EcoPower Magazine

‫‪ecopower‬‬ ‫‪For a better future‬‬

‫ايكـــوبــــــور‬ ‫العدد �سفر | ابريل ‪2010‬‬

‫جملة ايكوبور العدد �سفر اأبريل ‪2010‬‬

‫‪Ecopower magazine issue zero April 2010‬‬

‫‪Issue 0 | April 2010‬‬

‫من أجل مستقبل أفضل‬

‫خطوة في االتجاه المطلوب‬ ‫‪Managing energy‬‬ ‫‪during peak‬‬ ‫‪electric loads‬‬

‫‪Siemens innovation‬‬ ‫‪at Shanghai Expo‬‬ ‫‪2010‬‬

‫‪Electric super‬‬ ‫‪cars with super‬‬ ‫‪excitement‬‬

‫�سيارات كهربائية فائقة‬ ‫ال�سرعة وفائقة الإثارة‬

‫اإبداع �سيمنز البيئي يف‬ ‫اإك�سبو �سانغهاي ‪2010‬‬

‫اإدارة الطاقة اأثناء ذروات‬ ‫التحميل الكهربائي‬

Contents

General concept about electric cars is that they are slow, and not fun to drive, drivers who like roaring v8 engines feel that in electric car they will lose the excitement of driving

As the Middle East grapples with growing demand for sustainable supplies of clean water, GE is providing advanced watermanagement solutions to the region, which encompass desalination; municipal, utility and industrial wastewater treatment;

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The China Pavilion, with a total surface area of 160,000 square meters, is one of the largest Siemens projects at the Shanghai Expo. Built entirely with energy-saving building technology from Siemens

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Sea Dunes teamed up with the French scientist “George Feliot, who was one of the pioneers and top scientist of the European Space Agency program, to develop a battery-powered boat engine

In the Middle East there are typical peak loads during summer time when all air conditioning systems are switched on, but there are also variations which need to be managed throughout the day

Publisher

OZ CommunicationsFreezone Dubai Media City Environmental Consultant

Baher Nablousi Editorial

Reem Tooqan Aqeel el Mehdawi Advertisement

Sami Lahoud +971 50 9192067 sami@ecopowermagazine.com

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

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for someone like Lina, environment friendliness is a way of life. It extends to using least toxic substance for painting her salon, using energy-efficient lighting and wallpaper made of bamboo and organic cotton for curtains.

Environment Conservation:

The Etisalat Initiatives Ahmed Bin Ali, Vice President – Etisalat

Etisalat attaches great importance to environment issues and takes keen interest in its preservation in consonance with the role played by national corporations and various other institutions in the UAE. Since its inception, the company has been aware of the duties associated with the environment and has taken measures to set up green buildings. Its headquarters in Abu Dhabi is regarded as one of the pioneering buildings on environmental front and a unique establishment of its kind in Abu Dhabi.

Etisalat is among the most prominent corporations in the country and a telecommunication giant of the region. It has a responsibility to lead by example even in ecofriendly initiatives. The company has always led from the front and continues to take meaningful decisions in this domain. By virtue of these initiatives, it is today one of the region’s most important innovators working for preservation of the environment.

Etisalat’s main building in Abu Dhabi is designed with specialized interfaces that help reduce reflection of sunlight and absorbs heat. Its windows have inbuilt thermal insulation systems that conform to the highest standards of efficiency. The building also uses sophisticated fire extinguishing equipment that helps maintain the ozone layer. All the buildings that Etisalat occupies are run on Smart Technology, which automatically turns off all electrical appliances twice a day – half an hour after the end of official working hours and again three hours later – to conserve energy.

Etisalat’s eco-friendly initiatives have transcended many

a boundary. The company set up green towers in Saudi Arabia and has contributed to the construction of more than 160 solar-powered establishments, in addition to 60 large stations in the UAE. It is in the process of completing a fiber-optic networks project in the UAE, which will help reduce energy consumption by 73 percent compared with the old networks.

In 2009, Etisalat handed over the task of building management to its subsidiary company, Etisalat Facilities Management (EFM). This helped the company strengthen its capacity to maintain all sources of energy and water, as well as pursue facilities management techniques to manage recycling operations. EFM seeks to invest in its experience of working with Etisalat on the ISO 140,001 as the company gets ready to provide services to several government and private institutions in the UAE. Since 2008, Etisalat has been participating in the Global Green Telecom Summit, organized by International Research Institute. In 2009, the headquarters of Etisalat Academy in Dubai hosted the Summit. Through participation in events such as these, there has been an exchange of ideas pertaining to the most important

global initiatives which, in turn, reflect positively on the concepts of environmental conservation.

Etisalat has also helped countries in the region get rid of e-waste. Three years ago it ran a national campaign – named Envirophone – to encourage recycling and has so far collected 150 tons of e-waste for disposal. The organization continues to collect mobile phones, laptops and other electronic devices, which are then taken outside the country and recycled in a safe environment.

Etisalat is working to provide solutions to its customers in the business sector and the organization has become an ambassador for storage services for a more secure data. It has a sophisticated mechanism in place for the conservation of data and provides default services such as participation at the server-level with others in order to reduce the need for space and energy. It ensures that the design of buildings accurately fit with the requirements of large corporations.

Etisalat also works to support cloud computing, video conferencing and will soon launch a new innovation to combat waste telecommunications through a free program that helps customers develop a timetable

to control the operation of Internet login period.

The organization is working with various leading real estate developers and municipalities for the launch of Smart City services through its program (eLife), which allows centralized management of all electricity-powered devices which helps manage waste and water sources.

Etisalat will provide these services in the 300 buildings on Reem Island on the lines of the first carbon emissions free city in the world outside the borders of Abu Dhabi.

Etisalat also contributes to associations and other institutions that cooperate with ministries of environment and water. A leading example of this has been the Telecom Egypt program “Water Is Life” for water conservation. Run in collaboration with a number of NGOs, the project facilitates clean drinking water for thousands of people in the country and was recognized as the best social program at the Summit of Social Responsibility Awards organized by the Institute for International Research. Etisalat has achieved a lot in the field of environment over the years and recognizes that this is an ongoing journey.

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Introduction

Introduction

Cover Story

Eco-friendly Salon:

A Stitch In Time

UAE national Lina El-Abbas is the brain behind the first ecofriendly beauty salon in the country. “The concept of environmental salon did not exist in the UAE and my job began with educating women about moral beauty besides encouraging them to create a salon free of toxins. This was even more significant for pregnant women, for those with sensitive skin and for anyone who cared about health and environment together.”

Lina wanted to open a salon but was not too excited about a conventional one to begin with.

“When I hit upon the idea of combining a beauty salon with an ecofriendly concept it enthused me. I have always been an environment enthusiast and that was accentuated by my past experiences,” she says. For years she hated the smell of chemicals in salons and thought about the impact chemicals in most beauty products have on human body. “A rash on the hand and feet after manicure and pedicure, a burn in the scalp, or itching in the eyes while coloring the hair are the norm. I realized that these reactions are the result of chemicals and then

cation. I realized this could be introduced to the market because it is natural and also an extension of my lifestyle. More importantly, I was friends with those who are enthusiastic about the environment.”

