Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
As well as providing a regional location, there are also numerous part-
nership opportunities for companies with technologies that may be used at
Masdar. Among the energy technologies expected to be sourced are PV and
solar thermal power generation (concentrating PV, parabolic trough and para-
bolic dish generation); advanced thermal waste treatment plants; geothermal
systems that can be used for district cooling; and smart grid management
systems. A range of other district cooling systems are also being considered,
together with water desalination and grey-water treatment plants, and waste
handling systems, including plasma and pyrolysis. More widely, procure-
ment is also underway for IT systems, the transport infrastructure and facili-
ties management and services.
The Arabic word 'Masdar' was chosen as the name of the project because
one definition of the word is 'source'—in the sense of the root or spring
from which things originate. For years, many good renewable energy proj-
ects have suffered through lack of access to sources of funding. The Masdar
Initiative demonstrates that the combination of good projects and a plen-
tiful source of funding can result in very rapid development of even the
most ambitious plans. As such, it may also be a beacon for other places that
are contemplating whether large-scale investment in renewables really can
pay off.
2.6.2 Egypt
There is a growing awareness in Egypt about the change in climate since
1982 when that country established the Egyptian Environmental Affairs
Agency (EEAA). Egypt was also one of the first Arab countries to sign the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in
1992. Egypt has participated in and undertaken several actions that deal
with climate change and environmental issues [107].
1. Ratification of the UNFCCC, the issuance of Law 4/1994 for the
Protection of the Environment, and participation in various inter-
national workshops and conferences related to climate change to
avoid having any international obligations on developing countries,
including Egypt.
2. The Ministry of Electricity and Energy has established several proj-
ects in the field of new and renewable energy (wind, solar, hydro
and bio) and has encouraged EE projects.
3. The Ministry of State for Environmental Affairs has established
guidelines for the private sector to encourage investments in the
field of clean energy projects, waste recycling and afforestation.
4. With the restructuring of the National Committee of Climate
Change in 2007, as the coordinator on the national level related to cli-
mate change issues, by putting a visionary for needed policies and
