bgreen may 2014

Issue 45 | MAY 2014SuStainability in the Middle eaSt

InsideSalvaging Scrap

Flying without Fuelreview: weteX 2014

green productS

Please recycle after use

Publication l icensed by iMPZ

Sustainable ChemistryThe region’s peTrochemical indusTry is slowly buT surely embracing susTainable iniTiaTives, says gpca secreTary general dr abdulwahab al-sadoun

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EDITOR’S PAGE

With the GCC’s petrochemical industry heading towards a new era of global competitiveness, sustainability challenges remain imminent. While chemical companies in the region have taken steps to make their

production process environment friendly, there is still a lot to be done. An issue that GCC’s petrochemical firms overlooked for over two decades, sustainability is now a non-negotiable imperative.

In our cover story this issue, Dr Abdulwahab Al Sadoun, secretary-general, Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association, interestingly said companies are becoming more and more serious about sustainability as it is gaining traction among customers, shareholders and mainstream media. Moreover, sustainability also magnifies a firm’s image and adds to its brand equity.

One of the over-riding reasons for embarking on the green journey is that sus-tainability can actually translate into profitability. Many companies worldwide have used sustainability to generate top-line growth while simultaneously cut-ting costs to achieve meaningful bottom-line returns.

The bgreen team had a field day at WETEX 2014, an event focused on sustain-able innovations and green economy, as well as research in best practices and solutions to address environmental challenges. At the exhibition, 1,500 compa-nies showcased their best business models and products tailored to minimise environmental damage without having to minimise profits radically.

This issue, bgreen starts its all new Products section, featuring some of the latest sustainable technologies launched in the Middle East market.

With the construction for World Expo 2020 expected to start early next year, Dubai promises to deliver the most environmentally-friendly Expo to date. At bgreen’s Sustainable Expo 2020 seminar on May 21, industry experts and govern-ment authorities will discuss construction opportunities for the Expo and what it takes to deliver the greenest Expo ever. Professionals and organisations across the industry have the opportunity to meet high-level executives and experts at the seminar who will also discuss the new Dubai Green Building codes in great detail. I look forward to seeing you at the event.

A non-negotiAble imperAtive

Editor,Ashish Saraf

bgreen

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contents

www.bgreen.ae May 20142

ContentSMay 2014

PReVIeW

22Dubai’s Green DreamsAt bgreen’s Sustainable Expo 2020 seminar on May 21, industry experts and government authorities will discuss construction opportunities for the Expo and what it takes to deliver the greenest Expo ever.

34MENA solar gears for growthAt MENASOL 2014, companies planning or currently making investments in solar will look to build the relationships essential for the most efficient supply chain and develop bankable assets in key markets.

Review

29Spotlight on green technologyWETEX 2014 focused on sustainable innovations and green economy, as well as research in best practices and solutions to address environmental challenges.

technology

38Sustainability and BIM – benefit or waste?Given the scale and number of construction projects being planned in the Middle East, arguably the benefits in adopting BIM are even greater than we’ve seen elsewhere, Nigel Clark explains.

Metals

25Salvaging scrap The metal recycling industry in the Middle East has been on the rise ever since urban infrastructure became the primary focus of the GCC countries.

news

8Saudi mosques to go green

10India, Gulf states reach solar support deal

15Solar Impulse 2: Flying without fuel

Cover story

17Warming to a green futureThe region’s petrochemical industry is slowly but surely embracing sustainable initiatives, says GPCA secretary-general Dr Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun.

17

15

38

29

22

contents


Society

46Green PersonalityPop-rock band Maroon 5 believes living green doesn’t have to mean growing dreadlocks and becoming an eco-warrior.

47 Diary DatesMENASOL 2014, Project Qatar 2014, OPW Efficiency & Conservation 2014, Saudi Energy 2014 and other upcoming events in May

48SIDS - The world’s last frontierThe UN General Assembly declared 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States to celebrate the contributions that this group of countries and territories has made to the world. Kehkashan Basu writes more.

Products

42Sustainable productsWorld’s first coloured solar glass that generates energy on its own, self righting LED lights and more.

People

44Masdar appoints new CEO and chairmenDr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has been appointed chairman of the board of Masdar and Ahmad Belhoul will be CEO of the company.

46

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www.wecreatechemistry.com

Most plastics don’t biodegrade, but ecovio® plastics from BASF disappear completely when composted in a controlled environment. Using compostable bags for collection of organic waste makes disposal more hygienic and convenient. Rather than ending up in landfills, the waste is turned into valuable compost. When the plastic bag you use today can mean a cleaner future for the environment, it’s because at BASF, we create chemistry.

We create chemistrythat makescompost loveplastic.


expert pAnel

Dr Michael KrämerSenior AssociateTaylor Wessing (Middle East) LLPLegal CounselMiddle East Solar Industry Association

William WhistlerManaging DirectorGreen Building Solutions International

thomas Bohlen NCARB,LEED AP, BD+C, ESTIDAMA PQPChief Technical OfficerMiddle East Centre for Sustainable Development

Dr Mutasim nourDirector of MSc EnergyHeriot Watt UniversitySchool of Engineering and Physical Sciences

tanzeed AlamPolicy DirectorEWS-WWF

Paolo CerviniVice president & General managerPhilips Lighting Middle East & TurkeyPhilips

Saeed AlabbarLEED AP, Estidama PQPChairman Emirates Green Building CouncilDirectorAlabaar Energy and Sustainability Group

Alan MillinLEED AP, Chartered Engineerconsultant/trainerMiddle East Facility Management Association

Roderick WilesDirector - Africa, Middle East, India and OceaniaAmerican Hardwood Export Council

Jose AlberichPartnerAT Kearney

Ivano IannelliChief Executive OfficerDubai Carbon Centre of Excellence

Abdulrahman JawaheryPresidentGulf Petrochemical Industries CompanyChairmanGPCA Responsible Care Initiative

His Highness Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Ali Al nuaimiEnvironmental AdvisorAjman GovernmentChief Executive OfficerAl Ihsan Charity CentreChairmanInternational Steering Committee for the Global Initiative Towards a Sustain-able Iraq (GITSI), based in the UAE

The BGreen experT panel provides a plaTform for Those who are acTive in encouraGinG susTainaBle pracTices across a wide secTor of indusTries. real experTs who can share Their views, analyses, and research wiTh our informed readers.

Our panellists meet every few months to discuss news, strategies and solutions on focussed topics related to sustainability.

Our panellists write for the magazine - opinions and analyses - as well as on our website in a portfolio format documenting their contributions.

The panel is growing as we seek to form the ultimate taskforce of decision makers, academics, consultants and engineers that contribute and encourage a sustainable watershed across industries.

If you would like to nominate an expert to join our panel, please email [email protected]

SUPPORTED BY:


news ReGIOn

Saudi moSqueS to go green

‘Tourism sector needs more laws to be sustainable’

Green building initiative can reduce electricity consumption in mosques by up to 80% if advanced technology is used

DTCM launches third edition of the Dubai Green Tourism awards; expands to include 1-star hotels and desert camps

MOSQUES COULD ALSO DECREASE WATER USE BETWEEN 30 AND 40 % BY INTRODUCING WATER fILTRATION SYSTEMS

as part of a bid to put green building on

the national stage, Saudi Arabia is mak-

ing over 90,000 mosques across the King-

dom more eco-friendly, utilising solar and other

renewable sources of energy.

The initiative was agreed following a joint

meeting between the Ministry of Islamic Affairs

and the Saudi Green Building Forum.

Faisal Al Fadl, the secretary-general of the

Saudi Green Building Forum, said that the de-

cision to choose mosques to make eco-friendly

was an easy one: “This was a strategic decision

when compared with other buildings, because

mosques are buildings which have the most

influence on people’s lives due to the large

numbers of worshipers who visit them.

“Green building has qualities that are more

pertinent to mosques than other forms of con-

struction, such as in the flow of people through

the building, which may cause inconvenience at

some mosques. This is a problem we can correct

through green building,” he added.

Fadl said green building can reduce elec-

tricity consumption in mosques by around 40

per cent, and that this figure could decrease

by a total of 80 per cent if advanced technol-

ogy is used. He added that mosques could also

decrease water use by between 30 and 40 per

cent by introducing water filtration systems, in

addition to reducing carbon emissions by 30 to

40 per cent. .

Fadl presented Saudi Minister of Islamic

Affairs Sheikh Saleh Al Sheikh with the initia-

tive and its objectives, in addition to the recom-

mendations of the fourth session of the Saudi

Green Building Forum. The minister expressed

support for what he described as ‘pioneering

national initiatives’, highlighting the work of

the Forum.

Fadl affirmed the economic, social and

humanitarian importance of making Saudi Ara-

bia’s mosques more eco-friendly, adding that

‘implementing green building technology in

around 100,000 mosques will have a significant

economic return in regulating electricity and

water consumption’.

Dubai’s tourism industry needs to have

more laws and regulations especially in the

areas of energy and water consumption, and

waste management to achieve sustainability,

according to Habiba Al Mar’ashi, Chairper-

son of Emirates Environmental Group (EEG).

Speaking to bgreen on the sidelines of the

Department of Tourism and Commerce Mar-

keting’s (DTCM) Dubai Green Tourism Award

launch, Al Mar’ashi said laws will help ensure

minimum compliance in challenge areas.

“For example, don’t tell me that the compa-

nies in the construction industry did not know

what is right or wrong in terms of sustainable

green buildings. But they were not doing it

until we managed to bring it out in the form of

a law that all buildings should adhere to green

building regulations,” she said.

The third cycle of the Dubai Green Tourism

Award, which was launched last month, has

been expanded to include categories for 1-star

hotels and tourist desert camps to the existing 2

to 5 star hotels, and standard and deluxe hotel

Habiba Al Mar’ashi, Chairperson, EEG (L) and Shaikha Al Mutawa, Director Business Development, DTCM

apartments. The awards are currently run on

a biannual basis and applications can be reg-

istered at www.dubaitourism.ae. The deadline

for submissions is July 31, 2014.

“The Dubai Green Tourism Award includes

four main criteria which the assessors will be

evaluating the applicants on: Environmental

strategies; performance and results; educa-

tion/training and awareness; and awards and

recognition,” said Shaikha Al Mutawa, Director

Business Development at DTCM and Chairper-

son of Dubai Green Tourism Award Programme.

She added that participating hotels are said

to have reported reductions in the consump-

tion of electricity by 20 per cent and water by

27 per cent in 2012 following the last cycle of

the awards in 2011. A 20 per cent reduction in

carbon emissions were also achieved.

BGME_Sustainability_0514_OL.pdf 1 4/14/14 3:53 PM


news ReGIOn

Saudi arabia upbeat on Solar energy

India, Gulf states reach solar support deal

Kingdom to invest $109bn for 41GW of solar power generation by 2032

The agreement includes solar EPC assistance from India to Gulf countries

Imdaad to use biofuel in waste collection vehiclesFacilities management company Imdaad has

introduced biofuel in three of its garbage col-

lection trucks by using renewable and natural

alternative from fossil fuel, becoming the first

FM company in the UAE that has opted for bio

fuel in its waste collection vehicles.

The garbage collection trucks running on

biofuel will help in the reduction of particu-

late emission without lowering their perfor-

mance.

Jamal Abdulla Lootah, CEO, Imdaad, said:

“As part of our ‘Go Green’ drive, we have start-

ed using biofuel in three of our waste collec-

tion vehicles, which has already resulted in

the reduction in the emission of pollutants

such as carbon dioxide. The use of biofuel is

not just eco-friendly as it reduces greenhouse

gases but is also cost effective and will cut

down our cost of vehicle maintenance.”

Biofuel is a natural alternative from other

fossil fuels and is made from the waste of liv-

ing objects. It is produced using ethanol from

naturally grown plant matters thus making it

environmentally friendly fuel.

saudi Arabia will invest US$ 109bn to

produce 41GW of solar energy by 2032,

according to Riyadh Exhibitions Com-

pany and Informa Exhibitions, co-organisers

of Saudi Energy 2014.

The 41GW would be equivalent to around 30

per cent of its power generation capacity and

could make Saudi Arabia the largest producer

of solar energy in the world.