Lina is a full-fledged advocate of environment activism. She is a vegetarian and beauty for her must be moral. She consumes organic food, recycles waste in the house and makes significant contributions to environmental issues. She uses recyclable shopping bags and re-uses bottles of water, strongly rejecting the use of plastic bags and bottles. “These are some of the many environment-friendly habits I have inculcated. If a large number of people become more aware, it will be easy to make a difference to the environment,” she says.

turned to organic and natural products,” says Lina.

She started looking for such products in the UAE. “I did not find any

salon that could offer chemical-free treatment. There are salons and spa products and natural treatments available but there is no full range of services available at a single lo-

Lina’s idea was an instant hit and a large number of women took to organic food, clothing, medicine and natural products. There is an element of eclecticism with regard to products or brands that are used in daily beauty care routine. Since the products that Lina’s salon offers are safe for pregnant women, nursing mothers and those with sensitive skin, it is a magnet for women of all ages and nationalities. They realize that they can look good without using harmful chemicals.

Lina maintains that the concept is based on the cultivation and preparation of nutritional products – food and fiber. It is an agricultural system

that feeds and maintains soil fertility without using pesticides and other harmful fertilizers. Organic food is processed without using industrial components or preservatives and is kept away from radiation. Organic farming helps maintain the cleanliness of water sources free from chemicals such as herbicides and pesticides. Lina says that these products are priced higher due to higher production cost as it must accept stricter regulations. However, according to her, the price should not be seen as a barrier but as an investment in one’s health and body. “We are keen on the food we eat and we must apply the same care on the products that we use,” she says.

Also all organic and natural products are not expensive. “Some chemical products are expensive but the impression that expensive materials are more effective is wrong,” stresses Lina. According to her, expensive cosmetic products do not necessarily mean

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Lina El Abbas

Cover Story

Regional News

However, for someone like Lina, environment friendliness is a way of life. It extends to using least toxic substance for painting her salon, using energy-efficient lighting and wallpaper made of bamboo and organic cotton for curtains. Her employees’ uniforms and detergents are biodegradable and environment-friendly. Instead of using bottled water in plastic bottles her salon uses water-purification system with bins for recycling. She uses chairs aged over 31 years, the upholstery includes biodegradable towels and her staff is trained to use water energy wisely. These small bits go a long way in spreading the cause of environmental protection among her customers.

“I am proud to have set up the first environment-friendly salon in Dubai and for promoting the ideal of ethical beauty in the UAE. It feels great because I have pioneered healthy alternative to traditional salon treatments,” says Lina. “We have a responsibility to the society and we must help extend the life of our planet. A salon that is a friend of the beauty industry as well as of the environment is without doubt a step in this direction,” Lina proudly reaffirms.

EAD Wins Arab Towns Organization Award On behalf of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD) has been awarded for its efforts in raising public environmental awareness at the 10th Arab Towns Organization Award. The results of the awards, which were announced at a press conference, held at the Headquarters of the Arab Towns Award Foundation.

The awards, which were held in Doha, Qatar, witnessed strong competition and heavy participation from several Arab capitals cities.

The Agency ranked first among 10 nominees in the Environment Awareness category, while second place was bagged by Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

The results of the awards were announced at a press conference held at the end of the arbitral tribunal for the 10th session, which over three days looked at 115 nominations from different cities and Arab institutions and individuals. “The UAE’s leadership fully supports our efforts to raise environmental awareness. It is their vision that our future generations become part of an environmentally aware society,” said Majid Al Mansouri, EAD’s Secretary General “All our policies and strategies point towards sustainable development and achieving an environmentally aware society. Education is the way

to achieve this because it helps to shape behavior,” he added.

He noted that in partnership with other relevant organizations, EAD carries out and supports tailor-made environmental education and awareness programmes that involve schools, institutions of higher education, educators of all levels, NGOs youth clubs, fishermen, women associations, media, farmers, farm supervisors, real estate developers, tour operators, social centers, corporate sector, government department employees , oil & gas sector employees, industrial employees, religious preachers, decision makers and members of the general public.

Al Mansouri added that since 1996, EAD’s environmental awareness programmes are conscious to the challenges of reality, potential and conditions of the world and changes in important areas such as biodiversity, water, waste, energy, and other pressing global issues such as climate change.

Al Mansouri said,”We believe that raising public environmental awareness is not only the responsibility of the government but should extend to every organization in the government and private sector as well as individuals.”

The Arab Towns Organization, founded in 1967, is a non-governmental organization specialized in the affairs of municipalities and cities in the Arab world. Its permanent headquarters is in Kuwait City. The organization is working to achieve sustainable development in Arab cities.

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

they are safer and are, on the contrary, full of chemicals and hidden perfumes. Natural products are cheaper and safer because they contain the essential components of the plant and aren’t just packaged in expensive bottles. Lina chooses products for use in the salon based on an assurance of safety and also ensures that they have not been tested on animals.

“This applies to everything I use, from nail polish to hair dyes to wax and shampoo,” she adds.

Regional News

The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the Middle East’s first graduate research institution dedicated to alternative energy, environmental technologies and sustainability, and the Advanced Technology Investment Company (ATIC), today announced an Abu Dhabi-based, world class, research- centric Master’s in Microsystems degree program that will begin in the fall 2010 school year.

Developed in collaboration with the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the new program’s coursework and curriculum will also provide joint research opportunities for faculty. Through this partnership, ATIC will support the development of a semiconductor “clean room” and associated laboratories at Masdar Institute’s facility to be located in Masdar City, the world’s first sustainable city, fully powered by renew-

District Cooling With Empower “Countries in the region should empower their real estate projects with district cooling technology to save energy and preserve the environment.” These are the words of Ahmed Bin Shafar, the Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Central Cooling Corporation, also known as Empower Energy Solutions. The company cites Dubai as a success story in this domain. The city has saved significant amount of energy by adopting modern technology that are also environmentfriendly. According to Shafar, real

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estate projects in Dubai are mostly equipped with such technologies.

Statistics suggest that annual savings ratio of energy generated by these systems to any housing unit is between 40-45 percent less compared to traditional air conditioning systems.

Two months ago, Empower launched the manufacturing unit of Elibs for insulation pipe in a joint venture with Lojistur. “This factory will meet the growing needs of quality insulation pipe in the region, particularly needed in districts cooling systems and at oil and gas fields. Cooling zones technology is 50 percent more effective than conventional cooling solutions. We have succeeded in making

pact the globe’s energy footprint, an issue of critical importance that can help make Abu Dhabi a future hub of semiconductor innovation.”

The Microsystems MSc graduates of Masdar Institute will have globally-relevant skills. The coursework, developed in collaboration with MIT and with the support of ATIC, will include modules on nanoprocessing technology, digital systems laboratories, integrated microelectronic devices and the physics of microfabrication. As part of the program, the research being conducted in collaboration with the semiconductor industry will provide Masdar Institute faculty and students with the opportunity to develop, pilot and scale solutions applicable to solving the problems of energy supply, demand and climate change.

Set to commence in the 2010 academic year, the program in its first year will be open to 20 students, and will be taught by world class faculty covering a highly specialized technical curriculum. The infrastructure developed to deliver the curriculum is both international in both inspiration and application. significant savings and relieving the pressure of a large electricity consumption in Dubai, thanks to district cooling solutions that were deployed in new real estate projects,” says Shafar.

