Masdar starts testing feasibility of solar energy at eco city. Will Abu Dhabi’s dust let the sunshine in?
Abu Dhabi’s Future Energy Company, Masdar, and Spain’s Instituto De Sistemas Fotovoltaicos de Concentracion S.A. (ISFOC) have signed an agreement to conduct a test and study concentrated photovoltaic (CPV) technologies in the Emirate’s unique subtropical climate. Although blessed with ample sunshine for most days of the year is occasionally bothered with haze and dust conditions as well which could interfere with energy output.
Masdar, a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Company, Abu Dhabi’s leading investment and development company, will conduct the study with ISFOC to determine what effect the area’s climatic conditions will have on Masdar’s plans to install large scale solar energy plants in their carbon neutral Masdar City development project, that has been featured in Green Prophet a number of times.
Regarding ISFOC’s participation in this project, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Masdar’s CEO, was quoted in Abu Dhabi’s Al Bawaba news article saying: “Spain is a global leader in the renewable energy sphere and we are very about excited about strengthening the technical cooperation between our two countries and carrying out these tests with ISFOC”.
Dr. Al Jaber went on to say: “This feasibility study goes to the heart of Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy vision and of what Masdar is about; namely pushing the boundaries of technology, promoting innovation, and above all fostering international cooperation to pave the way for the more widespread adoption of renewable energy in the future.”
The Masdar-ISFOC feasibility study will examine the effects of dust, ambient temperature, ground fog and haze on the energy output and reliability of CPV technologies from a variety of manufacturers.
For more of this article: http://www.greenprophet.com/2009/11/28/13862/masdar-solar-energy-pv
Source: Green Prophet