Miral’s Etihad Arena sustainability showcase

Article posted by Coliseum, November 26^th, 2020

Image: Masdar & Miral

UAE-based renewable energy developer, The Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), which is a subsidiary of Mubadala Investment Company, has struck a deal with Abu Dhabi-headquartered Yas Island developer Miral to develop Abu Dhabi’s largest rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) project to date at Warner Bros World™ Abu Dhabi on Yas Island.

The arrangement is to provide an estimated 16,000 solar modules across the theme park’s roof area of 36,000m2 and will produce approximately 40 percent of its annual energy demand.

Warner Bros World™ Abu Dhabi is an indoor amusement park in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, owned and developed by Miral Asset Management at an expected cost of $1 billion.

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As Abu Dhabi’s leading curator of experiences in the leisure and entertainment sector, Miral is reinforcing its commitment to investing in sustainable solutions through the pact.

Miral’s Etihad Arena best demonstrates its sustainable commitment. Its roof truss supports a self-shading illuminated façade that will provide the venue with adequate daylight, while insulating heat and reducing overall energy consumption.

The Etihad Arena, Abu Dhabi’s multipurpose indoor entertainment venue, is being constructed by Dutch contractor Bam International. A focal point of Yas Bay’s Waterfront, the arena is set to host Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and other world-class events.

Once the arena opens its doors, it will be able to accommodate from 200 to 18,000 people.

The Etihad Arena also integrates various other energy and water-efficient building systems and architectural treatments to enable 22.4 percent energy savings and 28 percent water savings, annually.

The project is a part of Miral’s $3.3bn (AED12bn) portfolio of leisure and entertainment developments that are currently under construction. Upon completion, the project is set to entice 15,000 residents and over 10,000 business professionals.

As far as Abu Dhabi’s largest rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) project is concerned, under the agreement, Masdar will provide a full turnkey solution for the seven megawatt peak (MWp) project, which includes the design, procurement, and construction, as well as operation and maintenance (O&M) of the plant.

The project is scheduled to be operational in Q4 2021, and once complete, Warner Bros. World™ Abu Dhabi will become the largest solar powered theme park in the GCC.

The project will be implemented under Masdar’s Energy Services Department, who pursue projects, in which Masdar invests, across the UAE and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to the International Renewable Energy Agency’s REmap 2030 report on renewable energy prospects for the UAE, rooftop solar PV could attribute for approximately six percent of the country’s total power generation by 2030.

Commenting on the agreement reached, the Masdar head honcho, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, noted, “Masdar is pleased to be entering into this partnership with Miral to develop Abu Dhabi’s largest rooftop solar project. According to the World Green Building Council (WGBC), building-related emissions contribute almost 55 percent of global electricity demand and optimizing energy efficiency in the built environment is critical to achieving the UAE’s clean energy goals.”

Ramahi added, “We are proud to be supporting Abu Dhabi’s 2030 energy efficiency strategy to reduce overall electricity consumption by 22 percent and we look forward to leveraging our energy services experience to support Miral’s efforts of implementing energy efficient solutions across its destinations and attractions.”

Masdar and Miral have been partnering for a number of years, with the former providing guidance on the implementation of sustainability measures and energy-efficient solutions for some of Miral’s developments.

The signing of the long-term solar power agreement further bolsters the companies’ ongoing relationship, which is expanding to further explore additional energy management projects for Miral’s operational attractions and upcoming developments.

Miral boss, Mohamed Abdalla Al Zaabi, exulted, “We are delighted to be partnering with Masdar on this landmark agreement. Sustainability is high on our agenda and with Warner Bros™ World Abu Dhabi recognized as the world’s largest indoor theme park, it is the ideal location for a project of this scale.”

“This collaboration is a testament to our commitment of harnessing the most efficient, innovative and sustainable systems across our developments on Yas Island, further positioning it as a top global destination for entertainment, leisure, and business.”

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