He further says that the cooling districts technology is the best cooling solutions that reduce CO2 emissions and thus help protect the environment. “We call upon the Arab region to follow the UAE example in this field. We expect high demand in cooling solutions in the coming years. The use of this technology in commercial and residential units is among our top priorities in the times ahead,” he adds.

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation Book Wins Award Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation Book Wins Award The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has announced that Green Food Fun, one of the books translated and published under its ‘Tarjem’ programme won the “Best in the World Award for Translation” at the annual Gourmand World Awards which was held lately in Paris. This year’s winners were selected from applications from 136 countries.

The Foundation issued the book under its Tarjem (translate) Programme which seeks to develop the translation process in the Arab World. The award winning book written originally by Lisa Bullard, was translated into Arabic by Flora Majdalawi and was published by Majdalawi Masterpieces.

Aimed at children aged 4 to 8, the book is part of a series that has been adapted to deal with cultural differences. It showcases bright photographs of food with short, rhyming, and simple nutritional facts about green food. The book also includes a glossary of the less frequent words, an index, and other sections that encourage further reading.

Ali Al Shaali, Director of Knowledge Production at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation said: “We are delighted to have worked with Flora who decided to translate and publish this book under our Tarjem programme. The award the book has received is a testament to the fact that the Foundation’s effort in translation is being well received and we look forward to working with more Arab publishers to enrich the

Arab library with more literary works.”

Launched in 2008, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation’s ‘Tarjem’ translation programme aims to enrich the Arab culture with knowledge from other sources, inspire cultural dialogue with the outside world through translation, open up new doors to sources of knowledge, provide translated works that comply with the highest standards, and create a new generation of proficient translators. In addition to publishing the translated books, the Foundation commits to purchasing 1500 copies of every translated title in order to support knowledge production in the Arab World.

The Gourmand World Awards were founded in 1995. They aim to reward and honour those who “cook with words”, help publishers with international rights to translate and distribute books and aid bookstores in finding the best books to display.

In addition to the ‘Tarjem’ programme, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Foundation has launched many programmes, including “Oktub’ programme, which aim at developing future leaders and creating a knowledgebased society by recognising, promoting and reinstating the role of culture, heritage and cross-cultural understanding in the region.

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

MASDAR INSTITUTE, TO OFFER MASTER’S PROGRAM

able energy.

“This program is an important milestone for both partners as it will contribute to building highly skilled human capital for Abu Dhabi which is making a significant investment in semiconductor manufacturing in an effort to create a knowledge-led economy, “ said Dr. John Perkins, Provost of Masdar Institute.

“The academic structure at Masdar Institute is dynamic in nature so that it can respond to Abu Dhabi’s need of transforming its economy from being a technology importer to a technology exporter. The world class infrastructure for research and teaching being established through this partnership at Masdar Institute will benefit Abu Dhabi and the renewable energy industry,” added Dr. Perkins.

“Energy is one of the most critical issues facing the world,” said Ibrahim Ajami, Chief Executive Officer of ATIC. “Semiconductors play a key role in all phases, from energy generation - especially renewable energy generation - to distribution and consumption. Advances in semiconductor research can significantly im-

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Power plant for Shauibah project from Siemens High-efficiency combined cycle power plants are part of Siemens’ Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2009, revenue from the Portfolio totaled about EUR23 billion, making Siemens the world’s largest supplier of ecofriendly technologies. In the same period, the company’s products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their CO2 emissions by 210 million tons. This amount equals the combined annual CO2 emissions of

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New York, Tokyo, London and Berlin. Siemens Energy built the power plant as a turnkey project together with its consortium partner Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction Co. Ltd. for Shuaibah Water and Electricity Company (SWEC). The overall plant has an installed capacity of 900 megawatts (MW); the seawater desalination plant supplied by Doosan will produce approximately 880,000 cubic meters of drinking water daily for the cities of Mecca, Jeddah, Taif and Al Baha.

The Shuaibah plant is located approximately 110 kilometers south of Jeddah. In addition to turnkey erection of the plant the Siemens scope of supply also encompassed three backpressure steam turbine-generators each rated at 400 MW, the associated electrical equipment and an SPPA-T3000 instrumentation and control system. The power plant is also equipped with one of the world’s most advanced flue-gas cleaning plants.

Siemens Energy was supported by the Regional Company Siemens Ltd. Saudi Arabia in implementation of the crude oil-fired power plant.

By 2024, it is anticipated that the population of Saudi Arabia will have almost doubled to 40 million. New power plants with a combined capacity of at least 3000 MW will be required annually to meet the pronounced increase in power demand. The Kingdom is therefore making significant investments in the expansion of capacities for power and drinking water supply. After Jeddah III, Ghazlan and Al Khobar, Shuaibah is the fourth large-capacity steam power plant built by Siemens in Saudi Arabia.

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Regional News

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International News

Virent Energy Systems and Shell start biogasoline plant

Gazeley leases sustainable building ‘Voltaic’

Recent small announcements suggest that energy-storage technologies are quietly making progress toward c o m m e rc i a l i z a t i o n , what's interesting is it's not all on the automotive side, while automobiles remain a key area for new energy-storage technologies, there seems to be a "spillover effect" as research and investment spreads into other areas.

For example last February Valence Technology signed a $45 million deal to supply its lithium-ion battery systems for a new line of hybrid-electric yachts, sailboats and motorboats from Beneteau Group.

And International Battery, another lithium-ion rechargeable battery manufacturer, announced it was selected to supply battery systems for an American Electric Power smart-grid demonstration project in Ohio.

The community energy storage part of the project, which is being developed by S&C Electric Company, is intended help stabilize the grid and provide backup power, potentially enabling plugin electric vehicles and a higher percentage of intermittent renewable-energy sources, such as solar and wind power.

In January, battery maker GS Bat-

1

tery teamed up with screen-printed solar-cell manufacturer Suniva to develop solarpower systems with batteries that can store the energy for times of peak demand. And Ice Energy — which reduces peak electricity demand from air conditioners in the middle of the day by making ice at night, when demand is low and surplus electricity is available, and using it to help cool air conditioning refrigerant when temperatures are high — signed a deal to sell its devices to the 11 municipal utilities represented by the Southern California Public Power Authority.

While many of the announcements have represented only small steps, they show that a number of technologies are on the right track, and some are ready to go.

Economic Zones World subsidiary and global sustainable logistics developer Gazeley has recently leased out its award winning, sustainable building ‘Voltaic’ in Dagenham to Howard Tenens, one of the largest privately owned third-party logistics management groups in the UK. The building, 233,000 square feet in size with 10,000 square feet of office space, will be used exclusively by Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd (CCE) the UK based subsidiary of Coca-Cola Enterprises Inc. Voltaic incorporates many environmentally–friendly and sustainable features in its design. There are photovoltaic roof panels which produce and provide electricity by converting solar energy, minimising the use of fossil fuels and reducing the reliance on the electrical grid distribution system. The electricity thus produced is free of carbon emissions, saving 7.13 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

Sky-lights cover 15% of the roof, against an industry norm of 10%; this provides increased natural light to the warehouse floor, reducing the need for electric lighting. This initiative alone saves 59.02 tonnes of CO2 per annum. This is the optimum percentage of natural light that can be introduced without damaging the products which are stored in the warehouse.