Over the next two decades, the government

is to establish energy generation projects, which

runs on photovoltaic cells (PV cells) with a

capacity of 16GW. In addition, it will also facili-

tate energy generation projects that will make

use of energy concentrate with a capacity of

26GW.

Fahad Al Athel, deputy general manager, Ri-

Solar associations in the Gulf and India have

struck a deal that will see the two regions offer

mutual support to their PV industries through

the sharing of expertise and resources.

The Saudi Arabia Solar Industry Asso-

ciation (SASIA), the Solar Gulf Cooperation

Council Alliance (SGCC) and the National

Solar Energy Federation India (NSEFI) agreed

earlier this month to collaborate on solar en-

ergy initiatives.

SGCC and SASIA are seeking engineering,

procurement and construction (EPC) assis-

tance from India, to build solar projects in

Saudi Arabia and its neighbouring Gulf Co-

operation Council countries – Jordan, Qatar,

Kuwait, UAE, Oman and Bahrain.

The group of international solar associa-

tions are also to collaborate on technical and

commercial initiatives, working together to

promote the members of NSEFI, SGCC and

SASIA to each other.

The agreement also includes solar manu-

facturing support from SGCC nations to NSE-

FI – to aid India’s domestic manufacturing,

and improve technology, finance, training and

entrepreneurship through joint ventures, ben-

efitting both India and GCC countries. The

agreement was decided by Pranav Mehta,

chairman of NSEFI who met with SGCCA and

Browning Rockwell, the executive director for

SASIA, on April 9, in New Delhi.

SASIA created the SGCC this January to pro-

mote the vast potential of solar energy of the

Gulf region and support nascent solar indus-

tries. It is hoped the partnership will award In-

dia the support needed in boosting its domestic

solar industry, as well as aiding the GCC oil rich

countries to utilise their abundant renewable

solar energy resources. India’s domestic indus-

try is currently under immense time and finan-

cial pressure, NSEFI warned the Indian govern-

ment recently. NSEFI asked for changes to help

India’s struggling domestic solar industry

Meanwhile, the governments of Gulf

nations have in recent years expressed a

need for energy diversification as oil is worth

more to the economy exported than it is used

at home.

yadh Exhibitions Company, said: “Saudi Arabia

is witnessing a major development in the area

of alternative energy, with strategic plans being

implemented and key projects being undertak-

en to meet the increasing demand for energy.”

Jamal Abdulla Lootah, CEO, Imdaad

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• 2005: KONE MonoSpace is the first elevator to include LED lighting as a standard feature.

• 2006: KONE unveils the concept of solar powered elevators.

• 2009: KONE launches high-performance regenerative drives for a full range of applications.

• 2010: KONE receives A-class energy efficiency ratings for its elevators (VDI standard 4707).

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news ReGIOn

new buildingS in KSa muSt have thermal inSulationThermal insulation saves about 40 % of energy in air-conditioning

Estidama villa experience unveiled

Samsung wins clean-fuel project in Kuwait

The Abu Dhabi Urban Planning Council (UPC)

showcased some of the key features of an Estid-

ama villa at Cityscape, enabling visitors to expe-

rience some of the energy-saving and resource

efficiency benefits of new homes that comply

with the Estidama Pearl Rating System.

Visitors were able to inspect cross-sections of

walls that illustrate the difference between non-

Estidama and Estidama walls to show how there

is minimal difference between them.

Samsung Engineering has signed a deal for the

Kuwait Clean Fuels Project worth approximate-

ly US$ 3.8bn.

The deal was signed at the official signing

ceremony with Kuwait National Petroleum

Company (KNPC). The signing ceremony was

attended by Samsung Engineering CEO Park

Choong-Heum and Kuwait’s Minister of Oil, Ali

Saleh Al Omair.

Samsung Engineering will be responsible for

EPC and pre-commissioning on a lump-sum

turnkey basis for the Mina Abdullah #1 refin-

ery package located in the Mina Abdullah prov-

ince, near Kuwait City.

ThERMAL INSULATION WILL BE MANDATORY IN 23 CITIES AND TOWNS ACROSS ThE KINGDOM

as part of energy conservation meas-

ures, Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Munici-

pal and Rural Development Affairs has

announced that installation of thermal insula-

tion systems is mandatory for all new construc-

tions that are coming up in the Kingdom.

Thermal insulation would be a prerequisite

while applying for electricity connection, Minis-

ter of Municipal and Rural Affairs Prince Man-

sour bin Miteb bin Abdulaziz said.

The minister instructed all municipalities in

the Kingdom that installation of thermal insula-

tion was mandatory for all buildings irrespective

of whether they were residential, commercial or

any other facility like government projects in

major cities of the Kingdom. Thermal insulation

will be mandatory in 23 cities and towns across

the Kingdom.

Municipalities and engineering consultants

will coordinate with Saudi Electricity Company

(SEC) to implement the policy. If any building

fails to install insulation, it won’t be able to

subscribe for power supply and the municipal-

ity will also not approve permanent permission.

An exclusive integrated system will be devel-

oped between municipalities and SEC to verify

the installation, the ministry said.

Thermal insulation is a technology used to

protect the buildings from excessive heat

during peak summer time. It reduces the pace

of heat transfer inside the building through

the walls and roof and as a result, saves about

40 per cent of energy in air-conditioning. Air-

conditioning will still be required, but the

tenant will save a lot in terms of utility bills.

Experts and environmental activists

hailed Prince Mansour’s determination to

implement the thermal insulation policy.

Application of thermal insulation has

been in existence for the past three years,

but building owners merely made promises

to municipalities while obtaining permission

for house without actually implementing it.

Similar system is being adopted in Dubai

and Doha for the past 10 years. In Saudi Ara-

bia, authorities were working on it but failed

to implement it effectively.

“With the ministry making it mandatory,

one will have to adhere and that will bring

down energy consumption,” prominent Sau-

di engineering expert Saudi Green Building

Organization senior executive Mohammed

Alhaj Hussein said, adding that in Dubai,

there are 85 applications that are approved as

part of green building system while in Saudi,

we have only two systems and thermal insu-

lation is one of them.

Senior engineer Syed Nooruddin, working

in air-conditioning giant Johnson and John-

son, said: “Thermal insulation installation is

carried during the construction of columns,

walls and roof. The purpose of thermal

insulation in buildings is to maintain a com-

fortable and hygienic indoor climate at low

ambient temperatures.”

Samsung officials at the signing ceremony of the Kuwait Clean Fuels Projects deal

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news world


obAmA touts $15m solAr power plAn

ChinA worried over emissions

As the cost of solar energy continues to decline, more states and local communities are deploying solar projects

Recent report suggested that China is lagging behind its energy conservation and emission reduction targets

in support of the Obama administration’s goal

of doubling renewable energy generation for a

second time by 2020, the US Energy Department

has announced US$ 15m to help communities

develop multi-year solar plans to install afford-

able solar electricity for homes and businesses.

The US continues to be a global leader in

solar, with total US solar energy installations

reaching 13GW last year. As the cost of solar

energy continues to decline, more states and

local communities are deploying solar energy

projects to meet their electricity needs.

“As part of the President’s all-of-the-above

energy strategy, solar energy is helping families

and businesses throughout the US access af-

fordable, clean renewable power,” said US Ener-

gy Secretary Ernest Moniz. “The Energy Depart-

ment is committed to further driving down the

cost of solar energy and supporting innovative

community-based programs – creating more

jobs, reducing carbon pollution and boosting

economic growth.”

As part of the Department’s SunShot Initia-

tive, the Solar Market Pathways funding oppor-

tunity aims to help communities develop solar

deployment plans that focus on cutting red tape,

building strong public-private partnerships to

deploy commercial-scale solar. As part of these

solar deployment plans, communities will es-

tablish innovative financing mechanisms and

launch creative community-based initiatives,

such as shared solar programmes. Shared solar

programs give families and businesses the op-

portunity to own, lease, or purchase electricity

from a share of a larger solar project – reducing

overall costs and giving more consumers access

to renewable power.

The Defense Department, the single largest

consumer of energy in the US, had committed to

deploying 3GW of renewable energy on military

installations by 2025. That includes solar, wind,

biomass and geothermal installations.

The Energy Department plans to provide up

to US$ 4bn in loan guarantees for renewable

energy and energy efficient projects.

senior Chinese lawmakers expressed con-

cerns over the country’s low energy ef-

ficiency and high emissions, as a recent

report suggested that China is lagging behind

its energy conservation and emission reduction

targets.

Members of China’s Standing Committee of

the National People’s Congress (NPC) held panel

discussions recently on the report drafted by

the State Council, China’s cabinet.

According to the report, China faces serious

challenges due to its development pattern and

poor technology.

China has targets for emission cuts and en-

ergy saving in its 12th Five-Year Plan, under

which energy consumption per unit of GDP

should decrease by 16 per cent and carbon di-

oxide emissions should drop by 17 per cent by

2015 from the levels of 2010. By 2013, energy

consumption and CO2 emissions per unit of

GDP have dropped by 9.03 per cent and 10.68

per cent respectively from 2010 levels, but the

country is still facing ‘a grim situation’ in order

to meet its 2015 targets, the report said.

“China is facing considerable challenges in

its energy conservation and emission reduction

initiatives,” said Miao Xuegang, a deputy to the

NPC and head of the environmental protection

department of Anhui Province.

He added that the country’s extensive growth

model was to blame here. “We say that develop-

ment is the answer to everything. But we should

not just pursue any old development,” Miao

said. Senior lawmakers agreed that concrete

measures must be taken to enhance supervi-

sion and that a stricter accountability system

is needed in order to meet the 12th Five-Year

Plan targets.

Li Shiming, a member of the NPC Standing

Committee, said the targets should be broken

down to different regions and strict timetables

should be formulated. Law enforcement and

supervision must also be strengthened, and

an assessment system for officials in charge

of energy conservation and emission reduction

should be set up and put into use, he said.

US President Barack Obama


NEWS Off BEAT

Flying by the sunThe Solar Impulse 2 could fly around the world without a drop of fuel

“Each timE i look at this airplanE, i havE a mEmory of my childhood coming back and i am surE you havE thE samE mEmory: it’s thE Walt disnEy animation cartoon dumbo”bErtrand piccard, co-foundEr and pilot of thE solar impulsE.

SolAR IMPulSe 2 HIgHlIgHtS

• The goal - To be able to fly for at least 120 hours non-stop around the globe

• Built from carbon layers that weigh less than 25gm/sqm

• Has a wingspan of 72 metres• Less than 1 per cent than the

weight of the super jumbo jet• Powered by a massive 17,248 solar cells

spread across its wings and fuselage

AllIAnCe WItH ABB

Power and automation firm ABB will support Bertrand Piccard and André Borschberg in their attempt to fly around the world in the solar powered airplane in 2015. “This partnership brings together two Swiss-based global leaders that are passionate about pushing the boundaries of technology and innovation to achieve a better world,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “We believe in Bertrand’s vision, and we are convinced that by pioneering innovative technologies we will be able to decouple economic growth from energy consumption and environmental impact,” Spiesshofer said. “It was my dream to have ABB as technology partner of Solar Impulse,” said Piccard. “We have the same goal of improving the world by using energy more efficiently and conserving natural resources.”“Solar Impulse and ABB are technology innovators and pioneers,” said Borschberg, co-founder and CEO of Solar Impulse. “We both want to motivate people to use clean technologies; ABB and Solar Impulse will work together on key technologies like power electronics for our mutual benefit.”

B ertrand Piccard and André Borsch-

berg, the masterminds of sun-pow-

ered plane Solar Impulse, formally

unveiled their new aircraft last month, a

year ahead of their planned round-the-

world flight. Power and automation firm ABB

will support the project.

The first-ever flight through the night with a

solar airplane as well as record-breaking missions

across Europe, the Mediterranean Sea and the

US brought worldwide attention to Piccard and

Borschberg with their endeavor, demonstrating

the enormous potential of clean technologies.

“These two airplanes are the most energy

efficient airplanes ever designed,” pilot Andre

Borschberg was quoted as saying at Switzer-

land’s Payerne airbase during the launch.

“The first plane was a prototype, a flying

laboratory,” said the former Swiss Air Force jet

pilot. Solar Impulse 2 is a bigger, better version

of its predecessor, he said, reeling off the new

aircraft’s statistics. The new plane has a wing-

span of 72 metres.

