Masdar sets Nov. 1 geothermal project start date

In Abu Dhabi, Masdar City will start drilling a pair of four km wells in the hope of generating electricity from geothermal energy. It is the first Persian Gulf geothermal project and is intended to power the city’s air conditioning systems from the expected 5MW of electrical output. The total cost of the project is estimated at $11 billion, Iceland’s Reykjavik Geothermal holds the first $1.6 million drilling contract. An additional half dozen contractors are likely to be added before the end of the year. Masdar City is a planned city in Abu Dhabi committed to zero carbon emissions and zero waste, and is being built by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co., a subsidiary of Mubadala Development Co.