There is a ground source heat pump which uses the ‘earth’s energy’ to supply heating and cooling systems for the offices, saving 50.85 tonnes of CO2 per annum. Solar thermal collectors create free hot water in

the summer and delivers substantial hot water savings in the winter, saving 4.57 tonnes of CO2 per annum.

These energy sources provide a projected saving of 14% of the office power costs and 121.5 tonnes of CO2 per annum equating to circa 8% savings per annum.

Rainwater collection from the roof harvests conserves up to 400,000 litres of water per annum, which is recycled into the toilet areas. Low water use appliances are installed in staff areas providing further water savings which in total are projected to be in the region of 50% on normal water usage.

Sustainable timber, recycled and natural materials are incorporated in the interior of the building. In addition, the building uses organic paint to reduce toxic emission, delivering a healthier working environment. The yard area is landscaped featuring local vegetation to promote biodiversity.

Peter Latham, Vice President Logistics European Supply Chain, CCE said, “We have made a public commitment to reduce the overall carbon footprint of our business operations by 15 per cent by 2020.

We are already undertaking a number of initiatives to achieve this goal, including reducing our packaging and transport miles, as well as the energy we use in manufacturing.” He added: “Our new facility ‘Voltaic’ is a major step towards

achieving that goal and we are very pleased to work with partners who are as committed as we are to energy conservation and investing in initiatives that that will deliver tangible benefits and minimise the impact of our business on the environment.”

Jonathan Fenton-Jones, Global Procurement and Sustainability Director at Gazeley said: “Voltaic’s use of low-carbon, green, sustainable technologies and environmentally aware design has won it the Sustainability Award at the Building Awards. The Borough of Barking and Dagenham have adopted Voltaic as a case study in its planning guidance to promote London Gateway. We are very proud of this development and will continue to focus our energies on creating environmentally advanced logistics facilities that not only are cost effective in the long run to our clients but also improve the communities they operate from.”

Gazeley is a global provider of sustainable logistics space. To date it has built over 60 million sq ft (5.6 million sq m) of quality warehouses and distribution parks across the globe. In 2009 Gazeley has won a multitude of Sustainability Awards including the ‘Best Sustainable Development’ at the LEAF Awards, Industrial Agents Society Awards, UK Commercial Property Awards and HANSE Global.

Virent’s patented BioForming® platform technology uses catalysts to convert plant sugars into hydrocarbon molecules like those produced at a petroleum refinery. They can be blended seamlessly to make conventional gasoline or combined with gasoline containing ethanol.

The sugars can be sourced from non-food feedstocks such as corn stover, wheat straw and sugarcane pulp, in addition to conventional biofuel feedstocks such as wheat, corn and sugarcane. The demonstration plant is currently using beet sugar.

"Moving from lab-scale to a demonstration production plant is an important milestone for biogasoline," said Luis Scoffone, Vice President of Alternative Energies at Shell. "There is some way to go on the route to commercialisation, but we have been delighted with the speed of progress achieved by our collaboration with Virent."

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Energy Storage's Revolution

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[advertorial]

International News

LED-based white light enhancing residential areas High-quality white light can transform our towns and

For example, in the residential area of Jan van

cities at night – not just aesthetically, but also in terms

Tinbergenlaan in Tilburg, Netherlands, an immediate

of safety, security and energy ef ciency.

energy saving of 48% was realized simply by renovating the old PL lamp installation with Philips CitySpirit LED

White light helps people feel safer when outdoors

luminaires, including dimming system. And a similar

after dark. Its superior color rendering and higher

project in Magdeburg, Germany, more than halved

perceived brightness make it easier to distinguish

energy costs and CO2 emissions.

objects, colors, shapes and people. In particular, facial

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recognition is easier, even from a distance, which goes

LEDs have an extremely long lifetime (50,000 hours)

a long way towards removing anxiety. And because it

and therefore require little maintenance. Another

improves visibility for motorists, pedestrians and

advantage is that the light output from LEDs can be

cyclists, white light makes our roads safer as well.

focused very precisely, which minimizes light spillage

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onto houses and other nearby buildings.

Energy-ef cient LED lighting

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LEDs deliver a uniform and comfortable white light,

Future-proof solution

MY

making them the ideal choice for outdoor applications

Philips’ LED luminaires offer municipal authorities a

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like residential areas. Compared with conventional light

truly lasting solution, as the light engine (LEDs plus

sources, LEDs can reduce energy consumption by up

gear) can be upgraded simply by replacing the module.

CM

CMY

In a major coup for Irish tourism, iconic buildings and attractions around the world including the Sydney Opera House, the London Eye, the Sky Tower in Auckland and the CN Tower in Toronto will turn green after sunset this evening, in honour of St Patrick’s Day. This unique initiative is part of Tourism Ireland’s biggest ever promotional programme of activities to showcase the island of Ireland on St Patrick’s Day around the world.

A number of Irish celebrations are also taking place around the UAE, with the Aloft Hotel in Abu Dhabi going Irish for the evening with a

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reception hosted by the Ambassador of Ireland, H.E. Ciaran Madden. The event will be attended by the Attorney General of Ireland, H.E. Paul Gallagher S.C., local dignitaries, the diplomatic community, the local Irish community and friends, and Tourism Ireland will be on hand to offer advice and information about St Patrick’s Day and other tourism attractions.

Niall Gibbons, Chief Executive of Tourism Ireland, said: “Over seventy million people around the world claim links with the island of Ireland and St Patrick’s Day is a truly unique opportunity to showcase

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our wonderful tourism product to a huge audience across the globe, as people instantly identify St Patrick’s Day with Ireland. The agreement to allow us to “green” such iconic buildings and attractions must be a first for any destination and clearly illustrates the goodwill that the Ireland brand generates across the world. We are using every opportunity to capitalise on Ireland’s heightened profile to showcase the uniqueness of a holiday on the island – the diversity of our culture and heritage and the friendliness of our people. We aim to bring a smile to the world. The message is that there has never been a better time to visit the island of Ireland.”

these savings can be further increased through use of

To nd out more information on Philips Lighting LED

additional dimming solutions.

solutions, please visit www.philips.com/urbanlighting

Location: Jan vanTinbergenlaan,Tilburg, the Netherlands

Location: Magdeburg, Germany

Location: Jan vanTinbergenlaan,Tilburg, the Netherlands

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Famous Landmarks Go Green

to 80%, thereby helping to reduce CO2 emissions. And

Location: Jan vanTinbergenlaan,Tilburg, the Netherlands

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Electric supercars

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General concept about electric cars is that they are slow, and not fun to drive, drivers who like roaring v8 engines feel that in electric car they will lose the excitement of driving which is true but to an extent, because electric engines are quite powerful even more than combustion engines, yet they don’t need the transmission to deliver that power. Three famous car manufacturers undertook the task of changing this concept in Geneva Motor Show. Lotus, Porsche and Ferrari each unveiled vehicles

The Tesla’s motor has a torque of 400Nm all the way to 5,100 revolutions per minute driven partly by electric motors. Beside petrol engines, too, to back the electric ones up; technically, therefore, they are hybrids. But that should change in the future as batteries’ storage capacity goes up, and charging time comes down.

The launch of the Tesla roadster two years ago demonstrated that electric cars do not have to be slouches. The Californian Company’s small plugin sports car can accelerate from zero to 96kph in 3.7 seconds. It has a range of 393km (244 miles) once its lithium-ion battery pack is fully charged (which, admittedly, takes

several hours). The Tesla’s rapid acceleration comes from the ability of an electric motor to deliver its maximum amount of torque at whatever speed the motor is turning.