While that is the same as an Airbus A380,

at just 2,300 kilos, Solar Impulse 2 is less than

1 per cent than the weight of the super jumbo

jet. That is thanks to the fact that the plane is

built from carbon layers that weigh less than

25 gramme per square metre - one third of the

weight of a sheet of paper, Borschberg said.

It will be powered by a massive 17,248 solar

cells spread across its wings and fuselage.

The goal, Borschberg said, is to be able to fly

for at least 120 hours non-stop around the globe.

After test flights in Switzerland starting from

next month, the plan is to take off sometime af-

ter March 1, 2015 from a location in the Gulf, ideal

for its weather conditions, and head eastwards.

We will need at least five days and five nights

to fly from China to the US and from the US back

to Europe,” said Borschberg.

While that cannot compete with traditional

air travel, the point of the project is to push the

boundaries of green-flavoured research, said fel-

low pilot Bertrand Piccard, the latest member of

a dynasty of Swiss scientists-cum-adventurers.

Solar Impulse 2

cover story GPcA


The region’s petrochemical industry is slowly but surely embracing sustainable initiatives, says GPCA secretary-general Dr Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun

wArming toA green Future

cover story GPcA


key priorities of the regional govern-

ments and as most of the petrochemi-

cal companies are wholly owned by the

governments, our strategies match.

From that perspective, all the play-

ers in the region have set sustainability

as one of their priorities. Consequently,

human resources are being developed,

which is again in line with the govern-

ment’s direction to create job opportu-

nities for locals.

Can sustainability translate to profitability or is it just a compulsion for companies? It’s a combination of both. The petro-

chemical industry cannot move into

a direction that can minimise profits

radically because they have sharehold-

ers who are trying to maximise their

returns on investments, be it govern-

ment or private investors. To put things

in the right perspective, the industry

as the petrochemical industry

in the Gulf becomes more and

more globalised, it cannot af-

ford to ignore sustainability trends

that are increasingly gaining ground in

every aspect of a business. Worldwide,

the chemical manufacturing indus-

try contributes 5 per cent of the total

greenhouse gas emissions and repre-

sents 10 per cent of non-renewable

resource consumption (including oil,

gas and coal) according to the Inter-

national Energy Agency. This is reason

enough for the industry to sit up and

take environmental sustainability se-

riously. But with stakeholders looking

to maximise returns, does sustainabil-

ity have a place in the industry? Indeed

it does, according to Dr Abdulwahab

Al-Sadoun, secretary-general at the

Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemical As-

sociation (GPCA), who says the indus-

try finds it profitable to go green.

85%Of ThE GCC’S

PETROChEMICAL OUTPUT IS EXPORTED

5%ChEMICAL INDUSTRY’S CONTRIBUTION TO GhG EMISSIONS GLOBALLY

How urgent is sustainability for the region? What is the attitude of petrochemical companies in the gCC?To start with, if you look back at the

evolution of the petrochemical indus-

try in the Gulf region, the essence of

its development was in line with the

regional governments’ sustainability

agenda. The plan in the mid or towards

the end of the 1970s was primarily to

utilise the associated flared gas which

caused significant pollution to the

environment. There was a time when

those who drove to regions rich in oil

fields didn’t need headlights because

the flare is so intense!

By developing this industry, we have

not only managed to cut pollution lev-

els in the environment, but added val-

ue to a depleting resource by creating

significant direct and indirect job op-

portunities. Sustainability is one of the

cover story GPcA


Our industry was established in

the late 70s and early 80s, adopting

the joint venture model whereby you

have a local partner as well as a lead-

ing global chemical company, which

brought with it the operational sys-

tems and expertise. The issue of envi-

ronmental sustainability is high on the

agenda of these companies - like Exx-

onMobil, Shell and Total - all of whom

have a track record of being ahead of

others in terms of EHS management.

From that perspective, the region is re-

ally on the forefront.

Could you highlight some of the regulatory practises in the region?Each industrial city has a regulatory

body whose job is to ensure that all the

producers comply with its strict stand-

ards that check emission of green-

house gases and use of water. The oil

commission in Jubail and Yanbu has

set regulations which are at par with

Californian standards. Recent stud-

ies have shown that the quality of air

in these industrial cities is far better

than the quality of air in other major

cities. This way the regulatory bodies

have done a really commendable job

thErE Was a timE WhEn thosE Who drovE to rEgions rich in oil fiElds didn’t nEEd hEadlights bEcausE thE flarE is so intEnsE!

is very capital and energy intensive,

and cannot be set up in remote areas.

It needs world class infrastructure

and that’s why the local government

invested heavily in developing the in-

frastructure in Jubail in Saudi Arabia

and in Al Tawila and Al Ruwais in Abu

Dhabi. All these sites are equipped

with necessities such as utilities, port,

and training facilities, among others.

Now here is the issue. The GCC’s

petrochemical industry is a global in-

dustry, with largely overseas custom-

ers. The majority of our products are

commodities and nearly 85 per cent

of the output is exported. Commodi-

ties are standard products, so a poly-

ethylene, methanol or ethylene glycol,

whether manufactured in Abu Dhabi

or in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere, is

the same material, with no difference

whatsoever. But customers consider

companies that have a sustainability

image. The brand plays a key role as

one would rather join hands with a

supplier with a good reputation.

The customer plays a key role as

well. If a product is made in an envi-

ronmentally friendly process or using

a degradable material, the customers

are prepared to pay an extra amount.

The bottom line is, sustainability is

very important for the industry. It

magnifies the image of the company

and adds to the brand equity, which

is a must for these global companies

with a global market. In the overseas

market, the customers do care about

how sustainably the product has

been manufactured.

Is the industry upbeat on innovations to make the production process more energy efficient? For instance, increasing yield from chemical feedstock.Innovation is an ongoing process in

the journey of sustainability. It’s a very

competitive industry and to be ahead

of the competition, companies need to

enhance the efficiency of manufactur-

ing processes, optimise supply chain

and ensure that products are deliv-

ered in a very short lead time. There

is always room to challenge the exist-

ing model and improve it significantly.

Companies are doing well in terms of

sustainability, but more is needed as

this is a new concept in our region.

For instance, GPCA back in 2004

unanimously endorsed and imple-

mented the Responsible Care initia-

tive, which was adopted by the Inter-

national Council of Chemical Associa-

tion (ICCA) post the Bhopal disaster in

India. The initiative calls for the con-

tinued improvement of the EHS (Envi-

ronment, Health and Safety) manage-

ment. The ICCA ranks associations on

the basis of their implementation of

the Responsible Care and for the sec-

ond year in a row, the GPCA is on top.

This explains how good the industry

has been in the region.

“pEoplE nEEd to knoW that plastic is rEcyclablE and that at thE End of its lifEcyclE, WhEn it can no longEr bE rEcyclEd, WE can Extract EnErgy from it”

cover story GPcA


auditing. Some of them have a chief

sustainability officer - a trend which

is now growing.

Plastic recycling rates in the gCC has been estimated to be less than 10 per cent. What does this imply for future? Can campaigns like Waste Free environment bring a change?We are trying our best to increase

awareness about recycling among the

public. The Waste Free Environment

initiative was launched by the GPCA in

2013. A couple of things that we have

noticed during these campaigns is

that the benefits of plastics are poorly

understood and the attitude of litter-

ing among the people is disturbing.

While, it is overwhelming to see the

level of engagement from children in

such campaigns, we observed that

our youth, aged between 14 and 18,

are unaware that plastic is recycla-

ble. This strongly indicates that there

is an intensive need for educational

campaigns. People need to know that

plastic is recyclable and that at the

end of their lifecycle, when it can no

longer be recycled, we can extract en-

ergy from it because it is made of hy-

drocarbons - a depleting resource in the

region. We strongly endorse using the

waste to generate energy rather than

dumping it in a landfill. If 90 per cent of

the plastic waste is going into landfill, it

is not good news, but it is an opportunity

for all the stakeholders to work on creat-

ing an infrastructure for recycling.

Most of the plastic waste is shipped

overseas to the subcontinent where

the recycling industry is flourish-

ing. While rewards and incentives

encourage recycling, stricter penal-

ties are required for those who litter.

Singapore, for instance, is a model of

environmental cleanliness because

the country has a very strict regula-

tory framework. So hopefully we will

have that in future.

The rising demand for plastic is

linked to the growing population, in-

creasing standard of living and the

growth of the middle class, particu-

larly in leading societies such as India

and China. The key end-users of plastic

are the automobile and the electron-

ics industry which are vast. However,

even in the healthcare sector, plastic

has become indispensable.

if 90% of thE plastic WastE is going into landfill, it is not good nEWs, but it is an opportunity for all to Work on crEating an infrastructurE for rEcycling

gPCA’S CSR InItIAtIVeThe Waste Free Environment day is an environmental initiative founded by the Plastics Committee of the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemical Association (GPCA) and is dedicated to responsible disposal of waste to maintain a litter and rubbish free local environment where possible. The campaign sets out to increase both corporate and public awareness on the amount of plastic (and other waste) thrown away each year in the gulf and to inspire them and particularly school students, to reduce wastage and littering, and take up recycling. the region’s plastic industry aims to demonstrate its dedication to a clean environment though this campaign.

in ensuring that the environmental damage is mini-

mised. Also, companies who exceed emission limits

are heavily fined.

Further, since most petrochemical companies

have a global customer base, they adopt interna-

tional best practises. Most of our member companies

have been RC 14001 certified, which is given after


PREvIEW susTainaBle expo 2020 seminar

At bgreen’s Sustainable Expo 2020 seminar, industry experts and government authorities will discuss construction opportunities for Expo 2020 and the new Dubai Green Building legislation

dubAi’s green dreAms

The new Dubai Green Building

codes that came into effect for

all residential and commercial

construction earlier this year prom-

ises to take the emirate’s building

sector towards a sustainable future.

Experts believe that sustainability

performance of the construction

sector has improved with govern-

ment intervention.

The transformation has been in

the making since 2006, Jeff Willis,

associate director of global engineer-

ing and consulting firm Arup, told

bgreen magazine.

Willis will speak at bgreen’s Sus-

tainable Expo 2020 seminar on May 21

at Habtoor Grand, Dubai. The confer-

ence also features a panel of industry

experts and government authorities,

including Eng. Abdullah Rafia, Assis-

tant Director General of Dubai Mu-

nicipality and Shaikha Al Mutawa,

Chairman of Sustainability Commit-

tee and Director, Business Develop-

ment, Department of Tourism and

Commerce Marketing.

Other panellists include Daniel

Hajjar, senior VP, HOK Middle East and

Africa and Tariq Abbas, Head of Sus-

tainability, Hilson Moran.

At the seminar, a panel will discuss

construction opportunities created as

the industry is expected to witness

a boom again. Companies providing

construction equipment, machin-

Experts believe that the sustainability performance of the construction sector has improved with government intervention


PREvIEW susTainaBle expo 2020 seminar

emirate’s plans. Dubai is committed

to delivering one of the most environ-

mentally sustainable World Expos in

history, Reem Al Hashemi, UAE Min-

ister of State and managing director

of Dubai’s Expo 2020 executive body,

recently said at the World Green Econ-

omy Summit. The Expo 2020 executive

body has developed detailed targets

and strategies for the design of infra-

structure and buildings, focusing on

demand reduction, use of alternative

sources, reuse and recycling of energy,

water, waste materials and supplies.

With a target to generate 50 per

cent of the energy requirements from

renewable sources on-site, Dubai Expo

2020 will showcase the first large-scale

application of Building-Integrated

photovoltaic and solar technology set-

ting a new benchmark for future mega-

events. Thirty per cent of the building

materials used for the Expo are to be

made from recycled aggregate content.

A sun-powered canvas canopy will

provide shade for visitors to the site

during the day, while a PV panel-lined

roof will light up at night for digital

shows. At the seminar, Vahid Fotuhi,

President, Middle East Solar Industry

Association will discuss opportunities

for solar companies at the Expo.

