Masdar to engage UK firms on green development

The developers of the world’s first zero carbon, zero waste and car free city want to use UK construction and energy firms to bring the vision to life.

Bosses at Masdar, an Abu Dhabi government initiative, are meeting with 108 UK firms today to explore how they can help make the development a reality.

The developers are looking to partner and share knowledge with UK experts in the fields of energy generation, energy infrastructure and green construction.

Masdar City is to be finished by 2016 and will eventually be home to 50,000 residents and 1,500 businesses.

Trade and investment minister Gareth Thomas said the opportunities for local firms were huge.

“For businesses, small and large, that make the leap and take early action to embrace low carbon solutions, the opportunities are huge,” he said.

“By 2010 it is estimated the renewable energy, waste management and water treatment industries will be worth $700bn globally.”

The seminar followed the signing of an agreement between Britain and Masdar earlier in the month, providing a framework to use each other’s expertise to accelerate the adoption of green technologies.