Torque is the scientific term for turning force, and it is measured in newton-metres (Nm). The Tesla’s motor has a torque of 400Nm all the way to 5,100 revolutions per minute. An internal-combustion engine, by contrast, produces maximum torque only at certain speeds.

The 2.0 liter engine of a Lotus Elise S2, for instance, peaks at 213Nm at 4,400rpm. And, whereas a gearbox

is needed to use the torque from a combustion engine efficiently, it is unnecessary with the heft of an electric motor.

The motorist’s liberation front of three hybrid systems seen at Geneva, Lotus’s is the most electrified.

The British company’s experimental Evora 414E uses two electric motors, each providing 400Nm of torque. They power the rear wheels independently. In addition, the car is fitted with a small “range-extending” combustion engine.

This does not drive the wheels, but tops up the batteries if they are in danger of going flat. Like the Tesla (which is based on a small Lotus), the Evora does not need a gearbox.

Nevertheless, it has been fitted with a “virtual” one. This is to provide the driver with the familiar sensations he would expect from a petrol engine. So, even though no actual gears are being changed, using the

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Electric supercars

19

paddle-shift modulates the torque to provide the jolts of acceleration and deceleration that would happen if there were a real gearbox.

It is not all made up. The paddles also give the driver control of regenerative braking, which translates the kinetic energy that is dissipated when the car slows down into electricity that tops up the batteries. This slowing effect is used by Lotus to simulate engine braking, in which resistance inside an internal-combustion engine decelerates the car.

“Shifting” down into a corner will thus slow the car in the same way it would a car with a gearbox. “We believe it will be completely intuitive to drivers,” says Colin Peachey, one of Lotus’s senior engineers.

Porsche has adopted a different approach with its 918 Spider. Its petrol engine, a V8, is connected to the rear wheels via a seven-speed automated gearbox. It also, though, has an electric motor that provides additional power to the rear wheels (through the same gearbox) and a second electric motor connected directly to the front axle.

Four different running modes are available. “E-Drive” powers the ve-

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Projects

hicle using only the electric motors for a modest 25km—enough for commuting. “Hybrid” mode uses electric motors and combustion engine separately or in combination, according to the driving conditions.

“Sport hybrid” emphasizes performance.

“Race Hybrid” really lets rip. It includes a “push-to-pass” button that boosts acceleration by piling on the electrical power.

Porsche expects the 918 Spider to emit 70 grams of carbon dioxide per kilometer travelled, which is about the same as the output of a tiny city car. Yet it will be able to accelerate to 100kph in under 3.2 seconds (a second faster than a Porsche GT3 with a combustion engine) and will have a top speed of more than 320kph. Moreover, if driven carefully, it will consume just 3 liters of petrol per 100km (or 78 miles per American gallon).

Porsche and Lotus both use a trick called “torque vectoring” to improve handling. When wheels are being driven directly by electric motors, different levels of torque can be applied to improve stability on corners. At low speeds, torque vec-

toring can be used on the Porsche to assist with steering by powering the rear wheels at different rates to create a turning action. This can make parking easier.

Ferrari’s experimental 599 has the car’s V12 engine coupled to a seven-speed automated gearbox which also contains an electric motor. The same design could be used in both Ferrari’s front and mid-engined cars. With the batteries below the floor pan, the car’s centre of gravity has been lowered, which improves handling. Performance is enhanced, says the firm, and carbon-dioxide emissions are cut by 35%. Luca di Montezemolo, Ferrari’s boss, expects hybrid systems to be available on all its models within five years.

Many of these features will make their way into all-electric cars too.

Some firms are already looking at all-electric high-performance models. The Audi e-tron, for instance, is an experimental sports coupe that relies on a battery alone to drive four electric motors—one for each wheel. By using torque vectoring, it will be capable of an even more responsive version of the brand’s famous “quattro” four-wheel drive system.

The quiet future that electric cars could usher in, though, may have to be postponed. Lotus is adding simulated engine noises to the Evora. In part this is to meet expected pedestrian-safety legislation, because hybrid and electric cars can be hard to hear at low speeds. But it also provides drivers with an audible feedback similar to that produced by a combustion engine, which makes driving easier—at least, that’s their story and they’re sticking to it. And the noise will be selectable. A gentle, futuristic spaceship-type hum on the way to work, perhaps? And the rumble of a mighty V12 on the way home.

A national initiative to Saudi Arabia to desalination water by solar Announced King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology about launched the National Initiative for water desalination by solar-powered with participation of three government agencies including the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of water and electricity, and the General Organization for salt water Desalination.

This came during a press conference that held at its headquarters and was attended by Dr. Mohammed Bin Ibrahim Al-Suwaiyel, head of the city, and Abdul Aziz al-Assaf, Minister of Finance and eng. Abdullah Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Hussain, Minister of Water and Power, Chairman of the General Organization for Water Desalination, Dr. Khalid el Suleiman, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce, Dr. Abdullah bin Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh, Vice Governor of General Organization for water desalination, and Mansour Al-Maiman, General Secretary of the Public Investment Fund.

Dr. Mohamed el Suwaiyel declared that the initiative aim to find technical solutions at low costs to contribute in the national economy, pointing out to the development of advanced technologies through the Joint Center for Nanotechnology Research between the city and IBM Global company, in a move aims to practical application of advanced Nanotechnology in the production of solar energy systems and membranes for water desalination fields.

He showed the importance of this national initiative that comes as the desalination of salt water is a strategic choice to ensure drinking water for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where Saudi Arabia produces more than 18% of world production of desalinated water, and where the reasons for increased cost of producing desalinated water stems from the consumption of energy in desalination station, and therefore work to reduce the cost of energy will be reflected positively on reducing the cost of production.

He stated that King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology has worked for more than three decades on implementation of research and development programs in the transfer and resettlement of solar energy technologies, according to the Saudi Arabia high-brightness of solar throughout the year, has been

estimated about twenty thousand kilowatts per square meter per year.

About the Details of initiative ,he stated that he will be implement the National Initiative for water desalination by solar-powered in three stages in period reach to nine years, where the first phase aims to build a salt water desalination station with production capacity of thirty thousand cubic meters per day to meet the needs of drinking water for Al Khafji city , by building a station to produce solar energy with capacity of 10 MW and reverse osmosis membranes, in a period of three years, where the practical implementation of this phase started for a shorter period.

He added: That second phase aims to build water desalination by solar station with production capacity about three hundred thousand cubic meters per day; it would take three years, while during the third phase,

by God willing, and will be construct several stations for the salt water desalination by solar energy to all parts of the Kingdom. chairman of King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology showed that National Initiative for the desalination of saline water will be implemented through an industrial combination in the UK that markets products in all the world, which serve and enhance the strategic direction of national industry, e where the city has rights and are being licensed to others and will be marketed outside the Kingdom.

For his part, the Minister of Finance expressed the readiness of Ministry of Finance to provide full support and necessary to guide the Kingdom's promising at use of solar energy in cooperation with specialized international directions, pointing to the importance of domestic capital participation and development of this promising industry carried out by the city and other important fields.

