Fusion energy is hard to create and it’s hard to explain. Brian gives a great background here. International design and innovation office CRA-Carlo Ratti Associati and architect Italo Rota, together with Italy’s energy company Eni, present a project dedicated to magnetic confinement fusion, one of the most innovative technologies for the decarbonization of energy systems. The project showcases the mock-up of a Tokamak reactor, built within a former gasholder in Rome, Italy, in order to inform visitors about this breakthrough technology with Italian flair.

It was released in 2022. 

The project by CRA and Italo Rota is part of Maker Faire Rome, Europe’s leading event for the community of Makers. It is situated in the site of Gazometro Ostiense, one of the foremost symbols of the Italian capital’s modern industrial heritage, located just three kilometers southwest of the Colosseum. Inside a 50-meter-high, 40-meter-wide gasholder, visitors can explore the conceptual model of a Tokamak, a fundamental component in magnetic confinement technology processes. After an ascending path, people can access inside the Tokamak. Here, within a red-lit circular corridor, a series of multimedia content narrates the technology and its ongoing scientific investigations.

 “Magnetic confinement fusion is a clean technology that has the potential to be one of tomorrow’s key decarbonization solutions,” comments Carlo Ratti, founder of CRA and Director of the MIT Senseable City Lab. “With the project, we wanted to start an open-design process to imagine how fusion power plants will be integrated in sub-urban areas – prompting makers and architects alike to join a discussion on our future energy landscape.” 

“We have the chance to explore new forms of storytelling about energy,” adds Italo Rota, co-designer of the installation. “We believe that design is a powerful tool to turn a narration into an experience, allowing visitors to sense the energy while being surrounded by a unique atmosphere.”

The project follows Eni’s work on magnetic confinement, which has been unfolding in the last few years through a series of academic collaborations – most notably, with the MIT Plasma Science and Fusion Center (PSFC) – and the energy company Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS). During the process of magnetic confinement, the fusion of two hydrogen nuclei releases an enormous amount of energy, similarly to how it happens inside the sun and other stars. The most substantial advantage of this technology is that it does not emit greenhouse gases or highly polluting or highly radioactive substances. Furthermore, it is safe and virtually inexhaustible. 

In the past years, CRA has been developing several energy-related projects on different scales: from the Helsinki Hot Heart, a series of islands with the dual function of thermal energy storage – currently the largest urban decarbonization project in the world – and recreational public spaces, to the masterplan for MIND (Milan Innovation District) to CapitaSpring, a 280-meter-tall high-rise oasis in Singapore designed together with BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group.

Over the past years, CRA and Eni have been collaborating to promote new forms of circularity and sustainable energy production. Their projects have been showcased at international events such as the Maker Faire in Rome, Milan Design Week, and Expo Dubai 2020.

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The new Siemens Headquarters in Masdar City will be 65, 617 square feet when completed by the end of this year.

We recently reported that Siemens has teamed up with Masdar to develop a new generation of sand-resistant solar panels that will make more sense for desert environments, and that building the firm’s Middle Eastern headquarters in Masdar City is part of their commitment to see that project through to completion. Now we’re happy to bring you the first round of pictures recently released by designers Sheppard Robson and spotted over on World Architecture News. Construction of the 65, 617 square foot building is well under way and should be complete by the end of 2012.

Let it be known that we have begun to reach a point – given the scale of energy, climate, and natural resource issues – where we consider any massive expenditure of brand new materials and energy unsustainable, but we do have to give Sheppard Robson credit for reducing the Siemen’s Headquarter’s footprint to a fraction of what something of this scale could have.

While Saudi Arabia continues to pursue their own brand of so-called sustainable development, in Abu Dhabi there seems to be a shift towards a more sensible policy. As Arwa pointed out, this isn’t derived from an altruistic desire to be green per se, since the Emirate is going to suck up every last ounce of oil while they can, but resource efficiency and passive design should be two important elements of any new project.

Masdar has also recently announced its intention to build a Facade Test Center (FTC) within Masdar City in order to develop building materials that respond to climatic conditions in the Middle East. To this end, Sheppard Robson has already made decent progress.

“A box within a box,” the Siemens office building is highly insulated with an airtight facade that reduces thermal conductivity. The shading system made of lightweight aluminum minimizes solar gain and maximizes daylighting (thereby reducing the amount of energy required to cool the building.)

A combination of traditional design and parametric analysis has allowed the designer to slash the project’s material use and embodied carbon footprint while column free, pre-tensioned flat slab floor plates further contributes to the project’s overall efficiency.

