded in Germany with 114 country-members, and it is the first international organization to base in the Middle East. IRENA was granted by the Abu Dhabi government $135 million for its incubation period, and additional $50 million yearly to fund IRENA-endorsed projects in developing countries for a succession of seven years (The National, 2009). The purposes of developing Masdar City are many, but mainly to diversify economy of Abu Dhabi. Its economy is currently dependent on exporting fossil fuel and the government’s leadership is preparing for the depletion of fossil fuel source as well as making its businesses competitive. The goal is to “transition from a 20th Century, carbon-based economy into a 21st Century sustainable economy,” (Masdar, 2009, 1). It hopes to use its oil wealth to lead a renewable energy economy (Reiche, 2009). The second reason is in compliance for demands to address climate change and seek alternative energy sources (Masdar, 2009). The initiative focuses on technology and the government hopes to turn from technology consumer to technology producer (Masdar, 2009). The last reason for the development of Masdar City is to contribute to global policy development with the stated ambition of making “Madar City… a blueprint for future cities striving for sustainability [… and] serve as a model for how all future cities should be built,” (Masdar City, 2009, 6). Masdar City is managed by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company established in 2006, wholly owned and a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi government through the Mubadala Development Company. Mubadala’s sole shareholder is the Government of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi (Reiche, 2009). The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology was established in cooperation with one external actor – the Massachusetts Institute of Technology or the MIT from Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America. They hope to prepare the way for the development of the Masdar Institute, and of Masdar City (Reiche, 2009). Currently, Masdar’s population comprises of 80% expatriates (Reiche, 2009) engaged in the development stage as suppliers as well as related to the Institutes. Some of its drivers and current residents that are also parts of the initiative: The Masdar Clean Tech Fund is a $250 million venture capital in partnership with Credit Suisse, United Kingdom’s Consensus Business Group, and the German Siemens. It took stakes at renewable energy companies Segway, Halosource, Sulfurcell, SIC Processing, EnerTech Environmental Duratherm and Nanogram; the Torresol Energy which is a joint venture with Spanieh Sener developing solar power plants; the WinwinD (Finnish manufacturer of 1 and 3 MW wind turbines) investment of €120 million; and the London Array venture with German energy corporation EON (Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, 2009). Already, efforts on becoming a top 3 global thin-film PV company was launched via the Masdar PV, a $600 million venture in Erfurt, Germany. It hopes to produce amorphous thin-film photovoltaic modules with an annual capacity of 210 MW. The venture with Germany hopes to ensure the knowledge transfer of state-of-the-art technology to Abu Dhabi (Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, 2009). The venture hopes to produce the largest thin-film solar panels which measures 5.7 square metres (Asian Solar, 2009). Masdar PV has its plant in Ichtershausen, central Germany and has a total capacity of 65 megawatts. Another plant was opened in Taweelah, Abu Dhabi in 2009 with the goal to produce enough panels with a yearly capacity of 130MW (Asian Solar 2009). Its presence in Germany has been justified for the presence of the technical-know-how and the biggest market (Asian Solar, 2009). Masdar’s Carbon Management Unit or the CMU) is involved in carbon reduction and monetisation, and carbon capture and storage. IT monetises greenhouse gas emission reductions as guided by the United Nations’ Clean Development Mechanism Kyoto Protocol. It hopes to create in Masdar a large-scale carbon capture and storage consisting of carbon capture plants at emission sites, pipelines to carry the carbon dioxide to onshore oil fields and an injection system to pump the carbon underground to enhance oil recovery (Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company, 2009). The recent innovation, however, does not overshadow the fact that Abu Dhabi has one of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the world. It has committed however, to reach a share of about 7% of renewables in Abu Dhabi’s power generation capacity by 2020 during the World Future Energy Summit in January 2009 (The National, 2009). The commitment was seen as an invitation to possible investors in the renewable industry indicating that there is a strong demand of such in Abu Dhabi (Reiche, 2009). Cost, however, was seen to retard movements such as that of Suntech, the supplier for 50% of the panels to the first phase of the Masdar initiative (Asian Solar, 2009). Many of the visions presented by Masdar