"This was the Minister of Water and

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Electric supercars

21

Projects

As Under Secretary of Commerce and Industry Dr. Khalid Suleiman described this global achievement with the view of the realized benefits that accrue to sectors used this technique, indicating that is best answer to those who wonder about the role of research and development to realize development, where King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology proved, with this initiative that search is not just for research and technical develop not only to develop technical but to fill a strategic need of the nation, and said: "The target cost of this project to generate electricity through solar energy within thirty halala of kilowatt per hour, while the current cost to produce electricity equivalent to four times this cost , which is a great achievement where it reduce the cost to a quarter.

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Water Reuse Technology from GE Hydrogen highway for Wales

The United Kingdom has designated South Wales as a Low Carbon Economic Area, LCEA). According to the British government, the purpose of the LCEAs, which were announced as part of the Government’s Low Carbon Industrial Strategy, is to capitalize on the strengths of particular regions where existing geographic and industrial assets could help give the UK a global advantage. It is planned that the South Wales LCEA will specialize in hydrogen energy, and will count on “the largest renewables refueling infrastructure in the United Kingdom”.

The South Wales LCEA will aim to establish an internationally recognized centre of excellence and expertise in hydrogen energy technologies, including the creation of refueling infrastructure to support the testing and deployment of hydrogen vehicles.

The M4 motorway in South Wales has been selected to become the longest hydrogen highway in the UK, “with strategically-positioned points for recharging and refueling using various types of fuel”. According to the British government, users of the M4 will be able to re-

fuel their hydrogen-driven cars or as well as their electric vehicles.

As part of this project, the University of Glamorgan has announced that it will invest £6.3 million in the CymruH2Wales Project to develop new processes, products and services in hydrogen energy.

The University of Glamorgan's Hydrogen Research Unit (HRU) investigates the sustainable production and use of hydrogen. The HRU is part of the University's Sustainable Environment Research Centre (SERC). Staff is involved in a number of research projects on aspects of hydrogen including biologically produced hydrogen from non-food crops and organic wastes.

Hydrogen can be made by fermentation of co-products from other industries such as the flour industry. Research is being undertaken at both laboratory scale and at pilot scale “Hydrogen presents exciting opportunities for low carbon energy and we want the UK to be at the forefront. That's why we're creating this Low Carbon Economic Area for hydrogen energy led by South Wales in close collaboration with the South West,” declared Wales Secretary, Peter Hain, during the launch of the South Wales LCEA. The new LCEA in Wales joins five others in: the Midlands (advanced automotive engineering); the North East (ultra-low carbon vehicles); the North West and Yorkshire (civil nuclear energy); Greater Manchester (the built environment); and the South West (marine energy).

GE provides proven technologies and solutions for water treatment and reuse and continues to invest heavily to enhance current products and to develop new, even more advanced technologies.

The company offers a diverse selection of technologies for the global water treatment industry ranging from desalination to cooling water solutions, mobile water to petrochemical solutions and water recovery to boiler water solutions.

As the Middle East grapples with growing demand for sustainable supplies of clean water, GE is providing advanced water-management solutions to the region, which encompass desalination; municipal, utility and industrial wastewater treatment; process chemicals and separation; product water; and products for residential water applications. Key projects include: • GE and Al Tamimi “GET Water” Partnership - GE has provided a fleet of mobile water treatment systems to Al Tamimi Group for the rapid deployment of onsite treatment systems for both sea water and brackish water treatment, water reuse and water filtration with emergency response time of as little as 72

hours. More than 60 mobile units are currently in operation, with each unit capable of treating up to 1,500 cubic meters of water per day.

• GE is a partner in ConocoPhillips Water Sustainability Center (WSC) in Qatar - ConocoPhillips and GE will work to develop more efficient and cost-effective treatment technologies at the WSC. The WSC will research and develop water solutions primarily for the petroleum and petrochemical sectors and also will focus on municipal and agricultural solutions.

• Water Reuse at International

ing freshwater usage. The water exceeds cleanliness standards and is used for flush water in lavatory fixtures and for landscaping.

• GE is increasing its investments in facilities and technology centers to better serve its customers in the region. Multiple GE technologies are featured at the Sulaibiya wastewater treatment plant in Kuwait, the world’s largest membrane-based wastewater filtration plant, which purifies more than 1 million gallons of wastewater per day for agricultural and industrial uses.

• GE recently inaugurated a 7,500 sq meter GE Saudi Water & Process Technology Center in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, with a nearly US$10 million investment to offer critical water, water reuse, waste-water and process solutions for the region’s industrial customers.

This follows a recently opened Center of Excellence manufacturing facility in the United Arab Emirates.

GE is providing advanced water-management solutions to the region Medical Center in Jeddah - GE supplied the 300-bed facility with an advanced membrane bioreactor wastewater treatment system to treat and recycle 250 cubic meters/day of wastewater, reduc-

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Electricity considers the announcing of this initiative is a quality move and memorable day in the history of water and electricity industry in the Kingdom, as the demand increases every year in these sectors about 7% it consider triple the population growth, this a very huge growth rate ,has become a financial burden on us and on the production of energy sources in the Kingdom, and said that the use of solar energy in water desalination is ideal for the Kingdom for many reasons such as clean energy is not a burden on the environment, and this energy is available with plenty throughout the year, in addition to the low cost to use power in the saline water desalination, indicating that with the end of the first phase of the initiative will be eradicate definitively of Al Khafji facing problems of water shortage in the long turn, it will be product thirty cubic meters instead of the current amount estimated with twenty thousand cubic meters, which is not sufficient for the needs the city now.

Technology

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International Companies

Shanghai Expo:

The Siemens Footprint

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Northeast Asia and President and CEO of Siemens China. As a global Expo partner, Siemens has supplied technology to more than 40 Expo ground projects. It supplied technology for infrastructure such as rapid mass transit, clean air, cleaner water and ultra-modern health care in Shanghai. “Our green technology will continue to upgrade the city’s infrastructure well after the Expo.

Thus, it is a triple win for Expo visitors, for the host city of Shanghai and for Siemens,” Hausmann said.

On the Expo ground, preparations have reached their final stages with hundreds of workers installing the latest green technology giving face to the slogan of this year’s world exhibition – Better City, Better Life.

Solutions for sustainable urban development will be exhibited at the

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Expo 2010 Shanghai will soon open its doors to the world in the Chinese metropolis. An estimated 70 million visitors are expected to participate in what will be the first green world exhibition in Expo history. Siemens has supplied most of the necessary infrastructure to accommodate the stream of visitors in an environmentally friendly manner. The company has been awarded contracts worth more than one billion euros, about 90 percent of which is for environment-friendly products and solutions. “Once again, we have proved that our environmental portfolio has exactly what cities need to hold events of worldwide importance like the Expo 2010 in accordance with the principles of environment protection,” said Richard Hausmann, CEO of Siemens

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International Companies

pavilions. The Expo ground itself is a perfect example of green urban infrastructure with over 50,000 energy-saving light-emitting diodes (LEDs) produced by Siemens’ lighting subsidiary Osram illuminating the pavilions and boulevards. LEDs consume 80 percent less electricity than conventional incandescent bulbs. Also, the five permanent pavilions feature the latest in Siemens building technology, thereby reducing energy consumption by 25 percent compared to conventional buildings.