:: World Architecture News

More on Siemens and Masdar:

Masdar Aims to be the Guru of Sustainable Building Materials

Exclusive: Masdar City Open House Photos

Masdar and Siemens Team Up to Develop Sand Resistant Solar Panels

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A carbon calculator in Arabic will help Dubai residents track everything from food, travel to energy consumption

The carbon emissions of Gulf nations in the Middle East are notoriously high. The UAE has one of the largest carbon footprints per capita in the world and the average citizen in the Gulf produces between two to ten times more carbon than the average global citizen. As such, it’s great to see the Dubai government launch one of the first ever carbon footprint calculators in Arabic to help residents track their green and not-so-green behaviours.

Whilst the Middle East may only produce a small percentage of the overall global carbon emissions (around 5%), these are rising steadily and the Gulf nations are contributing a disproportionately high chunk of the region’s emissions. According to a report by Carboun, countries such as Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates have some of the world’s highest carbon footprints. For example, in Qatar the average person produces 55.4 tonnes of carbon a year which is a world chart topping figure.

In the United Arab Emirates, it has been estimated that 57% of the resource consumption comes from household waste. Consequently, helping residents get a handle on their emissions is a great step and making sure it’s easily accessible to locals who speak Arabic is even better. The carbon calculator (which is also available in English) is not the most complex carbon calculator I’ve seen but it’s definitely a start. It looks at basic things like diet, transport modes, the use of A/C and encourages residents think about the environmental impact of their lifestyles.

Hamdan Khalifa Al Shaer, Director of the Environment Department told the Khaleej Times, “It is about time residents knew how exactly their daily activities affect the environment and address their lifestyles in aspects of food, housing, mobility and consumption of goods. With the help of the website, everyone, especially children, can accordingly put their lifestyle components in front of them and see their footprints.”

So give the carbon calculator a whirl and remember to pass it on to Arabic speakers too.

The Carbon Calculator

For more on the carbon footprints of the region see:

We Measure One Family’s Hajj Carbon Footprint

Carbon Emissions Double In MENA Over 30 Years

UAE To Cut Electricity & Carbon Emissions

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Although the Middle East’s carbon emissions make up a fraction of the global average, the Green Sheikh urges readers to follow these 6 tips to reducing their carbon habit.

Carbon emissions in our region have doubled in the last few decades. In spite of our small contribution (a fraction even) to global emissions, the United Arab Emirates is at the lead of emissions per capita, generating more than five times the amount of carbon per capita than the global average. If we are to improve this, we have to rise to the challenge of using less energy and increasing efficiency.

But before I reveal the six secrets that can help people to reduce their carbon habit, is it not strange that we have to think about “How to consume wisely?” From our regular attitude towards business as usual to environmental change, we go so overboard that as we adapt numerous planning, management and prevention plans to reduce the size of damages, losses and disasters arising from climate change, many of us have forgotten the difference between use and consumption.

To me, use is defined by meeting our daily dietary and other requirements in moderation, in accordance with necessity, while consumption involves the type of wasteful behavior and increasing pressure on our natural resources that is causing climate change and massive depletion. Without our participation in the practice of habits that can reduce the concentration of carbon dioxide from 390 ppm levels to 350ppm, or a reduction of consumption behavior, the earth will not be affected, but whole peoples and nations will become extinct!