City (2009) were computer-generated images of a city and its facilities based on the Geographic Information System of ESRI GIS software. It includes transport and lay-out, although those involved in the project claim to have considered the past of the place as an inspiration for its future but Arab city infrastructure was solely considered. They also mentioned consideration for human and physical geography (Masdar City, 2009). The aims of the project were not new as all those lined-up have been considered in many other cities: self-sufficient energy needs; water recycling of up to 80%; solar and biomass conversion; tapping of geothermal, hydrogen, and wind powers; creation of biological waste into fertilisers; recycling or reusing industrial waste (Masdar City, 2009). The material also suggested that while experimental, it is also colossal and “no historical frame of reference” (Masdar City, 2009, 1). ESRI on its part has hyped that Abu Dhabi already has “emerged as one of the world’s most progressive cities, standing as a veritable museum of creative architecture fused with modern technology,” (ESRI, nd). Application of Sustainable Design to Buildings Manmade environment has impacted much on the design and development of cities or vice-versa. Its role on carbon production as well as many other negative aspects of urbanism has been highlighted throughout the years as development and redevelopment or regeneration were insufficient to address burgeoning issues of urban areas. To address such, focus on buildings to apply renewable energy has fueled the Masdar initiative. Green building policies have also been adopted and development in Masdar was seen to move towards placement of solar panels in every building rooftop and façade space (Asian Solar, 2009). In addition, the Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) were also seen of vast potential as the US Department of Energy even estimated the that BIPV can generate half of electricity needed by US (Asian Solar, 2009). This was also seen as applicable to other countries, developed or developing (Asian Solar, 2009). The BIPV system is composed of the PV modules made up of either thin film or crystalline which are transparent, semi-transparent or opaque; charge controller that regulates the power into and out of the battery storage bank for standalone systems; a power storage system that can be the utility grid or batteries; power-conversion equipment that includes the inverter to convert the DC output from the PV modules into compatible AC current; back-up energy supplies such as diesel gensets; and support and mounting hardware such as wiring and safety disconnects (Asian Solar, 2009, 28). Kyocera Solar, one of the world’s leading manufacturer and supplier for solar energy products, claimed that BIPV allows the combination of proven renewable power-generating technology and the building exterior or faced with the traditional tried-and-tested construction methods (Asian Solar, 2009). Asian Solar proposed several benefits as follows: Affordability – as costs are combined on building material and power generation; Distribution of manufacturing as consumers become independent from centralised source; Economies of scale – large inventory of constructed surface area for renewable energy production; Real Estate Value - improved for its short as well as long-term investment; Easy integration to standard construction practice and even existing buildings; Minimal system cost – on requirement of support structures; Hassle-free operation - low maintenance and no moving parts; Improved aesthetics (Asian Solar, 2009, 28). The challenges to BIPV has also been suggested to include the newness of the technology and that rigid requirement for installation and its workers should be ensured; vast area needed for plants so that in Abu Dhabi, about 400sq km is require; total investment of $50,000 million; average plant lifetime of 30 years; and the local climate which is dry and dusty requiring regular cleaning in order to sustain efficiency and refrain from impairments; repair and maintenance (Asian Solar, 2009). Sustainable City Urban design and planning has been tasked to address sustainability although much can be said about the competence of the early planners with regards to consideration of futures. Sustainable cities emerged as an answer to the socio-economic problems at their current time, such as the English Saltaire which was developed by industrialist-philanthropist Titus Salt in mid-nineteenth century. Saltaire had 10,000 population of mainly mill workers and their family engaged in Salt’s Mill, then considered as the most technologically advanced woolen mill in the world located just 5 kilometres off Bradford (Whitehead, n.d.). They resided in a collection of 850 purpose-built high quality houses in contrast with their “appalling conditions typical of the era, but Saltaire focused on improving the physical amenity as well as moral welfare of the workers. It was granted a UNESCO or United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization World Heritage status in 2001 (Whitehead, n.d.). The World Commission