GE and clean tech in Masdar City

MANILA, Philippines - General Electric (GE) will be an anchor partner in Masdar City, a planned city in Abu Dhabi that’s currently under construction and will be the world’s first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city completely powered by renewable energy.

Masdar is driven by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC), a wholly owned company of Mubadala Development Company. The city is a reflection of the long-term strategic commitment by the government of Abu Dhabi to accelerate the development and deployment of future energy solutions.

In a joint Masdar-GE agreement, the two companies outlined plans to house a new Ecomagination Centre focused on sustainable business solutions, and to form a broader R&D relationship that will support the development and deployment of new and innovative technologies. This center is part of the strategic partnership signed by Mubadala and GE in July 2008.

Ecomagination is GE’s commitment to conceive and construct pioneering technologies that help customers address their environmental and financial needs. The Ecomagination Centre at Masdar City will support the development of energy-efficient products in the region and will raise awareness on energy conservation. The center will also showcase GE technologies, including wind, solar and other renewable energy products that will power the next-generation smart electrical grid, water purification technology, and energy-efficient appliances for the home.

“This is truly a landmark partnership in the development of Masdar City because it will allow us to jointly develop, deploy, scale and market innovative solutions in renewable energy and sustainability,” Masdar CEO Dr. Sultan Al Jaber said. “We are excited that GE will be an anchor tenant at Masdar City, as we aim to build the world’s Silicon Valley for clean technology.”

“The vision of the leadership of Abu Dhabi and of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, crown prince of Abu Dhabi and deputy supreme commander of the Armed Forces of the UAE, has allowed us to make great advancements in the Masdar Initiative and attract the world’s greatest partners to join us,” he added.

The multi-faceted agreement also provides a framework for Masdar and GE to explore areas of R&D collaboration in the development of clean tech products. Masdar will be able to leverage GE’s technological expertise with the aim of ultimately including these technologies in the Masdar City development.

“Masdar City and Abu Dhabi are perfect for GE to establish its first Ecomagination Centre,” Nabil Habayeb, president and CEO, GE Middle East and Africa, said. “We see enormous opportunities to deploy sustainable technologies in the region, drive new innovation, and harness the region’s great interest and willingness in putting these technologies to work.”

The Ecomagination Centre is expected to be up to 4,000 sqm. in size and will be located near the Masdar Institute, Masdar’s graduate-level institution dedicated to academic research and study in the development and deployment of the future of energy.

The Ecomagination Centre is a product of the GE and Mubadala framework agreement on a global partnership encompassing a broad range of initiatives, including commercial finance, clean energy research and development, aviation, industry and corporate learning. Building on an already strong relationship and a common view of high-growth opportunities in the Middle East and globally, the agreement provides for shared capital commitments to new joint ventures and investment funds.

For more information on GE and Mubadala, visit www.ge.com/news/partnership.