• I believe that “Spiritual Change” is the first secret to decreased consumption. The Quran warns against the phenomenon of extravagance. Consuming more food and drink than we need, as well as indulging in excess luxury, is a direct cause of climate change. God says in Surat Al-Anam: “….and eat and drink but do not be wasteful: God does not like wasteful people.” The Quran provides a compass for Muslims to follow the Sunnah (tradition) of the Prophet – one of the most detailed maps humans can follow to achieve happiness, success and peace on this earth.
• The second secret is to win the “Nobel Prize” by simply removing one carbon atom from two oxygen atoms; an atomic change will be very important to humanity and the universe.
• Small reductions have great impact in our lives; let’s call this third secret the “Power of less.” The average annual carbon footprint (per capita) in the UAE is roughly 55.5 tons. My own carbon footprint adds up to 1/3 of that of my peers at 37 tons per year. I have achieved this in part by making a series of small changes to my lifestyle. For example, by reducing my consumption of rice, bread, and sweets, I have not only cut down on my carbon footprint and have 10% less bodyweight, but I also have access to better health, vigor and vitality. Moreover, as part of my holistic lifestyle, I choose energy efficient appliances and have replaced regular incandescent light bulbs in my home with the compact fluorescent variety, I use less energy by turning the air- conditiong thermostat up two degrees, and I don’t leave my home appliances on standby. Additionally, instead of using the bath, I shower and try to keep them at less than 4 minutes (my challenge is 2 minutes). Finally, I avoid hot water as much as possible (it requires energy to heat water) and recycle at home. Higher productivity and less consumption are preferable, says the Prophet Muhammad: “What fills any vessel more than his stomach is to overcome the human himself: one third of the food, a third for drink and one third for the same.”
• Another important fourth secret to change starts with culture. Let’s call this “Cultural Change.” Culture, or the origin of values, beliefs, thoughts, experience and information that results in a community’s certain behavior, habits and traditions prominently influences the human environment, including the effect of media, policies and laws, education and awareness, and contact with other cultures. If we want to generate widespread environmental change, we need to adjust our culture, and we need the presence of a living example or role model.
• The fifth secret of is to understand the “Power of Change.” How much change do we need? Do we need to change our entire lives or only the things that are not appropriate? I believe that change allows us to improve ourselves, helps us to streamline procedures and find new solutions. A radical change may be needed as shock therapy out of prolonged negligence, laziness and indifference. In the Quran, God says”…God does not change the condition of people unless they change what is in themselves.” I always remember this and tell my children, my friends and myself that “reduced desire produces more happiness! You can’t find happiness by only increasing wealth. It is also necessary to reduce one’s wishes.”
• The final secret is the sixth, and it lies in finding “Sustainable Solutions.” In reality, there is no magical solution that will stop pending climate disasters, and there is no technical solution that will repair everything at once, but we can encourage the practices of higher energy efficiency and effectiveness. We can also speed up greening the economy by producing and investing in alternative energy, and by cleaning up petroleum, petrochemical, and natural gas plants with the Cleanear Production approach so that they produce fewer emissions. And finally, we can find ways to take advantage of carbon emissions by either storing them carefully or harvesting them for other methods.

This is not the end but the beginning of a journey catalyzed by the knowledge of these six secrets that will help you first change your personal effectiveness and then that of the world.

More on the Green Sheikh:

The Green Sheikh on Ramadan: Waste to Food or Food to Waste

The Green Sheikh Knows How to Treat a Lady

Dine with an Unconventional Green Sheikh

The post 6 Secrets of Happiness (Living with Less Carbon) From the Green Sheikh appeared first on Green Prophet.

Dubai’s skyline is going to look increasingly dull compared to what is planned for Abu Dhabi. In addition to Masdar City and the Lunar Cubit energy-generating pyramids that won the Land Art Generator Initiative’s 2010 design competition, a new award-winning building designed by Barcelona-based architects Nabito could forever change how we view high rise structures. Sweep aside the boring energy-draining buildings of old and welcome instead the “Stairscraper” CNN reports that this “eye-catching” spiral skyscraper won the Total Housing Competition organized jointly by the non-profit organization Storefront for Art and Architecture and Architizer, an online platform for architects.

Established in 2007, Nabito architects have already received several acknowledgments for their innovative, and even fun design. This most recent concept was inspired by a spiral staircase they saw hanging from a building in Istanbul.

“We were in Istanbul for the opening night of a building we recently built and while we were speaking we’ve been astonished by a spiral stair hanging from a building in front of us,” co-founder Roberto Ferlito told CNN. “We started joking about the form, playing and imagining the possibilities of transforming it into a building.”

Now he and Alessandra Faticanti are discussing their options with Abu Dhabi engineers, though most of the details are currently confidential.

Faticanti told the paper that they are very concerned to harness as many “green” features as possible. Planned as a mixed use building that incorporates housing, offices, and public space, every level will include a garden.

To irrigate these green spaces, the architects are hoping they can reach an underground water table in the center of the building.

This will be a tricky proposition in Abu Dhabi, where the water table is already deeply stressed. Nabito will have to strike a balance between water scarcity and the urgent need to create carbon-absorbing green spaces.

:: CNN & Inhabitat

More innovative architecture in Abu Dhabi:

Abu Dhabi Building To Achieve All Five Green Building Pearls

Ehrlich Architect Trumps Hadid and Foster With UAE Parliament Building

Energy-Generating Pyramids Win Abu-Dhabi’s LAGI Prize

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