Abu Dhabi: A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between UAE and China to collaborate on research and development oriented real estate and renewable energy power generation between the two countries.
The delegation headed by Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, includes Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State and Chairman of Masdar, who signed the memorandum with his counterpart Wang Shi, Chairman of Vanke.
Masdar and China Vanke Co. Ltd. (Vanke), the Masdar Institute, BGI and China Merchants New Energy Group Limited (CMNE) are all part of the MoU.
Dr Ahmad Bel Houl, CEO of Masdar, said in a statement: “This MoU and future potential collaborations represent significant steps in our two countries’ missions to secure long-term energy security and sustainable development. On behalf of Masdar, we look forward to this further expansion of economic relations with Chinese companies and China.”
During the recent 21st annual Conference of Parties (COP21), the UAE launched the Global Clean Water Desalination Alliance of which China is a part of.
The Alliance’s main goal is to integrate renewable energy in the desalination of water and to hopefully reduce the total amount of energy needed for water purification by 40 per cent.
Speaking to Gulf News, Dr. Nawal Al Hosani, Head of the Zayed Future Energy Prize and Director of Sustainability at Masdar said: “There is no doubt that China played a significant role in the reduction of Solar PV prices and the collaboration of countries especially those that share some of the UAE’s environmental concerns, is an important step in finding solutions to challenges in the field of sustainability.”
The MoU also includes cooperation on research, industrialisation and commercialisation projects in water and waste treatment, resource recycling, advanced materials, renewable energy intelligent systems, biotechnology applications in energy, robotic technology, and building and construction technology, Masdar said.
