World's first zero-carbon city coming up in Abu Dhabi

This multi-billion-dollar, eco friendly city will be powered by renewable sources of energy and will cover an area of six square kilometers.

Abu Dhabi will soon have the world's first zero-carbon, zero-waste and multifaceted city powered by renewable energy resources.

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According to media reports, the multi-billion-dollar project to create an eco friendly city was officially launched on Monday.

Spread on an area of six square kilometres, the city - housing energy, science and technology communities and launched by Masdar and the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (ADFEC) - is expected to open in late 2009.

"It is a response to the need for a global focus on the development of advanced energies and sustainability-related technologies, said Sultan Al Jaber CEO Masdar.

The city will be an integrated green community in the heart of Abu Dhabi, using the traditional planning principals of a walled city, together with existing technologies to achieve a zero-carbon and zero-waste sustainable development, Jaber said.

"We are creating a synergetic environment; it is a true alternative energy cluster. Here you will find researchers, students, scientists, business investment professionals and policy makers all within the same community."

With a maximum distance of 200m to the nearest transport link and amenities, the compact network of streets will encourage walking and will be complemented by a personalised rapid transport system.

Shaded walkways and narrow streets will create a pedestrian friendly environment in the context of Abu Dhabi's extreme climate. Surrounding land will contain wind, photovoltaic farms, research fields and plantations, enabling the city to be entirely self-sustaining.