DAVOS: The climate is on everybody’s lips at WEF 2018, in more ways than one. Climate change and issues of environmental sustainability are prominent on the agenda at the gathering in Davos. Environmental risks were identified as the No. 1 concern of the WEF’s Global Risks Report, published just before the event began and intended to set a theme for the debates.
So much of the thinking is centered on climate change that it was fitting that the opening performance for the Crystal Awards ceremony on the eve of the first day proper was a performance of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons concerto aimed at “exploring the fine line between chaos and harmony in our relationship with nature.”
Outside the Congress Hall where the concert took place, that fine line was explored further, and chaos was definitely the winner. Even for the Swiss, whose whole way of life has been defined by their ability to take on and beat the forces of nature, it was a challenge to deal with such unpredictable weather conditions.
Of course, snow at 1,500 meters up in the Swiss Alps is totally expected. But, as the locals explained, this was not normal snow. There had been several days of extreme snow falls, and the evidence was everywhere: High mountains of the stuff bulldozed to the side of the road; fountains of it being thrown into the air by those clever snow-blowers virtually every resident of Davos seems to keep in their garage; and multiple layers of it on the town’s freezing streets.
But on Monday, just as the Weffers were gathering from all over the world, nature played a cruel trick. The temperature rose quite sharply a few degrees below zero, and it began to rain. The effect on all that lying white stuff was catastrophic.
Roads were turned into slithering rivers of slush that even chained wheels had problems with. When, a few hours later, the temperature dropped again, the Davos-Klosters transit corridor turned into a dirty brown skating rink.
“Masters of the universe,” in very expensive but totally impractical handmade shoes, sitting on their backsides in the slush was a common sight, and strangely satisfying.
Train was the only way to make the journey between the two towns, and even that was a challenge, with services late (unheard of in Switzerland) and unusually overcrowded.
What will Donald Trump — who famously prefers the balmy climate of Mar-a-Lago in Florida to winter in New York or Washington — make of it all when he arrives later in the week? His arrival and the security arrangements involved will only add to the chaos.
Seasoned Weffers are indulging in a little sport to while away the hours spent waiting for trains or shuttle cars. One may only guess what Trump’s corny quip will be about the Swiss weather.
The favorite at the moment is something like: “How can you complain so much about global warming? Just look at all this snow!”
Davos Diary: Snowy WEF struggles to balance the relationship between chaos and harmony
Davos Diary: Snowy WEF struggles to balance the relationship between chaos and harmony
UAE’s Masdar seals deal for 200MW floating solar project in Malaysia
RIYADH: Abu Dhabi’s renewable energy firm Masdar has signed its first partnership in Malaysia, setting the stage for the largest floating solar project in Southeast Asia.
Masdar, together with Malaysian partners Citaglobal and Tiza Global, has signed a power purchase agreement with national utility Tenaga Nasional Berhad to develop a pioneering 200-megawatt floating photovoltaic plant at the Chereh Dam in Pahang state, the Emirates News Agency reported.
Spanning approximately 950 acres of reservoir surface, the Chereh Dam plant will boast a generation capacity exceeding 300MW-peak, delivering clean electricity equivalent to the needs of more than 100,000 homes.
With an estimated project value exceeding $208 million, the venture represents a significant step toward Malaysia’s goal of deriving 35 percent of its national energy mix from renewables by 2030.
Mohamed Jameel Al-Ramahi, CEO of Masdar, said: “This is a milestone project, our largest floating solar development globally and our inaugural project in Malaysia, reaffirms Masdar’s expertise in floating solar and our position as a trusted partner across the region.”
He added: “By leveraging our experience in delivering utility-scale solutions worldwide, we can provide affordable, secure, clean energy to the Malaysian people.”
The CEO said he looked forward to working closely with Citaglobal, Tiza Global, and the Malaysian government to help deliver the country’s ambitious renewable energy roadmap.
The consortium secured the project through a competitive tender under Malaysia’s Large Scale Solar Cycle 5+ program, offering the lowest tariff in its category, supported by Masdar’s global supply-chain capabilities and regional experience, including the 145-MW Cirata floating solar plant in Indonesia.
Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria, executive chairman and president of Citaglobal Berhad, said: “This collaboration gives us confidence that the Chereh floating solar project will be delivered to the highest international standards, while strengthening Malaysia’s energy security and long-term economic resilience.”
The Chereh floating solar plant will be the first project under the 10-gigawatt renewable energy roadmap agreed in 2023 between Masdar and the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, the WAM report added.
Beyond Pahang, Masdar is advancing a feasibility study for a major floating solar installation at Sarawak’s Murum reservoir, in collaboration with Sarawak Energy and Gentari, initiatives aligned with Malaysia’s National Energy Transition Roadmap and New Industrial Master Plan 2030.
The Chereh Dam project also emphasizes local integration, partnering with Pahang Water & Energy Resources for execution. It will deploy advanced floating solar technology tailored to the dam’s topography, optimizing performance while conserving freshwater.
Financed through a non-recourse structure with international lenders, the project reflects strong market confidence. Floating solar is particularly well suited to Malaysia, offering a land-efficient, scalable solution enhanced by natural water-cooling effects.
