Vivo Barefoot collaborates with compostable shoe company Balena

Vivobarefoot partners with Balena to 3D-print compostable and biodegradable barefoot-style footwear

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Yas Island is going to get powered by the sun

Emerge, a joint venture between the UAE’s Masdar and France’s EDF Group, has announced the successful energization of two high-profile solar photovoltaic projects on Yas Island at Yas Marina Circuit and Yas Bay Waterfront, Abu Dhabi’s vibrant day-to-night dining, entertainment and leisure destination.

The 1 megawatt peak (MWp) solar car park at Ethara’s Yas Marina Circuit, home to the Formula 1 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, will generate approximately 30 percent of Yas Marina Circuit’s total annual energy demand, equivalent to powering nearly 200 Abu Dhabi households and offsetting 900 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year.

Yas Island, an artificial island on the coast of the UAE includes Ferrari World, home to the world’s fastest roller coaster, Formula Rossa, which offers an adrenaline-pumping experience for thrill-seekers, Yas Waterworld, an expansive water park with over 40 rides, slides, and attractions inspired by the UAE’s pearl diving heritage.

Yas Island provides pristine beaches like Yas Beach, perfect for sunbathing and water sports. Additionally, the island is home to Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi’s largest shopping center.

Yas Island also boasts luxurious accommodations, including hotels such as the W Abu Dhabi.

Under its agreement with the venue’s operator, Ethara, Emerge has installed more than 1,800 solar modules across the car park of the track of the Marina Circuit, which holds a capacity of 60,000 spectators, delivering a comprehensive turnkey solution for the project, including finance, design, procurement, construction, operations, and maintenance for 25 years.

The 520kWp Yas Bay Waterfront development for Miral involved the installation of over 900 solar modules, equivalent to powering around 100 Abu Dhabi households and offsetting 425 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. The solution included finance, design, procurement and construction and Emerge will operate and maintain the solar modules.

Jonathan Brown, Chief Portfolio Officer at Miral, said: “This project is a testament of our commitment in further positioning Yas Island as a top global destination for entertainment and leisure, while consistently priorisiting sustainable practices.”

Hesham Al Jneibi, Yas Marina Circuit and Etihad Park General Manager, said: “We are keen to play our part in supporting the wide-scale sustainability efforts of the UAE, and we are focused on setting the new standard for responsible event and venue management through collaboration in the region.”

Michel Abi Saab

Michel Abi Saab, General Manager, Emerge, said: “The energization of these two solar projects on Yas Island shows the commitment by Miral and Ethara to sustainability and to minimizing their environmental footprint. These projects will deliver high-quality and reliable clean energy to Abu Dhabi’s race circuit and to one of its premier entertainment destinations, which attracts millions of visitors from home and abroad. The successful implementation of our projects demonstrates the compelling case for installing renewable energy projects at entertainment sites in the UAE.”

Yas Bay Waterfront is the third collaboration between Miral, the leading creator of immersive destinations and experiences in Abu Dhabi, and Emerge. In March 2023, Miral inaugurated Abu Dhabi’s largest solar rooftop project at Warner Bros. World Abu Dhabi, with an impressive 7-megawatt peak (MWp) capacity.

The project incorporates approximately 16,000 solar modules across the theme park’s roof area of 36,000 square meters and produces nearly 40 percent of its annual energy demand.

Emerge has also deployed on-site solar energy systems at the SeaWorld Abu Dhabi theme park, which has a capacity of 8.4 megawatts (MWp) and is scheduled to be commissioned during the second quarter of 2024.

Emerge, a joint venture between Masdar and EDF Group, was formed in 2021 to develop distributed solar, energy storage and hybrid solutions for commercial and industrial. As an energy services company, Emerge offers clients full turnkey solutions through solar power agreements and energy performance contracting at no upfront cost to the client.

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