on Environment and Development defined sustainable development as being able to meet “the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs” (WCED, 1987, 42). McMannus (2005) further added that sustainable development should be able to prioritise goals such as the ecosystem, economic growth, social or cultural well-being. Two models were provided by Whitehead (n.d.) as illustrated in Appendix B. Where there is a balanced target and consideration for several aspects, this has been considered “weak” whereas a tiered system provides “ecological’ consideration as consisting of the majority of focus (Whitehead, n.d.). Ayres, van den Berg and Gowdy (1998) proposed that substitution of natural and produced capital is not always achieved in a balanced model of sustainability die to the easier exploitation of natural resources that contribute to great economic input but with the impossibility of restoring the degraded ecosystem to its original condition (pp 3-4). Whitehead (n.d.) suggested that “a hierarchical relationship is appropriate because it recognises that our society and economy are ultimately dependent on the natural environment, whereas the natural environment can (and for all of prehistory, did) exist regardless of these other aspects,” (4). The various aspects of sustainability have also been presented to consider all factors that are involved in the process of urban development (see Appendix C). This meant that while economic aspects of sustainability is on top of the priorities, it occupies a smaller division, followed by social and governance aspects. On the bottom is ecological aspect which occupies the biggest bulk of the hierarchical model. In addition to the aspects, the enhancing and mitigating factors are considered and these include establishment costs, experimental benefits, as well as flexibility of the system which achieve an overall sustainability result (Whitehead, n.d.). Ecological footprint is seen to assess the sustainability of a city through measurement of goods, services, energy and land it consumes against the appropriated carrying capacity or the total ecosystem that is required to support the city’s existence (Wackernagel and Rees, 1996). Another model for ecological footprint measurement has been proposed with the One Planet Living concept (WWF International and Bioregional, 2009) as adopted by Masdar City. Its components are as follows: carbon emission, waste, transport, materials, food, water, habitats and wildlife, culture and heritage, equity and fair trade, and health and happiness. Already, the two models contrast in in their precepts and definitely, measurement. Masdar City (2009) itself has claimed that the UAE scores very poorly on the criteria which meant that to sustain its current state of lifestyle of its residents in a global scale, it would require six planets. Whitehead (n.d.) found the proposed Masdar City vision as unrealistic, unlikely in its shoot and medium term, but possible in the long term after the oil reserves has actually dwindled. Masdar City may as well be aspiring for bioregionalism which meant living within the local limits of nature in a self-reliant way (McManus, 2005). But in consideration of its dependence on Western technology, components, and many other aspects of the development and maintenance process at the moment, it is very likely that Masdar City will be “more unsustainable from a bioregional perspective” (Whitehead, n.d., 7). On-going developments also do not mirror the sustainability of Masdar City. Costs and processes should already be considered (Whitehead, n.d.) at the onset in order to account for its claims as zero-waste and carbon neutral, and this has been very far from likely. Heathcote (2008) define the high ecological impacts of aluminium and concrete, energy for transport and set-up, establishing new settlement, and other processes for the achievement of a Masdar vision were already seen as unsustainable as ecological costs cannot be easily justified with the succeeding savings in energy and resources alone. As Nair (2008) appropriately commented, Masdar is another city of “superficial, high-technology fix” and is only effective in distracting current issues without actually addressing real concerns in a straightforward and effective manner (Whitehead, n.d.). Measuring the Sustainability of Masdar Being a new city, Masdar was already seen as unsustainable. Its business-as-usual approach to the building of the new city did not even applied conventional or innovative ways to minimise carbon footprint by developing locally-sourced materials in their buildings and even technology but borrowed if not buying from imported materials and technologies. It already claimed that it was possible to establish the city through use of environment-friendly building materials, restricted water use, and offsetting of unavoidable carbon emission. However, these were not even followed as only minimal efforts were exerted such as use of about 30% of recycled content, and labelling materials as “Zero Masdar Restricted List” yet with vague criteria and definition. In addition, all others were left