The seminar is endorsed by Dubai

Municipality and supported by Dubai

Government, Dubai Department of

Tourism and Commerce Marketing,

Dubai Green Tourism Awards and

Clean Energy Business Council. The

lead sponsors for the event are BASF

and Kone.

thirty pEr cEnt of thE building matErials usEd at thE Expo arE to bE madE from rEcyclEd aggrEgatE contEnt

50%Of ThE ENERGY

REQUIREMENTS AT ThE EXPO WILL COME

fROM RENEWABLE SOURCES ON-SITE

$1BnTOTAL ALLOCATION TO BUILD ThE EXPO

vILLAGE IN JEBEL ALI

ery, materials and EPC services from

across the world are looking to make

the best of these opportunities and es-

tablish their businesses in Dubai.

Professionals and organisations

across the industry have the oppor-

tunity to meet high-level executives

and experts at the seminar who will

discuss the new Dubai Green Building

codes in great details.

“Suppliers and contractors of build-

ing materials and technologies in the

region need to make sure that their

products comply the new regulations.

Companies that already comply with

these regulations will have an edge

over others,” Willis said.

opportunities at the expo siteThe emirate has allocated US$ 1bn

to build an Expo Village - 438 hectare

site in Jebel Ali where more than 2,000

apartments, banks, retail outlets and

restaurants will be constructed. Pri-

vate and public sector stakeholders in

Dubai will need to band together from

the outset in planning for the before,

during, and post-event scenarios well

ahead of Expo 2020. There is a need for

integration and collaboration, where

sustainability companies can work to-

gether with construction companies,

suppliers and exhibitors. At the semi-

nar, Daniel Hajjar, senior VP, HOK Mid-

dle East and Africa, the company that

designed Expo 2020 site, will talk about

this firm’s idea behind site blueprint.

About US $500m will be spent

on projects this year, with the same

amount allocated for next year. The

seminar will highlight business oppor-

tunities at the Expo site to help local

and regional companies visualise the


METAL

The metal recycling industry in the Middle East has been on the rise ever since urban infrastructure became the primary focus of the GCC countries

sAlvAging sCrAp

The growth in demand for met-

als, which could see needs rise

by almost ten times current

levels, calls for a rethink of recycling

practices in order to address negative

environmental impacts. The metal re-

cycling industry in the Middle East has

been on the rise ever since urban infra-

structure became the primary focus of

the GCC countries.

Today, the region has become a hub

for sourcing metal scrap, India and Chi-

na being its major importer. The metal

recycling industry in the GCC overrides

on the supply side.

Mining and metal industry tradition-

ally was concentrated in countries like

Iraq, Egypt and Algeria. The GCC coun-

tries joined the bandwagon around

1970, with Aluminium Bahrain (ALBA)

being established. Constant focus and

investment aimed at diversification of

economies in the GCC has given rise

to metal sectors like iron and steel and

aluminium. Both these industries are

energy dependent and the availability

of cheap hydrocarbon fuel has been

driving them.

The integrated use of metals and

their compounds cause local impacts

from mining and use 7-8 per cent of

the global energy supply. There are also

issues related to metal emissions from

sources such as fossil fuels and phos-

phate fertilizer, and the need for a final

disposal solution for certain metals

where supply has exceeded demand.

Recycling requires significantly less

energy per kilogramme of metal pro-

duced than primary production, and

also decreases the overall local impact

of mining. Recycling also slows down

the need for exploiting low-grade ores-

a more energy-intensive process that is

likely to become more common as de-

mand grows-and can help ward off fu-

ture scarcity of certain commonly used

precious metals.

AluminiumThe aluminium recycling market is

at a nascent stage in the GCC, as it is

mainly an export driven market; but

it is growing.

According to Frost & Sullivan, the

aluminium scrap and recycling market

in the GCC was estimated at 292,281

metric tonnes in 2010 and is expected to

reach 593,434 metric tonnes in 2017 at

a compound annual growth rate (CAGR)

of 10.6 per cent between 2010 and 2017.

The aluminium downstream industry is

yet to establish itself as a major scrap

procurer in this region. Aluminium pro-

duction in the GCC is expected to reach

5m tonnes by 2014 as the global demand

is estimated to increase and reach 70m

metric tonnes per year by 2020. To meet

this demand, the Gulf countries are ex-

pected to boost aluminium production

capacity by up to 40 per cent.

Aluminium as a metal has the abili-

ty to be completely recycled. Recycling

is a sub-activity of secondary alumini-

um production. This activity is well es-

tablished in European and American

markets but is under-developed in

the GCC.

In 2010, the global average of recycled

aluminium as a percentage of total pro-

duction (both primary and secondary)

was estimated at 32 per cent whereas, the

same in the GCC was estimated at only

2 per cent (or 65,000 tonnes) in the GCC.

UAE-based Bee’ah’s car shredding facility


METAL

control, operations management, and

energy management within the mining

and metal industry. This gives the com-

pany an insight into their operations so

they can look towards reducing costs

and waste and also increase safety and

energy efficiency, thereby making opera-

tions more sustainable.

UAE-based waste management com-

pany Bee’ah recently launched an ad-

vanced facility featuring a powerful ma-

chine for shredding cars and scrap metal.

The car recycling service is consid-

ered to be the first of its kind in the

UAE, representing an environmentally-

friendly way to dispose of cars while ex-

tracting valuable materials.

“Car recycling helps both people and

companies to grow, by contributing to

saving the environment and its resourc-

es,” said Khaled Al Huraimel, Group CEO,

Bee’ah. “Additionally, it returns materi-

als back into the economy cycle.”

The machine, known as the ‘Red

Giant’, is considered to be the perfect

solution for dealing with tough materi-

als – such as car bodies – in large vol-

ume. With a throughput capacity of 200

tonnes per hour in MSW or 150 tons per

hour in C&D, the 44-ton Red Giant is fast

and efficient, with tracks to allow for

mobility around Bee’ah’s facility.

Bee’ah’s car shredding and recycling

facility processes cars and light metal

scrap, separating and reclaiming unique

metals, glass and plastic. It is also ca-

pable of processing wood, plastic, trees,

cars, solid building materials, iron and

non-iron metals of widths up to 120mm.

Sustainability vs. profitability Sustainability is associated with social,

economic and environmental impacts

of an industry. The focus is clearly on in-

creasing energy efficiency and recycling

in the metal industry, and with growing

dominance of aluminium industry in the

region, it is important that sustainable

practices are integrated in the process.

In future, the GCC aluminium industry

should be seen as a strategic partner for

the low-carbon competitiveness and con-

tributing towards the sustainable devel-

opment of the various countries it sup-

plies to. Adopting sustainable practices in

environmental performance, technol-

ogy, energy efficiency, human resource

practices, and other areas of the value

chain does not only make an enterprise

profitable but also boosts stakeholder

confidence and overall goodwill.

[With inputs from Kshitij Nilkanth, Pro-

gramme Manager, Frost & Sullivan.]

in 2010, thE global avEragE of rEcyclEd aluminium as a pErcEntagE of total production (both primary and sEcondary) Was EstimatEd at 32% WhErEas, thE samE in thE gcc Was EstimatEd at only 2 % (or 65,000 tonnEs)

SteelCapacities of GCC basic iron and steel

products have been estimated by ana-

lysts at approximately 20m tonnes of

iron ore pellets, 2m tonnes of sheets and

plates, 17m tonnes of longs and 5mn

tonnes of pipes and tubes. The gulf

has become a hub for the scrap metal

recycling (refining and exporting). The

UAE leads the pack followed by Saudi

Arabia. The UAE also refines and re-

exports some 70,000 to 100,000 tonnes

of non-ferrous metals every month,

with an annual turnover of US$ 4.5bn.

Most of the metal is imported from Af-

rica and Europe. It is then refined and

sorted and re-exported within the re-

gion or outside to countries like China,

India and Pakistan.

Regional initiativesMining, minerals and metals are some

of the most energy-intensive industrial

processes, making energy efficiency a

crucial part of the operation, from both a

financial and sustainability standpoint.

Prominent companies in the GCC such

as EMAL and Emirates Steel are facing

pressure as the power demand looks to

outpace the supply. Some companies

are deploying modern technology and

software which help integrate process

40% GCC’S EXPECTED

INCREASE IN ALUMINIUM PRODUCTION CAPACITY

$4.5BnUAE’S ANNUAL TURNOvER

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Sustainability is one of the 3 pillars of Dubai Expo 2020 and with the new Green Building Legislation being implemented now is the time for you and your organization to

understand how these opportunities can translate to your bottom line.

Panel discussions with industry experts on: Construction Opportunities for 2020 and New Green Building Legislation

Sponsored bybgreen and Big Project presents

Confirmed Panellists:Shaikha Al Mutawa (Dubai Government DTCM)

Abdullah Rafia (Assistant Director-General, Dubai Municipality)Tariq Abbas (Head of Sustainability, Hilson Moran) | Vahid Fotuhi (President, Mesia)

Daniel Hajjar (Senior VP, HOK) | Amelie Zegmout (Head of Sales & Business Development, Legrand)Ibrahim Al-Zu’bi (Head of Sustainability, Majid Al Futtaim Properties LLC)

Jeff Willis (Associate Director, Arup) | Stuart Mee (Head of Sustainability, Al Futtaim Carillion)Jane Boyle (Head of Sustainability & Energy, Middle East, WSP)

Lindsay Preston (Business Development Manager, BASF Construction Chemicals)Jani Huotari (Technical Sales Support - Regional Manager, KONE Middle East)

In association with

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Sustainable

WETEX | REviEW


spotlight on green teChnology

The 16th Water, Energy, Technol-

ogy, and Environment Exhibi-

tion (WETEX 2014), had all the

1,500 participating companies show-

casing their best business models and

products tailored to minimise envi-

ronmental damage. The bgreen team

had a field day at the event learning

all about what the corporates had to

offer sustainably and having been held

under the theme ‘At the forefront of

sustainability’, companies had quite a

lot to offer at the event.

WETEX 2014 focused on green solu-

tions and green economy, as well as re-

search in best practices and solutions

to address environmental challenges,

in addition to displaying the latest en-

ergy technologies. “The strong corpo-

rate and national institutions’ partici-

pation in the 16th WETEX is clear in-

dication of the high position that it oc-

cupies on the global front,” said Saeed

Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of

the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy,

MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Wa-

ter Authority and founder of WETEX.

“We have succeeded in gathering en-

ergy, water, environment, sustainable

development, and oil and gas sectors

under one roof providing an ideal plat-

form to communicate with partners

and customers as well as offer ser-

vices and solutions to a wide number

of consumers.” He added that on day

one of WETEX 2014, more than 150

HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy (DSCE) officially opens WETEX 2014

participants representing 80 compa-

nies participated in the conference on

Phase two of Mohammed bin Rashid

Al Maktoum Solar Park Developers,

which shows the great importance the

international investors put to renew-

able energy projects.

As the world becomes more aware

of the consequences of rampant in-

dustrialisation on the environment,

companies have been striving to make

their businesses greener across all ver-

ticals. It started sluggishly, as a com-

pulsion from government agencies,

but now it is in demand, and is some-

times even used as a promotional tool,

which means it is bringing in profits.

Now even if the company’s products or

services cannot be made sustainable,

an attempt is made through CSR activ-

ities. However, in this WETEX 2014 re-

view, bgreen is focusing on some com-

panies and their products which are

truly at the forefront of sustainability.

WETEX 2014 focused on sustainable innovations and green economy, as well as research in best practices and solutions to address environmental challenges

morE than 150 participants took part in thE confErEncE on phasE tWo of mohammEd bin rashid al maktoum solar park dEvElopErs, Which shoWs thE grEat importancE thE intErnational invEstors put to rEnEWablE EnErgy projEcts

WETEX | REviEW


Ultrafiltration systems are said to

have a smaller footprint than con-

ventional multistage treatment sys-

tems. According to Maack, zero liquid

discharge should be the aim of every

company and even though one can

achieve it in principle, it needs to be

cost effective as well. He added that

as long as there is no pressure from

the government and environmental

organisations to initiate such sustain-

able initiatives the uptake will be slow.

Under the purview of sustainability,

BASF is also working on batteries that

will be able to store solar energy.

