Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates), one of the richest oil-capitals, in the whole world is investing billions of dollars building a zero-waste and zero-carbon emission futuristic city. Green expertise is currently being sought. This appears to be a great opportunity for Australia.

If you think strange that the biggest, most ambitious and expensive clean energy project in the world is going up in the oil-rich Abu Dhabi, maybe it is not so strange after all.  As the former Saudi Arabian oil minister once said, “the Stone Age did not end because they ran out of stones.  It ended because they found something better”.

In December 2008, I attended a presentation by company executives from Masdar, the world’s first zero-carbon, zero-waste city currently under construction in Abu Dhabi at the Waters Edge in Walsh Bay.

Green expertise sought

Hosted by Austrade, Masdar City is searching for the best green technology expertise in Australia.  Already global engineering company CH2M Hill have 120 full time staff based in Abu Dhabi, specialists in water, waste management energy and bio diversity.

The energy and passion in the room exhibited by the Masdar project team was in stark contrast to the doom and gloom of the ‘real world’ portrayed in the press.  I couldn’t help but ponder the pun of choices; to channel our own personal energy into a directed stream of positive action to tackle climate change, or to remain ignorant and doubt the serious threat of global warming.

These guys have certainly ‘got it’ and with US$15 billion (around $23 billion) in the kitty they mean business.

So what does this mean for green talent in Australia?  Key areas that are sought after by Masdar City include: renewable energy, low emissions technologies, engineering and project management for renewable energy infrastructure, water management, green building and eco-city development and carbon services.

There will also be opportunities for operational staff with the Masdar Institute, a research-oriented graduate school being developed in cooperation with MIT.

Key pointers to work with Masdar City

First of all you must visit it.  Abu Dhabi is not a transactional email culture.  You must commit and build networks with the intent to engage on a deeper level in true partnership.  Businesses should be proactive in identifying their supply chain and be clear on how their technology will be procured.

How their product or system is specified by engineers / architects is also very important.  They will need to appoint a distributor to get their product into the country and having an office in UAE will be extremely beneficial.

One company I spoke with, specialists in sustainable water and energy solutions had already identified a candidate to set up a marketing office in Dubai.  For those looking for funding you will need world-class technology, an excellent pitch, evidence of adequate product testing and past experience raising capital.