UAE- Meeting water demands will require energy: paper

12/7/2015 4:26:44 AM

(MENAFN- Emirates News Agency (WAM))

ABU DHABI 7th December 2015 (WAM) -- A UAE newspaper has said that the news from the Cop 21 climate conference in Paris that Masdar has joined the Global Clean Water Alliance along with 80 other signatories is an important step not just for the Abu Dhabi-based research institution but for the UAE as a whole.

"The alliance aims to reduce the amount of greenhouse emissions caused by desalination by up to 70 percent before 2035 by finding cleaner alternatives to an energy-intensive process that is a major part of the UAE's environmental footprint" said The National in an editorial today.

"Finding cleaner and smarter ways to produce the country's potable water supply makes sense not just for the environment but also for the economy. The need for secure access to clean drinking water is a major issue around the world. A United Nations report published in March showed that demand for water will keep increasing to the point where if we fail to tackle this problem the planet may only be able to supply 60 percent of its needs by 2030.

"The UAE is well-positioned to take on this task being host to both the global headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency Irena and the World Future Energy Summit which provides a platform to discuss ideas and issues related to sustainability. Last month four Masdar City-based energy companies Abengoa Suez Environment Sidem/Veolia and Trevi Systems started operating experimental small-scale environmentally-friendly desalination plants at Masdar's Al Ghantoot facility.

And this month Masdar launched a groundbreaking pilot seawater desalination programme that promises to significantly reduce the amount of energy used in the process.

"Building on these initiatives in partnership with other advanced countries will help establish the UAE as a leading centre for know-how in this area. Masdar will work closely with its global collaborators on a range of issues relating to sustainability and clean water. This will enable an exchange of ideas and technologies that will boost local research and development and help find innovative solutions to the global problem of water security.

"New technologies such as solar desalination and geothermal desalination will cost large sums to develop but the need is critical. With renewable energy becoming increasingly important the UAE can build on what it has already achieved and reap the rewards of being a centre of excellence" concluded the daily.

WAM/Esraa/Moran

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