Reusing fuelMoving on, the oil business - the cata-

lyst of the region’s economy - has to

embrace sustainability. Not only be-

cause it is a finite resource but also

because any little changes to the way

oil is handled can have a huge impact

on improving efficiency. The Emirates

National Oil Company (ENOC) has

been, over the years, introducing green

strategies into its business. Other than

using solar panels at its stations and

recycled water for car wash, ENOC has

implemented a new technology to cap-

ture petrol fumes at stations.

“The ‘green’ station features ad-

vanced technological devices to con-

tain petrol fumes released at the

pump. What the technology does is

capture all the fumes that comes out

of the nozzle into the air. So if you

walk in to the station you won’t smell

fuel. And we take it back to recycling.

These fumes, which would have oth-

erwise escaped into the atmosphere,

have the potential to affect the ozone

layer,” said Noaman Al Saleh, Public

Relations & CSR Manager, ENOC. Other

green products in its lubricants port-

folio is the company’s synthetic oils

Protec and Vulcan, which filters out

particle emission, thereby contribut-

ing to reduced pollution in the air.

However, one of the most path-

breaking contributions to sustain-

ability definitely is the introduction of

Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the

country. Recently, ENOC’s subsidiary,

basf’s nEW t-rack basEd on ingE ultrafiltration mEmbranE tEchnology hElps in sEaWatEr prE-trEatmEnt, Which WhEn usEd in combination With ro can bE a grEEn altErnativE to traditional dEsalination.

efficient cablesThe scope for sustainability is not too

high for cable companies in general but

Ducab has been putting in its best ef-

fort to be green and is succeeding. “We

are quite constrained in what we can

do about the product. It is all around

the product, how we can get that

product to its end user in a sustain-

able way. By using processes which

are efficient, by looking at process

technology, by driving clean manu-

facturing, and by using less material

and energy. Those are the main driv-

ers for us,” said Jon Vail, CEO, Ducab-

HV, at WETEX.

However, what the company can

also do is provide green cables, with

better insulation, which will eventu-

ally mean better energy efficiency, but

it is up to the customer to choose. “We

can offer recyclable insulation, we can

offer reduced losses by increasing the

size of the conductor. But there is no

specification demand for this low loss

cable. If a customer wants a new prod-

uct type, we would be happy to look

at any product development and we

can advise on environmental impact.

But there is this very strong balance

to be made between initial costs and

lifetime analysis,” Vail added.

In another interesting initiative, the

company has located its factory near

the EMAL smelter factory in KIZAD.

Usually, the smelters sell aluminium

bars to the cable makers who has to

reheat it before using. “But by setting

up a factory there, we are taking hot

metal directly from the EMAL, so that

the entire process of cooling and re-

heating is avoided, thereby saving en-

ergy and making the procedure very

eco-friendly,” Vail said.

Better waterDesalination is here to stay, but how

can we make it more efficient? The

process consumes substantial energy

and generates a lot of waste and pol-

lutants including CO2. BASF, however,

has a solution. The company’s new T-

Rack 3.0 based on Inge ultrafiltration

membrane technology helps in seawa-

ter pre-treatment, which when used in

combination with reverse osmosis can

be a green alternative to traditional

desalination. The solution employs

nanotechnology that pushes seawa-

ter through a special membrane that

filters out suspended solids, viruses

and bacteria.

“Ultrafiltration has other advan-

tages when compared to conventional

treatments. For example, if the water

quality changes, then the ultrafiltra-

tion system will still work with muddy

water. It is easier to handle as well, if

the membranes are blocked you can

do a back wash, wherein you put the

water in the opposite direction, and

it cleans automatically. That way it is

easy to maintain,” said Sven Maack,

head of global business development

(desalination), BASF at the WETEX.

BASF’s T-Rack 3.0

WETEX | REviEW


ovEr 1,500 companiEs particiatEd at WEtEx 2014, making it thE rEgion’s largEst Exhibition on EnErgy sustainability

Emirates Gas, joined hands with Dubai

Municipality to treat land and sewage

waste to generate CNG. EMGAS is now

setting up a facility to convert waste

to bio-methane, from what is currently

being flared, and then compress it into

CNG that will be used as an automo-

tive green fuel. “It is a green gas that

does not emit any carbon, so doesn’t

affect the environment. New cars and

machinery are being moved to CNG,”

Al Saleh added.

All round approachWhen it comes to the huge MNCs that

have products and services across in-

dustries, sustainability becomes sec-

ond nature. When we asked Francois

Dao, Vice President (industry business),

gulf countries at Schneider Electric,

what his company’s most sustainable

product was, he had a lot of subjects to

talk about. “However, if we are focusing

on one product, it has to be the Smart

Water Network. We can provide all in-

struments, all automations systems,

transmission and the master control

system to monitor the flow, pressure

and quality throughout the network.

You can map the entire city and eas-

ily detect water leakage.” Similarly, the

plant’s production efficiency can be

improved vastly through the compa-

ny’s motor centres, he added.

The company is working towards

adding more modules and software

to the Smart Water Network for

easier operating as well as for inte-

grating features such as billing and

revenue collection.

Schneider is working with Abu Dha-

bi Municipality, Masdar and DEWA on

the demand side management, help-

ing cities manage energy consumption

in existing buildings through auditing.

“We provide analysis, along with it we

provide the solution, that is how and

what to implement in order to make

savings. The DNA of our company in

terms of energy management is to help

people make the most of their energy.

It is a strategic domain for our com-

pany,” said Ahmed Sfar, Vice President

Energy Sales, Schneider Electric.

SustainabilityA well rounded step towards being sus-

tainable is when most of your products

and most of the factories in which the

products are made are environmental-

ly certified. And ABB has that. Talking

about the most sustainable- friendly

products in its repertoire, ABB prides

itself in the Flexible Alternating Cur-

rent Transmission Systems (FACTS). It

is said to enhance the security, capac-

ity and flexibility of power transmis-

sion networks over existing AC power

lines, providing fast voltage regulation,

active power control and load flow

control in meshed power systems. The

technology is a comparatively inex-

pensive and fast way to provide more

power and control in existing net-

works, with minimal environmental

impact, according to Carlos Pone, CEO

(Southern Gulf and Pakistan) of ABB.

“The system will look at the de-

mand and the supply side. For exam-

ple, an aluminium factory might not

need all the electricity pumped into it.

So the system will correct it and only

the necessary energy needed by the

factory will be used. This has a dual

benefit - a factory that will spend

less money and give out less emis-

sions and the excess energy can be

directed elsewhere,” Pone said.

Right from the time one enters a

smart city, Pone explains, his com-

pany’s products can be used at every

level - starting from SCADA systems

in airports; motors and drives for a

public transportation and substa-

tions that transmit electricity along

the metro way; be it sustainable

lighting solutions for star hotels or

distribution substation and control

equipment for Burj Khalifa. “Wher-

ever you go, from a plug in your home

to the water you drink, there is ABB,”

said Pone.

Visitors at Wetex 2014

WETEX | REviEW


strengthening green eConomy

Government leaders and the re-

gion’s representatives from the

business and finance sector were

brought together at this year’s World

Green Economy Summit (WGES 2014)

- the first of its kind event in the Mid-

dle East and North Africa to focus on

developing international partnerships

on sustainability. It targeted enabling

national green economy development,

promoting regional and global growth

in green trade, investments, and part-

nerships, and establishing a global

green economy marketplace for tech-

nologies, products and services. The

Summit, which was held under the

theme “World Partnerships For Sus-

tainable Future” and which witnessed

participation from leading organisa-

tions in the field of green economy,

was inaugurated by HH Sheikh Ahmed

bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of

the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice

Chairman of the Dubai Supreme

Council of Energy (DSCE), said, “This

Summit came in time to address the

great challenges we are facing, which

requires combining efforts, collabora-

tion and creative solutions, especially

from youth. We have to develop initia-

tives and adopt state-of-the-art tech-

nologies in order to use alternative and

renewable sources of energy to secure

energy requirements for social and

economic development. That’s why

we have to combine efforts, promote

collaboration, share expertise and

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, addresses the audience at the World Green Economy Summit in Dubai

best practices to achieve our aspired

common goal – the transformation

towards sustainable energy, which

is the key pillar of green economy.”

The summit addressed several

topics in its sessions, including: “Suc-

cess in Green Public Private Partner-

ships” and “Smart Cities - Smart

Infrastructure”, in addition to pub-

lic sessions under the title: “Private

Financing for the Green Economy”,

“The Youth and Green Innovation”,

and “Dubai in 2020, and creating the

Green Economy Market Place”.

The opening plenary was at-

tended by Reem Al Hashimi, UAE

Minister of State, Hakima Al Haite,

Minister of Environment, Kingdom

of Morocco and Alun Davies, Minis-

ter of Natural Resources and Food,

Government of Wales, and was mod-

erated by Adnan Z Amin, Director-

General, International Renewable

Energy Agency’s (IRENA).

The panellists talked about how

the transition to a sustainable global

energy mix must be accelerated in

order to reduce global carbon di-

oxide (CO2) emissions by 40-70 per

cent compared with 2010 by 2050.

Renewable energy is the economi-

cally viable and technologically

proven option to keep CO2 levels be-

low the widely accepted threshold of

450 parts per million (ppm).

Amin urged the international

community to fast-track renewable

energy in the fight against climate

change and said, “The latest report

by the Intergovernmental Panel

on Climate Change reconfirms

that averting catastrophic climate

change is possible if we act now. But

we need to act decisively.”

“Renewable energy, in combina-

tion with energy efficiency, provides

the most affordable and technologi-

cally mature path to bring about the

necessary change. The accelerated

deployment of renewable energy

significantly reduces energy-related

carbon dioxide emissions at a rea-

sonable cost,” Amin added.

WGES 2014, held this April, promises to be a stepping stone to further sustainable initiatives not just in Dubai but across the world


EvENT PREvIEW | MENASOL

menA solAr geArs For growth

with over 3GW of solar fore-

cast to be completed in the

Middle East & North Africa

by 2020, more than 150 senior execu-

tives from leading solar companies

will be meeting at the 6th Annual Mid-

dle East & North Africa Solar Confer-

ence & Exhibition taking place on 6-7

May in Dubai.

At the event, companies planning

or currently making investments in

solar such as Saudi Aramco, SunPow-

er, First Solar, Acciona and Moham-

med al Houkail trading and Construc-

tion Company will look to build the

relationships essential for the most

efficient supply chain and develop

bankable assets in the key markets.

With over seven markets including

Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,

the United Arab Emirates and Morocco

demonstrating clear promise for solar

there is a huge potential for compa-

nies with the winning combination of

project and partnership.

However, the varied business regu-

lations across markets as well as the

lack of available data on plant perfor-

Steve Griffiths, Masdar Institute of Science and Technology

mance and operating costs means that

developers need to look to other com-

panies to assist them in building accu-

rate performance models, budgets and

executing projects. What’s more, with-

out careful research and coordination,

construction costs and budgets can

spiral and make projects unfeasible

for lender and developer.

Furthermore it is not just module

performance which will be carefully

scrutinised in plans and budgets, but

inverter performance. High tempera-

tures can have an adverse effect on ef-

ficiency and if sand or dust gets beyond

inverter casing this can also interfere

with performance. Inverters pose a

huge threat to the profitability of the

plant due to their pivotal role. With

these climatic considerations in mind

choosing central or string inverters is

not a small decision. These considera-

tions are important in developing ad-

equate operations and maintenance

plans.

Masdar Institute’s solar energy de-

partment have been focusing on the

At MENASOL 2014, companies planning or currently making investments in solar will look to build the relationships essential for the most efficient supply chain and develop bankable assets in key markets

masdar institutE’s so-lar EnErgy dEpartmEnt has bEEn focusing on thE dEvElopmEnt of csp and havE launchEd thE ‘bEam doWn’ solar con-cEntrator, a 100kWh csp pilot plant



SpeakerS in focuS

ahmed S nadaVice President for the Middle East,

First Solar

The region’s high levels of solar irra-

diance make sunlight its most abun-

dant energy resource. Hence it comes

as no surprise that in order to meet

the region’s increasing energy demands, especially for domestic

consumption, MENA governments are increasingly looking to

the sun for solutions and investing significantly in utility scale

solar projects. As a result of solar PV’s ability to be quickly de-

ployed, it is the ideal solar technology to support the region’s

immediate energy needs.