To assure reliable power capacity and a safe experience at the Expo, Siemens has installed electricity-saving power distribution and fire protection systems on the grounds.

burg House, a so-called ‘passive house’ that consumes less energy than nearly any other building in the world. In fact, it will generate nearly all the energy it needs from the warmth of appliances used in the house and the people who will visit the house during the Expo.

the world’s most efficient coal-fired power plant in Waigaoqiao. Built

by Siemens, this plant covers 30 percent of Shanghai’s energy demand alone, but compared to conventional coal-fired power plants in China, it uses more than a million tons less coal per year. The higher efficiency reduces the power plant’s CO2 emissions by almost three million tons per year. Just outside Shanghai, Siemens will open its first wind energy production site this year. The facility will meet the demand for wind blades for the Chinese market and beyond.

Through that China can accommodate a larger portion of its growing demand for power with electricity from renewable sources.

ogy in the water treatment facilities not far from the city. Latest equipment has been made available for cancer treatment and Siemens has supplied technology worth around 150 million euros to the Shanghai International Tumor Hospital. The

biggest order that Siemens was awarded in connection with the Expo was for the industry sector. It supplied key components for 100 environmental-friendly, high-speed trains that will transport passengers from Beijing to Shanghai in less

than five hours. The terminal of the high-speed line in Shanghai serves as part of the Hongqiao Transportation Hub, where Siemens installed China’s largest parking management system, and will be launched right before the Expo.

The China Pavilion, with a total surface area of 160,000 square meters, is one of the largest Siemens projects at the Expo. Built entirely with energy-saving building technology from Siemens, it is destined to be remembered as the Expo’s green landmark. Another prime example of the energy efficiency provided

by Siemens technology is the Ham-

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Hardly any greenhouse gases are generated.

In addition to solutions for reduced energy consumption, Siemens also supplied infrastructure in advance to ensure adequate power supplies to the city of Shanghai both during and after the event. When the energy consumption peaks in Shanghai during summer, as it does every year, the anticipated millions of visitors to the Expo will pose a severe test for the city’s energy supplies. The demand will be met by

In preparation for the Expo, Siemens has also modernized a large number of office buildings in Yangpu, the knowledge and innovation district of Shanghai. These measures have reduced the CO2 emissions of these buildings by 16 percent. To supply people with clean drinking water, Siemens has installed ultra-modern filter technol-

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Through that China can accommodate a larger portion of its growing demand for power with electricity from renewable sources

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Here are some free and low cost ways to save energy: • Turn off everything not in use: lights, TVs, computers, etc.

• Check your air conditioner filter each month. Dirty

2

filters block air flow through your heating and cooling systems, increasing energy use.

• Recycle minor things e.g. reuse empty bottles.

• Take your own reusable bags to do grocery shopping to save the unnecessary production

LG Electronics (LG), announced today the launch of its new compact full touch screen phone, the LG GD510, or more simply, “Cookie POP”. The LG GD510 can be recharged utilizing the power of the sun. The new mobile handset reflects the company’s aggressive green initiatives and represents its commitment to creating a healthier environment for everyone.

Worldwide, the phone already topped one million unit sales just five months after its European and CIS release in October 2009. Cookie POP delivers all the essentials in communication, multimedia and entertainment, with an unembel-

of plastic bags.

• Replace your five most used light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. These light bulbs use two-thirds less energy and last up to 10 times longer.

• Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher

drying cycle.

• Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load.

• In the average home, 75 percent of the electricity used to power home electronics is consumed while the products are turned off.

• Plug home electronics into power strips and turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use.

• Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use. Make sure power management is activated on your computer.

• Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are not in use.

Many chargers draw power continuously, even when the device is not plugged into the charger.

Sony VAIO W series Weight: 4.5 lb.

Greenest feature: The eco-mode feature limits power consumption at the touch of a button, and Eco Utility measures energy usage in real time.

Cool factor: Forget about remembering passwords. Log in using nothing but a webcam and your mug using face recognition software.

Weight: 4.5 to 6.6 lb.

Greenest feature: A built-in, 40-percent longer-lasting battery means fewer will end up in landfills.

Cool factor: Say bye-bye to cumbersome clicking with the button-less Multi-Touch trackpad—your fingers will dance all over it.

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Simple Tips to Save Energy

LG’s Launches environment friendly mobile

Toshiba Satellite U500

rol-powered and electric-powered engines. And it also radically reduces pollution that otherwise may have been produced resulting from operating and maintaining the boat.”

The “e-motor” will be produced in France, but the whole boat will eventually be produced in the UAE, underscoring another major boost for the yachting and boat business in the Emirates, which is positioning to become the industry hub for the entire region.

“We offer a safe, clean, air-conditioned water transport that is more comfortable than the current water transport systems available, with no pollution and zero maintenance costs on the engine,” said Raymond Sabbah CEO of Sea Dunes.

“For the first time, we are introducing a boat using a battery-powered engine that is environmentally friendly yet affords its owners the same leisure boating experience,” Sabbah added.

Weight: 2.6 lb.

Greenest feature: This pint-sized notebook is perfect if your main activities include updating your blog and chatting on Facebook. Why own an energy-sapping clunker if you don’t need one?

Cool factor: Choose from three delicious-sounding colours sugar white, berry pink or cocoa brown.

Apple Macbook Pro

Sea Dunes has developed a boat concept that provides an eco-friendly solution that hopes to contribute to efforts to preserve and sustain the environment. The idea started six years before when Sea Dunes teamed up with the French scientist “George Feliot, who was one of the pioneers and top scientist of the European Space Agency program, to develop a battery-powered boat engine that delivers the Boating and yachting have always been seen as having large carbon footprints, and a major contributor to petrol consumption and pollution in the waters. Within this backdrop, same horsepower as many petrol-powered boats, yet weighs less and has practically zero-wastage and maintenance.

The new boat concept boasts cost-efficiency in procurement and maintenance. Sabbah continued, “But more importantly, it has 92% power efficiency, compared to 48-65 percent in normal, pet-

Eco Laptops

Eco-friendly Sea Dunes Engine

lished design and uncompromising quality.

“We at LG have successfully reduced 2.1-million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the first half of 2009 through greater energy efficiency and improved manufacturing processes,” said Mr H.S Paik, President of LG Electronics Gulf FZE. “We develop our products based on the company’s goal of eco-friendly sustainability. Our green policy is included in the handset’s entire lifecycle process, from raw materials through production, logistics, usage and disposal.”

LG’s environmental aspirations are demonstrated in the LG GD510’s solar-battery cover that uses the power of the sun to charge the phone. In addition to saving energy during the day, this also benefits users who are running low on power and are away from a charger at the time. Ten minutes under the sun provides up to 2 minutes 15 seconds of talk time or up to 180 minutes of standby time.

Features like Eco-tree and Eco-calculator under the phone’s CO2 menu allow people to track how much they have reduced CO2 emissions by using the solar cell battery.

The LG GD510 is environmentally friendly in other ways, including its construction.

LG strictly adheres to the European Union’s RoHS requirements.

Purchasing a new computer can be baffling enough without considering its carbon footprint.

Luckily, a number of third-party researchers have done the homework for you.

Tips and Products

2

International Law

Principle 1 : Human beings are at the centre of concerns for sustainable development. They are entitled to a healthy and productive life in harmony with nature.

Principle 2 : States have, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and the principles of international law, the sovereign right to exploit their own resources pursuant to their own environmental and developmental policies, and the responsibility to ensure that activities within their jurisdiction or control do not cause damage to the environment of other States or of areas beyond the limits of national jurisdiction.

