Masdar City
#1
Masdar City
Gizmodo is reporting that Masdar City officially opened last weekend. It is billed as the world's first carbon neutral city.
Ok I am finding it very hard believe that any city in the UAE could be carbon neutral, with the UAE penchant for high per capita energy uses, highest in the world. Now I realize this city is 'special' but how much of a difference can you really make? Even such claims in the West would leave me skeptical so in the UAE even more so.
http://gizmodo.com/#!5798005/the-wor...s-for-business
Ok I am finding it very hard believe that any city in the UAE could be carbon neutral, with the UAE penchant for high per capita energy uses, highest in the world. Now I realize this city is 'special' but how much of a difference can you really make? Even such claims in the West would leave me skeptical so in the UAE even more so.
http://gizmodo.com/#!5798005/the-wor...s-for-business
#2
Re: Masdar City
In short it isn't, not even close, in fact it's pretty ****ing far from it.
So far the power requirements are so in excess of that generated by the tidily little pv plant next to it that it's quite funny.
When you then add in the carbon footprint of the actualy build ie power used to generate the water used in construction, the carbon used for the concrete etc it's laughably shite
Great idea which could have been done easily under the original budget however itnwas run by **** nuggets who employed more **** nuggets who collectively missed the point by such a massive margin that their international partners are now embarrassed to have been scammed into being part of it.
Shame as had any sense of reality and competence been involved it would have been a huge PR coup not to mention the right thing to do
Oh and as an aside there is a nice wikileaks cable about IRENA and the fact the UAE got it's hq for services rendered to the us govt.
So far the power requirements are so in excess of that generated by the tidily little pv plant next to it that it's quite funny.
When you then add in the carbon footprint of the actualy build ie power used to generate the water used in construction, the carbon used for the concrete etc it's laughably shite
Great idea which could have been done easily under the original budget however itnwas run by **** nuggets who employed more **** nuggets who collectively missed the point by such a massive margin that their international partners are now embarrassed to have been scammed into being part of it.
Shame as had any sense of reality and competence been involved it would have been a huge PR coup not to mention the right thing to do
Oh and as an aside there is a nice wikileaks cable about IRENA and the fact the UAE got it's hq for services rendered to the us govt.
#3
Re: Masdar City
In short it isn't, not even close, in fact it's pretty ****ing far from it.
So far the power requirements are so in excess of that generated by the tidily little pv plant next to it that it's quite funny.
When you then add in the carbon footprint of the actualy build ie power used to generate the water used in construction, the carbon used for the concrete etc it's laughably shite
Great idea which could have been done easily under the original budget however itnwas run by **** nuggets who employed more **** nuggets who collectively missed the point by such a massive margin that their international partners are now embarrassed to have been scammed into being part of it.
Shame as had any sense of reality and competence been involved it would have been a huge PR coup not to mention the right thing to do
Oh and as an aside there is a nice wikileaks cable about IRENA and the fact the UAE got it's hq for services rendered to the us govt.
So far the power requirements are so in excess of that generated by the tidily little pv plant next to it that it's quite funny.
When you then add in the carbon footprint of the actualy build ie power used to generate the water used in construction, the carbon used for the concrete etc it's laughably shite
Great idea which could have been done easily under the original budget however itnwas run by **** nuggets who employed more **** nuggets who collectively missed the point by such a massive margin that their international partners are now embarrassed to have been scammed into being part of it.
Shame as had any sense of reality and competence been involved it would have been a huge PR coup not to mention the right thing to do
Oh and as an aside there is a nice wikileaks cable about IRENA and the fact the UAE got it's hq for services rendered to the us govt.
#4
Re: Masdar City
IRENA is teh international renewable energy thingy, the uae lobbied hard to get the bodies HQ to be based in Masdar, so much so that a couple of the wikileaks cables mention MBZ and the state department discussing it. for support given to the us over bases and a stance against iran the uae got us support for IRENA and clintons backing for nuke power
#5
Re: Masdar City
Remember all the hoo haa for the WTC in Bahrain? It was meant to generate x% of power..and what does it do? It shakes..it generates about 5% of power used, if that is actually true...Who had the genius idea of wind power in a non windy spot such as Bahrain? But Atkins do seem to make a load of cash out here, so nevermind.
Last edited by Paracletus; May 7th 2011 at 12:32 am. Reason: spelling mistake yo
#6
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Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,869
Re: Masdar City
I thought Masdar City was supposed to be just a kind of show-home environment where they tried out new ideas in urban planning and sustainable power?
When I was there was a lovely breeze blowing through and there were lots of shady areas.
When I was there was a lovely breeze blowing through and there were lots of shady areas.
#7
Re: Masdar City
can anyone explain why solar power isn't a big deal here?
It just seems so obvious. Am I missing something?
It just seems so obvious. Am I missing something?
#9
Re: Masdar City
- They don't perform well in the heat.
- Sand
- Diffused light (look up, the sky is never blue and clear and the light is 'diffused')
- Damn expensive - upfront capital costs c. 6-7x more expensive.
- Oil is cheap
- No storage
#10
Re: Masdar City
The main problem here is the subsidisation of electricity which cripples any solar power pay back combine that with no guaranteed power purchase agreement for alternative energy and you'll be running a charity not a commercial power provider.
**** nuggets
#15
Re: Masdar City
Isn't the zero carbon clap trap just a front for Masdar's real purpose - buying carbon generated from African power stations which is then injected into the ground to make oil extraction easier?
Or is that a far too simplistic cynacism?
Or is that a far too simplistic cynacism?