Sam ShakirCEO of Areva Solar

The MENA region is ideally suited for

the expansion of CSP. There is a very

good, reliable solar resource, an in-

creasing demand for power and the

political will to support the develop-

ment of a new industry, which creates jobs and economic growth

in the region. Areva sees the potential for several applications

in the region such as standalone power generation with storage,

Integrated Solar Combined Cycle, as well as other steam aug-

mentation solutions, enhanced oil recovery, thermal desalina-

tion and other steam applications.

Øivind reschCEO, NEST AS

Our thermal energy storage is highly

relevant towards CSP as it can oper-

ate with a variety of heat transfer

fluids and it is highly competitive to

molten salt storage. We are building

our first pilot in Abu Dhabi and are currently planning projects

in Dubai.

The MENASOL is a perfect event to showcase our technology

and meet potential customers and partners. We are proving our

technology by building our first MWh size pilot in Masdar City

in Abu Dhabi and we are prioritising the Middle East as we are

about to negotiate commercial NEST TES implemented in CSP

projects in the region.

development of concentrated

solar power (CSP) and have

launched the ‘Beam Down’ so-

lar concentrator, a 100kWh CSP

pilot plant. The institute is now

using the ‘Beam Down’ as a

way to develop Thermal Energy

Storage (TES) systems and CSP

components whilst, NEST have

developed a module, scalable

system for high temperature

thermal energy.

“CSP offers the value of ‘dis-

patchable’ electricity when

coupled with thermal storage

and can also be coupled with

combined cycle fossil power

generation for a cleaner form

of fossil power,” Steve Griffiths,

Executive Director, Institute

Initiatives, Masdar Institute of

Science and Technology, said.

The partnership between the

institute and NEST will lead to

the development of an energy

storage pilot project which will

provide NEST with the opportu-

nity to demonstrate the advan-

tages of their new TES systems.

Given the rise in population

in the MENA region, the poor

grid connectivity in certain

areas and the high costs of oil

and other conventional powers

that will become an issue in

the next few years, the added

value of storage that CSP has

to offer means that TES is to be

prioritised in the key markets

for solar in the MENA region –

Saudi Arabia and Morocco for

example. The main advantages

that NEST have to offer are that

their TES is cost-effective, flex-

ible and a scalable solution for

the storage of thermal energy

at high temperatures.

At MENASOL 2014, NEST and

AREVA Solar will be presenting

how TES solutions can provide

value in a wide range of ther-

mal applications, significantly

adding value to CSP plants in

the MENA region.

Speakers are the event in-

clude Waleed al-Rumaih, Board

Director, National Saudi Trans-

mission Company; Browning

Rockwell, Executive Director,

Saudi Arabia Solar Industries

Association (SASIA); Wijdan

Alrabadi, Commissioner, Elec-

tricity Regulation Commis-

sion- Jordan; Hanna Zaghloul,

CEO, Kawar Energy (Jordan);

Thomas Altmann, Vice Presi-

dent Technology ACWA Pow-

er; Taher Diab, Director of

Strategy and Planning, Dubai

Supreme Council of Energy;

and Frank Wouters, Deputy

Director-General, Internation-

al Renewable Energy Agency

(IRENA) among others.



JordAn turns to the sun to meet energy demAnd

The government of Jordan exe-

cuted the power purchase agree-

ments (PPA) related to the first

phase of its direct proposal program

involving 200MW of solar power.

These projects are dotted through-

out the country, in Ma’an, Maraq and

Aqaba. In doing so, Jordan has become

the first country in the Middle East to

successfully launch and complete a

solar procurement program.

This is exemplary considering all

the social and economic challenges

that the country has been facing.

Since the Arab Spring, Jordan has been

plagued with a double-edged sword

of dramatically higher fuel costs and

soaring electricity demand.

Deprived of any meaningful hydro-

carbon reserves, Jordan has had to im-

port natural gas from Egypt. But when

those supplies were disrupted in 2011,

Jordan was forced to turn to the inter-

national oil markets and import very

expensive crude and fuel oil to keep

its power plants running. This has bur-

dened the country’s utility with a defi-

cit of over $1 bn per annum and push

up Jordan’s levelized electricity cost to

over $0.20/kWh, among the highest in

the world.

Meanwhile, with the outbreak of

war in Syria, Jordan has been over-

whelmed with ever-rising number of

refugees entering the country. Today,

the fourth largest city in Jordan is in

fact a refugee camp. This has had a

major impact on the country’s elec-

tricity demand, just at the same time

as its cost of producing that electricity

has climbed.

Faced with such adversities, many

countries would have fallen into a sea

of civil chaos. But to its credit, Jordan

has decided to tackle these adversities

head on. This includes a full-fledged

effort to meet the growing demand

for power by harnessing a natural

resource which it has an abundance

of: solar.

In recent years, the solar spotlight

in the Middle East has been focused

on Saudi Arabia. The titanic size of the

solar program has dwarfed the efforts

being made by all the other countries

in the MENA region.

In Jordan, whilst the govern-

ment’s announced targets remain

modest, it’s near term actions have

been exemplary.

The country’s Electricity & Regula-

tory Commission (ERC) along with the

Ministry of Energy and Mineral Re-

sources (MEMR) and NEPCO, the state

utility company, have worked closely

in putting together the framework for

a direct proposal program involving

large-scale solar IPP projects.

Today, Jordan is buzzing with solar

activity. The 12 companies that have

successfully signed the PPAs are now

in flurried negotiations with lenders

to bring these projects to financial

close within the 6-month deadline

set by NEPCO. At the same time, some

30 companies have pre-qualified for

round 2 of the direct proposal process.

These companies are now brushing

through the Jordan countryside look-

ing for suitable plots which they can

use as part of their bid proposals due

in July 2014. And for those who were

caught sleeping in rounds 1 and 2, the

government has introduced a third

round of direct proposals.

[The author, Vahid Fotuhi, will be speaking

at a workshop, titled ‘How to be Successful

in Jordan’s Round II & III Direct Proposal

Solar Program’ at MENASOL 2014]

Vahid FotuhiPresident & FounderMiddle East Solar Industry Association (MESIA)

Jordan is buzzing with solar activity as companies that have successfully signed PPAs are now plunging into negotiations with lenders to bring these projects to a financial close within a six-month deadline

Tech | Building informaTion modeling

www.bgreen.ae may 201438

sustAinAbility And bim – beneFit or wAste?

The design, construction and op-

eration of buildings has always

been an inherently wasteful pro-

cess with the same challenges, prob-

lems and resources being addressed

time and time again thanks to the

unique nature of every building.

Building Information Modeling

(BIM) has the potential to make the

single biggest impact in recent times

on the overall sustainability of our

built environment because it can in-

fluence and improve each stage of a

building’s life cycle. From planning,

to design, through construction, to

operation, refurbishment (perhaps a

number of times) and finally to demo-

lition, BIM has the potential to make a

real difference.

First, with many BIM practitioners

becoming increasingly skilled at de-

signing in a 3D virtual environment,

the power of BIM is being harnessed

to produce not only better quality de-

signs, but also better coordinated de-

signs, which have the potential to use

less space and consume less energy.

The information transfer to the

construction team is vastly improved

over traditional 2D methods too. The

The region is beginning to embrace BIM, already using it on some major construction projects

more forward thinking constructors

are gaining a significant advantage

from BIM by taking the Design Stage

Model and developing it into a Con-

structional Model to aid with pro-

gramming and sequencing (4D), cost

estimating (5D) and sub-contractor

and supplier integration (6D).

This approach is already attack-

ing one of the main enemies of sus-

tainable buildings, that of waste.

You may have heard the saying

“build it twice and build it right”

– this means we build it once in a

virtual environment and solve all

of the problems, before we build

the physical building.

The actual building then is a

precise replica of the designer’s in-

tentions, reducing the myriad of

problems that historically had to be

solved on site. By adopting BIM, the

waste of materials, resource, time

and cost are all significantly reduced

or even eliminated. Clients also see

tangible benefits such as the reduc-

tion of project risk and contingen-

cies, programme impacts and cost.

A number of developers in the UK

have now realised that the overall

savings achieved by adopting BIM

far outweigh any additional cost as-

sociated with designers developing

the information to a higher level in

the early design stages. They recog-

nise that the up-front investment

will lead to reductions later as the

entire supply chain works more

collaboratively and therefore more

efficiently. This means looking at

Given the scale and number of construction projects being planned in the Middle East, arguably the benefits in adopting BIM are even greater than we’ve seen elsewhere, Nigel Clark explains


TECh | BUILDING INfORMATION MODELING

are managed.

Integrating this performance data

into the energy monitoring provided

by the Building Management System

(BMS) gives a powerful tool to ensure

the building operates as efficiently

as possible, reducing the energy cost

and the building’s impact on the en-

vironment. Problems with plant per-

formance straying from the optimum

can be identified quickly and easily

and rectified to keep performance lev-

els high.

As the building evolves during its

lifetime, either through tenant churn,

change of use, refurbishment or plant

replacement, the BIM Model can be

kept up to date, so the building opera-

tor and any future facilities manage-

ment or design teams have absolute

confidence in the performance and

operation of the building at all times.

Given the scale and number of con-

struction projects being planned in the

Middle East, arguably the benefits in

adopting BIM are even greater than

we’ve seen elsewhere. The region is

beginning to embrace this new tech-

nology, already using it on some ma-

jor construction projects, and thanks

to access to international teams has

the advantage of learning from the

early experience gained in the UK.

BIM can only become more valuable

as it evolves and matures, and as the

processes and technologies advance.

Those clients and developers in the

Middle East who encourage their pro-

ject teams to utilise BIM will undoubt-

edly have the most to gain.

If one considers sustainability in its

truest sense, BIM is likely to have an

even bigger impact than any legisla-

tive drivers imposed by Government.

The power is in our own hands and we

must make that difference count.

if onE considErs sustainability in its tru-Est sEnsE, bim is likEly to havE an EvEn biggEr impact than any lEgislativE driv-Ers imposEd by govErnmEnt

Nigel Clark, Technical Director at Hilson Moran

project costing differently, with more

up-front cost to allow developers to get

the very best out of the new technolo-

gies available to them.

Having gained significant sustain-

ability benefits during design and con-

struction, the second major benefit of

BIM comes during the life of the build-

ing. When you consider that the cost

of operating the building throughout

its lifetime is at least 10 times the cost

it took to construct it and at least 100

times the cost it took to design it, one

soon realises the scope for BIM in the

long-term management of buildings.

Clients who manage their own

buildings or manage a significant

portfolio of buildings can leverage the

final stages of BIM, by using it to help

with the operation and maintenance

lifecycle management (7D). This final

stage of the process is still evolving

and in its infancy for the majority, but

is receiving significant attention from

many developers and owners who

want to identify which attributes are

important for the long term operation

of the building.

Passing information from the con-

struction team to the building opera-

tors has always been a poorly man-

aged process. Even when good train-

ing is given to the building operators,

that knowledge is often lost quickly as

facilities management teams change.

A set of dusty operating and mainte-

nance manuals sitting on a shelf is

commonplace and a good demonstra-

tion of how poor the information flow

can be at completion of a construction

project.

BIM however has the potential to

revolutionise this step and provide

the facilities management team with a

tool that they can use to manage their

building going forward.

