The agreement includes Masdar, the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology and Scottish Enterprise, and follows discussions between the First Minister and Dr Al Jaber during his visit to the United Arab Emirates in November last year. The framework outlines a detailed plan of activity which is intended to deliver tangible clean energy projects. It focuses on development opportunities, investment in low carbon projects, technological cooperation, policy making and best practice initiatives.
The First Minister said Masdar and Scotland will also partner together to discuss efforts to boost university research into renewable energy. In Scotland this research will be coordinated through the Energy Technology Partnership (ETP), an alliance of 12 independent Scottish Universities, engaged in world class related energy Research, Development and Demonstration. With around 250 faculty and 700 researchers, ETP is the largest, power and energy research partnership in Europe, and brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in renewables to the agreement to drive forward global-leading initiatives.
The First Minister said: “The signing of this agreement with Masdar is a rapid and valuable outcome of the high-level discussions I held with Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber and senior Government representatives less than six weeks ago in Abu Dhabi. This outcome is testament to the fact that Scotland is a world renewable energy champion and is continuing to play a major role in driving the global adoption of renewable sources of power, innovations in grid technology and research and development in wind turbine development.
“The innovative work being undertaken at the Masdar Institute is further indication that other nations are recognising the need to move to preserve the quality of the natural environment, which is one of the major global concerns facing us today and one of the most critical challenges of the 21st century,” said the First Minister, adding: “This ground-breaking agreement provides vitally important investment and development opportunities for both partners. It also enables us to work closely together, to share our respective expertise to help push and promote alternative energy sources at a global level, as the world seeks to address a broad range of climate change issues.
Dr Sultan Al Jaber, CEO, Masdar, said: “From wind and solar energy, to the potential of wave technology, Scotland is a strong advocate for the advancement and deployment of renewable energy. We are proud to welcome the First Minister to Abu Dhabi again and are excited to be entering into a partnership, in such a short period of time, that will combine our nations’ efforts to ensure that new, sustainable forms of power are developed.
Focused on potential joint investment and development opportunities, technological co-operation, policy making and best practice initiatives, the agreement outlines four core areas of collaboration:
The agreement promotes knowledge transfer through academia and the commercial sector. This will be achieved through the identification of potential power projects, introductions within the Scottish business community and opportunities for joint research.
Lena Wilson, Chief Executive of Scottish Enterprise, said: “Scottish Enterprise has worked closely with Masdar to develop this agreement, which clearly demonstrates Scotland’s growing reputation on the global stage as a centre for excellence for renewable energy and low carbon innovation.
[Inset: Alex Salmond and Dr Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber in Abu Dhabi last week. Image courtesy of Masdar]
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