as goals and unlikely implemented such as the use of water at 30% lower than usual, or 50% less carbon emission. These goals, the Masdar implementers claim, will only be possible after the final phase of construction (Masdar City, 2009). Conclusion An ideal eco-city is difficult to describe and define in consideration of its non-existence based on current status of cities around the world today and in compliance with defined sustainable eco-city as discussed. Sustainability should employ least cost of development or redevelopment, capitalise on improving existing infrastructure, maximise ways to implement healthy lifestyle for its residents and visitors thus employing the most minimal use of locomotives as well as processing infrastructures, and employ organic and natural ways to reduce carbon such as massive tree planting projects using biodegradable waste from its own cities to fertilise them and using recycled water to sustain them. Sustainability should not also be limited to national policy and governmental efforts but cooperation between private and public sectors that encompass all residents. We all should have our own individual efforts at sustainability which a government like Abu Dhabi could and must enforce to meet real sustainability goals. There are many ways that had been proposed in order to achieve environmental goals but many developed countries are seen to apply only economically strategic ways such as carbon trading which monetises violation or excess to allowed emission amount. This method has been highly criticised for its lack of solid commitment as well as efforts from major multinational companies and their countries that protect them. General expectations go beyond emission but of neutralising as well as decreasing carbon, consumption, as well actual and vigilant development of the ecological habitat we currently have. Technology and innovation, on the other hand, which has been heavily used by Masdar City was wholly imported and dependent on western or outside interference and fulfilment. Aside from the transport and other energy consumption it entails, lack of local materials used also prevailed. Many aspects of ecological concerns were also dismissed such as development of local-based initiatives to address environmental and consumption concerns. In order to fully claim what Masdar City hypes, it must go beyond reliance of western-produced marketing and tech-savvy literature in support of the western technologies and innovations which Abu Dhabi bought if not fully financed. The government of Abu Dhabi should be discerning enough that there had been a near-collapse of Dubai, its neighbouring emirate, after too much Western exploitation occurred just recently. The marketing techniques by these “global” corporations” might have only been recycled and rehashed to sustain their own existence and, Abu Dhabi should take heed. Reference: Asian Solar. 2009. Sunshine and Space: Can Masdar provide the impetus for the UAE?. October-November. Ayres, R., van den Bergh, J. and Gowdy, J. 1998, ‘Viewpoint: Weak versus Strong Sustainability’, Discussion Paper IT 98-103/3, Tinbergen Institute, Amsterdam. ESRI. GIS Creates City of the Future: Case Study. No date. Heathcote, E. 2008, ‘Architecture: The schizophrenia of ‘greenism’’, Financial Times: FT.com, October 3. Masdar City. 2009. Our Aims. Accessed from http://www.masdarcity.com Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company. Today’s source for tomorrow’s energy. 2009. Masdar City Development Programme. July 2009.ESRI. Masdar City: The world’s first carbon-neutral city. 2009. ESRI Millennium House. McManus, P. 2005. Vortex Cities to Sustainable Cities: Australia’s Urban Challenge, UNSW Press, Sydney. Nair, C. 2008. ‘Grand designs should look to the future’, Financial Times (Asia Edition), 26 May. The National. 2009. Abu Dhabi for a greener Irena, June 28, 3. The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf. The Charter. Reiche, D. 2009. Renewable Energy Policies in the Gulf countries: A case study of the carbon-neutral “Masdar City” in Abu Dhabi. Energy Policy, 2009; doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2009.09.028 Wackernagel, M. and Rees, W. 1996, ‘Ecological Footprints for Beginners’ in Wackernagel, M. and Rees, W., Our Ecological Footprint: Reducing human impact on the earth, New Society Publishers, Gabriola Island, British Columbia, pp. 7-30. Whitehead, Isabelle. N.d. Models of sustainability? A comparative analysis of ideal city planning in Saltaire and Masdar City. Geography, in the School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Australia. World Commission on Environment and Development. 1987, Report of the World Commission on Environment and Development: Our Common Future, Oxford University Press, Oxford. WWF International and BioRegional. 2009, One Planet Living, Accessed from http://www.oneplanetliving.org Appendix: A: Energy Conversion Plan Source: Masdar City Programme, 2009. B: Models of Sustainable Development Priorities Source: Whitehead, n.d. C: Factors related to Ecologically Sustainable Development Source: Whitehead, n.d. Read More