The key to success will be making

this stage of the process easy and intu-

itive for the building operators. There

is already growing evidence of BIM

software platforms integrating with

well-established Computer Aided Fa-

cilities Management (CAFM) systems

to provide a really useful tool to the

building operators. The ability to use

mobile tablet devices to allow building

operators to walk around the build-

ing and ‘see’ hidden services directly

as a Virtual Model, while calling up

commissioning data, maintenance re-

cords and real time performance date

for the equipment they are viewing

on the mobile device, has the poten-

tial to revolutionise the way buildings


Knauf Middle East hosted its first-ever annual customer awards at a gala dinner event, held at the Armani Hotel on February 7, 2014. Senior executives from Knauf’s key customers, distributors and partners across the Middle East and the Indian Subcontinent came together to celebrate the winners

KnAuF orgAnises First oF its Kind Customer AwArds night in dubAi

Knauf Premium Partner 2013 � Qatar Gypsum Products

Industry (QGIPS), Qatar

� Gemini Building Materi-

als, UAE & Gemini In-

ternational, Oman

Special Recognition 2013 � New BK Super Impex, Nepal

� Adora Carpet Splendour, India

� Glory Products, Kol-

kata, India

� ASHGAL, Qatar

� HBK Contracting

Company, Qatar

� SEG Qatar, Qatar

� FINO International, UAE

� Al Turki Enterprises, Oman

� Building Department,

Dubai Municipality

� Dubai Central Labo-

ratory Department,

Dubai Municipality

Special Appreciation � Late Mrs Kezban

Onay, Promer Qatar

amer bin Ahmed, Managing

Director, Knauf Middle East

& India pointed out that the

customer event is a very important

milestone in Knauf’s leadership in the

drywall market, acknowledging the

critical importance of the company’s

customers to its ongoing success.

He said: “Working closely with our

suppliers, we have made significant

progress in key programmes such as

supplier performance management,

risk management, supplier quality

and sustainability over the past year.

I would like to take this opportunity to

thank them sincerely for their efforts.”

As part of its efforts to recognise and

celebrate superior performance, Knauf

presented awards across different cat-

egories recognising various stakehold-

ers such as dealers, contractors and

partners. The awards also acknowl-

edged key employees of Knauf Middle

East with ‘special awards’ in recogni-

tion of their dedication and commit-

ment to drive collaboration between

Knauf and its customers.

emerging Dealer of the Year � Al– Yusuf Building

Materials, Bahrain

� Sadeer Trading & Con-

tracting, Kuwait

� Global Gypsum Indus-

tries, Bangalore, India

� Drywall Qatar, Qatar

� Modec Building Mate-

rials Trading, UAE

� Mount Décor, Oman

Best System Seller � Promer Qatar Contract-

ing Company, Qatar

� Mainline Building

Materials, UAE

Sub-contractor Heradesign 2013

� R R India Plasters,

Bangalore, India

� Croatian Technol-

ogy & Business As-

sociation, Qatar

� AW Rostamani Building

Industries, UAE & Oman

ADvERTORIAL | KNAUf

Tech | Building informaTion modeling

www.bgreen.aemay 2014 41

ADvERTORIAL | KNAUf

employee Awards � Al Hussain Habeeb Mohammed

� Fazil Zafar

� Ghassan Ibrahim

� Jasper Balajadia

� Lee Evans

� Michael Ray

� Nicolas Neusuess

� Pravin Guthale

� Mrs Richelle Tuliao

� Ms Rodalyn Camayang

� Mrs Rosalie Lingat

“I am very proud to win this award as it was unexpect-

ed,” said Hassan Abu Gheida, Managing Director, Qatar

Gypsum Products Industry (QGIPS), whose company

was awarded the Knauf Premium Partner 2013 award.

He continued: “Thanks to the excellent support ex-

tended by Knauf for the past 12 years, we have been

able to ensure that Knauf is a well-known brand in

Qatar and is specified in all the major projects. For

2014, we are planning to further increase our activi-

ties and grow the sales. With the technical and com-

mercial support of the Knauf team, we are confident

of improving our turnover in Qatar.”

Vineesh Babu of Gemini Building Materials said the

Premium Partner Award was a great recognition of the

loyalty and hard work demonstrated by

his company in growing Knauf’s busi-

ness in the UAE and Oman.

He said: “They are the largest gypsum-

based building material manufacturer in

the world and to be associated with them

is a privilege for us. However, Knauf’s em-

phasis on providing support with a human

touch ensures that everybody they work

with progresses in terms of meeting the

market’s as well as Knauf’s expectations.”

N Srinath of Bangalore-based Global

Gypsum Industries, which was bestowed

with Emerging Dealer of the Year award

said: “This award is very important to us

because it recognises our hardwork and

efforts to establish the Knauf brand in

South India.”

Praising the “excellent support “ex-

tended by Knauf in this regard, he point-

ed out that growth can be accelerated

still further with on-the ground techni-

cal and field staff support from Knauf.

“As Knauf is a global company with

a strong products and a reputation for

quality and delivery, customers in India

always look forward to interacting with

the principal,” he explained.

Commenting on future plans, he

said: “We will continue to focus on

growing Knauf’s market in South In-

dia. I believe that future growth will

come from complete solutions rather

than just boards, and we are keen to

work towards this direction.”


PRODUCTS

IES’ VE-Navigator for ASHRAE 90.1 makes LEED Energy Modelling easy by

providing a detailed step-by-step structured workflow, which streamlines

the process and ensures no step is missed. Reports are created automati-

cally in a format suitable for submission and a number of features sig-

nificantly reduce the time it takes to set up and create the baseline and

proposed models.

As this tool integrates into the full IES software suite, users can

easily perform other analysis simulations straight from the proposed

design model.

Functions• Instantly create all 4 baseline models from proposed design model

• Automatically assign baseline constructions according to climate zone

• Automatically create and size HVAC systems

• Import room and thermal zone template data

• Manage and edit data for all 5 models from one central file reducing

input duplication and error

• Model in detail complex building geometry, HVAC or Renewable En-

ergy systems

• Automatically create reports which mirror the format required for

submission (LEED EAc1)

• Concise reporting with interactive filters for easy interrogation

• Step-by-step guidance from model setup, to data assignment, simula-

tion and reporting

ies ve-nAvigAtor For AshrAe 90.1

emirAtes insolAire solAr glAss

Emirates Insolaire has produced the first-of-its-kind, coloured solar

glass in the world which generates energy on its own. Optimised for

photovoltaic modules - which use cells to convert solar radiation into

electricity - and solar thermal collectors, the glass provides a mat col-

oured, architecturally aesthetic appearance to solar panels, preserving

more than 90 per cent of efficiency.

The coloured solar glass is produced in large dimensions (up to

3210mm × 6000mm), in various thickness (from 3mm to 12mm) and

can be subjected to the same treatments (cutting, heat strengthening,

lamination) as standard solar glass. The coloured solar glass is simply

mounted on solar panels instead of glass cover.

With Kromatix technology, solar panels are no longer architectural in-

truders. They can be harmoniously integrated into the building envelope.

Roof, facades, balconies, etc. can now be used to collect the sun radiation

and maximise the solar energy production.

Emirates Insolaire is targeting 10 per cent of the global solar glass

market within a short period. Over a billion square meters of solar glass

– both photovoltaic and thermal – would be installed across the world

by 2015, industry estimates reveal.

The solar glass generates electric power, has an aesthetic look and

is highly sustainable. On one side, no material used in the technology

causes any potential harm to the environment while on the other side

it allows all buildings to help sustainability by offering their façades and

roofs for green energy production.

Emirates Insolaire, part of Glass LLC – a wholly-owned subsidiary of

Dubai Investments PJSC, is a joint venture using Kromatix technology of

SwissINSO SA, a Switzerland-based pioneer in the development and appli-

cation of new solar technologies and products. The company’s solar glass

is manufactured at the Emirates Glass manufacturing facility in the UAE.


PRODUCTS

Xylem’s e-HM pumps are designed expressly for commercial and industrial

use. The product is based on a hydraulic design and promises to signifi-

cantly lower lifecycle costs and increase energy savings. When combined

with Xylem Hydrovar, the e-HM pump can offer up to a further 30 per cent

energy saving compared to previous models.

The standard balanced impeller reduces axial thrust by 40 per cent,

therefore extending motor bearing life. The e-HM also boasts a 20 per cent

increase in body thickness enhancing durability, and further reducing life-

cycle costs. The e-HM can be configured for a wide range of food and bever-

age applications, including support for flows of 2+ gallons. With two designs,

six models and modular construction, it’s completely customizable. The

smaller motor and space-saving design lets the e-HM fit where it is needed.

Specifications• Maximum flow 127 gpm

• Maximum head 525 ft (227 psi)

• Maximum system pressure 235 psi

• Maximum efficiency 72 per cent

• Liquid temperature 250° F (120° C)

• Maximum power 7.5 HP (5.5kW)

• Material - full AISI 316

• Standard mechanical seal design available in Carbon/Silicon carbide

face materials

• Viton elastomers standard, EPDM, and others optional

The Larson Electronics WBL-4X4LED-100-X24I Self-Righting Light con-

sists of four LED lights with machined aluminum housing mounted on

the top of the frame to give a full 360° range of light.

With its low center-of-gravity, the frame is built so that vibrations

or solid knocks won’t tip this self-righting light over. This LED light

system has an inline switch for on/off control and can be operated

with 24 VDC.

The WBL-4X4LED-100-X24I Self-Righting Light contains four LED light

heads that produce 720 lumens each with a combined 48W while draw-

ing 2 amps from a 24 volt DC power source.

Each light contains Four Seoul P4 3-Watt LEDs producing 180 lumens

each are arranged in rows to produce high purity floodlights with 35°op-

tics to produce a wider beam spread and more light over a larger area

nearer the fixture, making flood versions ideal for use as work and area

lights (Flood Beam approx. 80’L). The company also offer 10° optics with

a tightly focused spot beam with limited spread or light spillage.

These LED lights are waterproof and have IP68 rated construction

that is designed to withstand demanding environmental and operating

conditions. These units can withstand frigid temperatures, are water-

proof to three meters, and resist the ingress of dust, dirt and humidity.

The housings on these units are formed from thick aluminum and the

lenses are unbreakable polycarbonate.

The Seoul P4 3-Watt LED Emitters offer high resistance to shocks and

vibrations and are rated at 70 per cent lumen maintenance after 50,000

hours of use.

These weatherproof LED lights have a durable powder coat finish,

are IP68 rated waterproof to 3m, sealed against intrusion by dust and

dirt, and very ruggedly constructed to withstand the most demanding

environments, conditions and applications.

lArson’s selF Righting Light

xylem e-hm pumps

PEOPLE


The Board Members of Emirates Green

Building Council (EGBC), an independ-

ent forum aimed at conserving the en-

vironment by strengthening and promoting

green building practices, unanimously elected

Saeed Alabbar as its chairman. Al Abbar was

previously serving as Vice Chairman of EGBC.

The former chairman Adnan Sharafi will

continue to serve as a Director on the Board

of the Council.

The founding managing director of Alabbar En-

ergy & Sustainability Group (AESG), a firm special-

ising in the provision of energy and sustainability

consultancy in the Middle East, Alabbar is also a

member of the Steering Committee for the World

Green Building Council MENA Network, where he

serves as Vice Chairman.

“Over the last few years, developing sustain-

able buildings and retro-fitting existing buildings

to drive energy efficiency has acquired great im-

portance. The UAE has been at the forefront of the

sustainable development initiative with His High-

Saeed alabbar elected aS chairman of emirateS green building councilFormer chairman Adnan Sharafi will continue to serve as a Director on the Board of the Council

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber appointed chairman; Ahmad Belhoul to be the new chief executivemaSdar appointS new chairman and ceo

Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber (L) and Ahmad Belhoul

Saeed Alabbar

ness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum,

UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler

of Dubai, outlining a clear ‘green strategy’ for the

nation,”Alabbar Said.

“Achieving the goals for a greener future and

to uphold sustainable development practices, it

is imperative that all stakeholders work together,

exchange ideas, and promote ‘green innovation.’

EmiratesGBC will continue to steer dialogue, ac-

tion, and thought-leadership in promoting the

UAE’s sustainable development.”

Involved in managing and directing sustaina-

ble design, construction and renovation projects

throughout the Middle East, Alabbar has con-

tributed to landmark projects including some of

the largest and prestigious master-planned

developments, high rise buildings, housing

development, and critical infrastructure pro-

jects in the region.

He actively works to promote the advancement

of sustainable building in the UAE and MENA re-

gion by working with industry, academia, and gov-

ernment departments to develop collaborative

solutions to some of the region’s greatest sustain-

ability challenges.

Al Abbar has authored a number of papers on

achieving sustainable development and energy

efficiency in the UAE and MENA region, which

have been presented at a number of local, region-

al, and international conferences.

mubadala Development Company (Mubadala), the Abu Dhabi-

based investment and development company, announced that

Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber has been appointed chairman of the

board of Masdar, Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy company, and Ahmad

Belhoul will be CEO of the company.