Principle 3 : The right to development must be fulfilled so as to equitably meet developmental and environmental needs of present and future generations.

Principle 4 : In order to achieve sustainable development, environmental protection shall constitute an integral part of the

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development process and cannot be considered in isolation from it.

Principle 5 : All States and all people shall cooperate in the essential task of eradicating poverty as an indispensable requirement for sustainable development, in order to decrease the disparities in standards of living and better meet the needs of the majority of the people of the world.

Principle 6 : The special situation and needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed and those most environmentally vulnerable, shall be given special priority. International actions in the field of environment and development should also address the interests and needs of all countries.

Principle 7 : States shall cooperate in a spirit of global partnership to conserve, protect and restore the health and integrity of the Earth's ecosystem. In view of the different contributions to global environmental

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Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Rio Declaration on Environment and Development

degradation, States have common but differentiated responsibilities. The developed countries acknowledge the responsibility that they bear in the international pursuit to sustainable development in view of the pressures their societies place on the global environment and of the technologies and financial resources they command.

Principle 8 : To achieve sustainable development and a higher quality of life for all people, States should reduce and eliminate unsustainable patterns of production and consumption and promote appropriate demographic policies.

Principle 9 : States should cooperate to strengthen endogenous capacity-building for sustainable development by improving scientific understanding through exchanges of scientific and technological knowledge, and by enhancing the development, adaptation, diffusion and transfer of technologies, including new and innovative technologies.

Principle 10 : Environmental issues are best handled with participation of all concerned citizens, at the relevant level. At the national level, each individual shall have appropriate access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, including information on hazardous materials and activities in their communities, and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes.

States shall facilitate and encourage public awareness and participation by making information widely available. Effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings, including redress and remedy, shall be provided.

Principle 11 : States shall enact effective environmental legislation. Environmental standards, management objectives and priorities should reflect the environmental and development context to which they

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International Law

apply. Standards applied by some countries may be inappropriate and of unwarranted economic and social cost to other countries, in particular developing countries.

Principle 12 : States should cooperate to promote a supportive and open international economic system that would lead to economic growth and sustainable development in all countries, to better address the problems of environmental degradation. Trade policy measures for environmental purposes should not constitute a means of arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination or a disguised restriction on international trade. Unilateral actions to deal with environmental challenges outside the jurisdiction of the importing country should be avoided. nvironmental measures addressing transboundary or global environmental problems should, as far as possible, be based on an international consensus.

Principle 13 : States shall develop national law regarding liability and compensation for the victims of pollution and other environmental damage. States shall also cooperate in an expeditious and more determined manner to develop further international law regarding liability and compensation for adverse effects of environmental damage caused by activities within their jurisdiction or control to areas beyond their jurisdiction.

Principle 14 : States should effectively cooperate to discourage or prevent the relocation and transfer to other States of any activities and substances that cause severe environmental degradation or are found to be harmful to human health.

Principle 15 : In order to protect the environment, the precautionary approach shall be widely applied by States according to their capabilities.

Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of full scientific certainty shall not be

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used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation.

Principle 16 : National authorities should endeavour to promote the internalization of environmental costs and the use of economic instruments, taking into account the approach that the polluter should, in principle, bear the cost of pollution, with due regard to the public interest and without distorting international trade and investment.

Principle 17 : Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority.

Principle 18 : States shall immediately notify other States of any natural disasters or other emergencies that are likely to produce sudden harmful effects on the environment of those States. Every effort shall be made by the international community to help States so afflicted.

Principle 19 : States shall provide prior and timely notification and relevant information to potentially affected States on activities that may have a significant adverse transboundary environmental effect and shall consult with those States at

an early stage and in good faith.

Principle 20 : Women have a vital role in environmental management and development. Their full participation is therefore essential to achieve sustainable development.

Principle 21 : The creativity, ideals and courage of the youth of the world should be mobilized to forge a global partnership in order to achieve sustainable development and ensure a better future for all.

Principle 22 : Indigenous people and their communities and other local communities have a vital role in environmental management and development because of their knowledge and traditional practices.

States should recognize and duly support their identity, culture and interests and enable their effective participation in the achievement of sustainable development.

Principle 23 : The environment and natural resources of people under oppression, domination and occupation shall be protected.

Principle 24 : Warfare is inherently destructive of sustainable development. States shall therefore respect international law providing protection for the environment in times of armed conflict and cooperate in its further development, as necessary.

Principle 25 : Peace, development and environmental protection are interdependent and indivisible.

Principle 26 : States shall resolve all their environmental disputes peacefully and by appropriate means in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations.

Principle 27 States and people shall cooperate in good faith and in a spirit of partnership in the fulfilment of the principles embodied in this Declaration and in the further development of international law in the field of sustainable development.

Smart Metering and Smart Grids are currently hot topics in the Middle East mainly driven by potential risks of supply and demand imbalances of electricity, which may impact the economic growth of the region say experts at A.T. Kearney, a global management consultancy.

In the Middle East there are typical peak loads during summer time when all air conditioning systems are switched on, but there are also variations which need to be managed throughout the day. Based on analysis of the utilities and energy sector A.T. Kearney foresees that the Middle East is at the edge of a “Smart Revolution”, which may lead to a fast roll out of smart technologies in the region. Smart meters and Smart grids provide a solution to manage these fluctuations efficiently as they balance the load in the grid by combining real-time consumption information from smart meters with supplier information from the electricity generators to avoid black outs.

“Smart Meters are the technology of the future to measure real-timeelectricity which enables consumers for the first time to control and monitor their electricity consumption via the internet or home displays.

Pilots have shown that ‘consumption aware’ and ‘informed customers’ reduce their consumption by around

‘Smart Revolution’ can save US$ 10bn for utilities and governments 10per cent,” said, Christian von Tschirschky, principal, A.T. Kearney Middle East. “We anticipate this effect will be even higher if the current highly subsidized energy prices increase,” he continued.

Beyond behavioral changes the “Smart Revolution” allows direct intervention of the utility company during peak times into selected consumers’ consumption, for example via a smart control of air conditioners.

“At A.T. Kearney we estimate that GCC utilities and governments can avoid investments of around 510-bn USD into peak load capacities, up until 2020. In addition they can potentially reduce the peak load demand by 1020- percent through effective customer behavior changes

that evolve with smart metering implementation and the usage of remote control of air conditioning systems” said von Tschirschky.

A.T. Kearney foresees that the need to integrate renewable energy sources with fluctuating load levels such as solar, wind and others into the energy grid will drive the need for a ‘Smart Grid’ that combines consumption data collected by smart meters with generation data.

Positioning companies or countries as ‘green’ and deploying state of the art technologies that focus on sustainability will further drive the implementation of smart metering technologies. In the Middle East we are seeing the first regional directives focusing on improving energy efficiency, something that cannot be achieved without smart metering. The UAE, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and other GCC countries are currently piloting smart technologies, and are expected to adopt these approaches quickly.

“The investments in smart metering will pay-off, considering the cost reduction in operations and the reduced investment demand for additional power plants. It is an efficient way of managing and securing electricity supply as well as the future contributions from alternative energy,” concluded von Tschirschky.

Ecopower Magazine | April 2010

Last word

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