“Masdar has become a globally recognised renewable energy and

clean-technology leader with investments and partnerships in Abu

Dhabi and internationally,” said Khaldoon Khalifa al Mubarak, Group

CEO and Managing Director of Mubadala. “Under Dr Al Jaber’s leader-

ship, Masdar has been transformed from a bold initiative to a suc-

cessful, globally-recognised entity that is contributing to the Emirate’s

economic and energy diversification and has further developed the

contributions of the UAE to the global energy sector.”

“Masdar has also been pivotal in attracting the International Renew-

able Energy Agency (IRENA) to Abu Dhabi and central to spurring the

UAE’s reputation globally as a leader in advancing clean energy,” added

Al Mubarak. “As chairman, Dr Al Jaber will remain closely involved

with Masdar to support its continued growth and ability to capitalise

on high-value opportunities for Abu Dhabi.”

Dr Al Jaber will be succeeding Ahmad Al Sayegh, Masdar’s former

chairman, who has been instrumental to the company’s success

since it was founded. While he will remain close to Masdar, he will be

concentrating on his role as chairman of Global Marketplace Abu

Dhabi.

Dr Al Jaber will continue to serve as UAE minister of state within the

federal cabinet of the UAE. In addition, he serves as the UAE Special

Envoy for Energy and Climate.

Principal Intelligence Partner:

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www.fm-expo.com/Bgreen1

OVER

50 HOURS

OF FREE LEARNING

19-21 May 2014Dubai World Trade Centre


GREEN PERSONALITY | MAROON 5

green touringPop-rock band Maroon 5 believes living green doesn’t have to mean growing dreadlocks and becoming an eco-warrior and a greener life is still a fun one

reduction and alternative energy sourc-

es. According to Liveearth.org, Maroon

5 also supports other amazing causes

and organizations including the Teen

Impact and Moveon.

Another outstanding organisation

that this band is involved with is called

Kiva, a non-profit organisation with

a mission to connect people through

lending to alleviate poverty.

Leveraging the Internet and a world-

wide network of micro-finance institu-

tions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little

as US $25 to help create opportunity

around the world.

los Angeles-based Grammy-win-

ning pop-rock band Maroon 5

has always been committed

to the environment. The group was

honoured in 2006 at the Environmen-

tal Media Awards and from there has

only pledged more time and dedica-

tion towards the fight against cli-

mate change.

The Environmental Media Associa-

tion (EMA) is a nonprofit organisation

dedicated to harnessing the power of

the entertainment industry and the

media to educate the global public on

environmental issues and motivate sus-

tainable lifestyles.

The band, consisting of Adam Lev-

ine, Michael Madden, Jesse Carmichael,

James Valentine, and Matt Flynn, is

committed to ‘green touring’ - using

bio-diesel fuel, organic food, recycled

goods and is also committed to giving

a portion of their ticket sales to Global

Cool, an organisation that tries to re-

duce CO2 emission.

On their site, they stress that ‘Living

green doesn’t have to mean growing

dreadlocks and becoming an eco-war-

rior. A greener life is still a fun one’.

According to Green Music Group,

one can often spot Maroon 5 keyboard-

ist Jesse Carmichael talking with unas-

suming fans before concerts about the

benefits of solar power.

In teaming up with non-profit

movements like Vote Solar, Ma-

roon 5 has given a positive and per-

suasive voice to personal energy

ThE BAND USES BIO-DIESEL fUEL, ORGANIC fOOD, RECYCLED GOODS AND IS COMMITTED TO GIvING A PORTION Of ThEIR TICKET SALES TO GLOBAL COOL, AN ORGANISATION ThAT TRIES TO REDUCE CO2 EMISSION


SOCIETY | DIARY DATES

diAry dAtesMenaSoL 2014May 6-7, Hyatt Regency, Dubai

With over 3GW of solar forecast to

be completed in the Middle East &

North Africa by 2020, over 150 senior

executives from leading solar com-

panies will be meeting at the 6th

Annual Middle East & North Africa

Solar Conference & Exhibition (ME-

NASOL) in Dubai next month.

With over seven markets including

Jordan, Qatar, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia,

the United Arab Emirates and Mo-

rocco demonstrating clear promise

for solar, there is a huge potential

for companies with the winning

combination of project and partner-

ship. Budgets, plans and operational

recommendations will be made for

photovoltaic plants during the two

– day conference with input from

senior experts from companies with

proven experience in the MENA re-

gion such as First Solar, Sun & Life,

Belectric, Enviromena and Apricum.

Speakers at the event include

Waleed al-Rumaih, Board Director,

National Saudi Transmission Com-

pany, Browning Rockwell Executive

Director, Saudi Arabia Solar Indus-

tries Association (SASIA), Wijdan

Alrabadi, Commissioner, Electric-

ity Regulation Commission- Jordan,

Hanna Zaghloul, CEO, Kawar En-

ergy (Jordan), Thomas Altmann,

Vice President Technology ACWA

Power, Taher Diab, Director of Strat-

egy and Planning, Dubai Supreme

Council of Energy, Frank Wouters,

Deputy Director-General, IRENA

among others.

project qatar 2014May 12-15 , Qatar National Conven-

tion Centre, Doha

Sustinability is a key theme of this

year’s 11th International Construc-

tion Technology & Building Materi-

als Exhibition, which moves to the

Qatar National Convention Centre

(QNCC) for the first time. Project

Qatar’s 2013 hosted 2,100 local and

international exhibitors from 50

countries spread across 62,000sqm

of indoor and outdoor exhibition

space with more than 3,000 brands

and marked a record increase of 16

per cent in surface area, and 45 per

cent in international participation.

Vice President of International

Marketing and Sales at IFP Group,

Fadi Kaddoura said: “Since its first

edition, the show recorded a 50 per

cent growth in exhibition space

from one year to the next; a 73 per

cent increase in the number of ex-

hibitors; a 45 per cent rise in partici-

pating countries; and a 20 per cent

growth in the number of visitors. The

first show had 267 exhibitors across

10,000 sqm of exhibition space; and

in its 10th edition, the event proudly

welcomed 2,100 exhibitors from 50

countries, covering 67,000 sqm of

exhibition area.”

More than 60 per cent of the to-

tal number of participants is inter-

national, with 23 pavilions, includ-

ing Austria, Belgium, China, Egypt,

France, Germany, Greece, India,

Iran, Italy, Korea, Kuwait, Malaysia,

Portugal, Spain, Turkey, the UAE and

the UK.

opW efficiency & conServation 2014May 18-19, Al Bustan Palace, Muscat

OPW Efficiency and Conservation

2014, held in partnership with the

Public Authority for Electricity and

Water, will take place from 18-19

May 2014 as a two-day conference

focusing on the latest projects and

regulations from the relevant au-

thorities and utility companies in

Oman. The conference is part of a

public awareness campaign that will

coincide with Arab Energy Efficien-

cy Day on 21 May 2014. Key Omani

speakers include Dr Ali Al Ghafri,

Chairman Assistant for Interna-

tional Relations and Media, Public

Authority for Electricity and Water

(PAEW), Eng. Hamed bin Salim Al

Maghderi, CEO, Rural Areas Electric-

ity Company (RAECO) and Humaid

Al Amri, Head of Power Systems, Pe-

troleum Development Oman (PDO).

Saudi energy 2014May 26-28, Riyadh International Con-

vention and Exhibition Centre, Riyadh

Recent industry reports have re-

vealed that power consumption in

Saudi Arabia continues to grow at

a steady rate. Over the last decade,

the Kingdom witnessed an average

annual increase of eight per cent in

electricity demand, with the number

of subscribers significantly rising by

an average of 5.2 per cent.

The demand in the housing sector

particularly remains strong, with the

sector consuming 50 per cent of the

Kingdom’s total electricity produc-

tion. Industrial electricity consump-

tion, meantime, grew by an average

of 6.9 per cent.

The Saudi Government contin-

ues to make major investments

in order to sustain the growth and

further enhance the power sector. In

2012 alone, the value of investments

made on power-related projects was

pegged at US$ 37.5bn. To highlight

Saudi Arabia’s market potential, Ri-

yadh Exhibitions Company (REC)

and Informa Exhibitions are jointly

organising Saudi Energy 2014, the

latest edition of the largest and most

specialized energy exhibition in the

Middle East, from May 26 to 28, 2014

at the Riyadh International Conven-

tion and Exhibition Center.

kuWait energy and Water efficiency conference 2014June 2-4, Jumeirah Messilah Beach Ho-

tel & Spa, Kuwait City

Kuwait Energy & Water Efficiency, or-

ganized at the request of the Ministry

of Electricity and Water, the Ministry

of Oil, KPC and the Environmental

Public Authority, is the only confer-

ence to address the need for sustain-

able energy solutions in Kuwait.

Be a part of discussions at the

highest level for developing an

energy efficiency strategy, and

gain invaluable insight into the

mindset of Government leaders

and policy makers.

Discover what sustainable en-

ergy solutions have a proven track

record of not only reducing energy

consumption but also reducing

costs for you and your business, plus

other opportunities on the horizon.

For more information, visit www.ku-

waitenergyefficiency.com.


COMMENTARY

sids – the world’s lAst Frontier

sIDS is a commonly used acro-

nym for Small Island Develop-

ing States and encompasses a

widely spread out group of developing

island nations which dot our oceans.

The concept of SIDS officially came

into being during the first Earth Sum-

mit held in 1992 at Rio de Janeiro,

Brazil and sought to bring focus and

support for the unique sustainable

challenges faced by these countries.

SIDS nations are most at risk from

global warming, consequent rise in sea

levels, growing populations putting

strain on limited resources, accessi-

bility, susceptibility to natural cata-

strophies, excessive dependance on

foreign aid and a delicate ecosystem.

The United Nations officially classifies

52 nations as SIDS and these are di-

vided into three regions – Caribbean,

Pacific and the Africa, Indian Ocean,

Mediterranean and South China Sea

region, known as AIMS.

All these island nations are char-

acterised by uniquely beautiful and

rich flora and fauna much of which

is endemic to the region. Due to their

remoteness and isolation, these spe-

cies have flourished over time but are

now at risk due to human induced

climate change. These communities

depend on the surrounding oceans for

their livelihood and overfishing, ocean

acidification and environmental pol-

lution are slowly depleting their natu-

ral source of subsistence and forcing

many ethnic groups to migrate to the

mainland for survival. This is also

causing an alarming rise in the rate of

species extinction in these nations as

the fragile biomes are unable to sur-

vive the environmental changes.

Seychelles is one of the SIDS na-

tions in the AIMS region. In 2013, I had

visited this beautiful nation, a 155 is-

land archipelago in the Indian Ocean,

on an invitation from the Seychelles Kehkashan Basu

Tourism Ambassador. The natural

beauty and biodiversity of Seychelles

is breathtaking and the local popula-

tion is extremely engaged and con-

scious about preserving their fragile

environment. They have a wide net-

work of Eco-schools where students

imbibe the love for nature through

structured programmes. The entire lo-

cal population is committed at all lev-

els of their society to the conservation

of their islands’ natural resources and

practice sustainable consumption and

resource efficiency.

One of the objectives of my visit was

to engage with their Eco schools and

share with them my work as a youth

leader on sustainable development.

My visit was essentially as one of the

award winners of The Living Rainfor-

est International Schools Essay con-

test whose award ceremony was held

in Seychelles.

I addressed the gathering of inter-

national students and local eco school

groups on how we , children and youth,

have the power to change the world

and quoted Abraham Lincoln as “The

best way to predict your future, is to

create it.”

Seychelles has also embraced mod-

ern technology and its wind farms are

harnessing natural energy to meet its

power needs. It is a model of how a

nation can move towards sustainabil-

ity through a balanced developmental

strategy of economic growth, social eq-

uity and environment conservation.

[Fourteen-year-old Kehkashan Basu is the

Representative for Children & Youth, UNEP

Major Groups Facilitating Committee and

an environmental activist based in Dubai.]

The UN General Assembly declared 2014 as the International Year of Small Island Developing States to celebrate the contributions that this group of countries and territories has made to the world

Kehkashan addresses attendants at the Eco Schools Program in Seychelles

bgreen may 2014

Documents

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