affordable and clean energy

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is deeply committed to promoting and supporting clean energy through a multifaceted approach that encompasses research, outreach, and sustainable practices within its own operations. The university engages in cutting-edge research focused on renewable energy technologies and sustainable energy management, fostering innovation and knowledge sharing. Outreach initiatives include workshops and seminars that educate students and the community on the importance of clean energy and sustainable practices. Furthermore, the university has undertaken energy-efficient renovations of its facilities, incorporating smart building technologies to reduce energy consumption significantly. By identifying areas of energy wastage and implementing strategic plans to minimise it, SUAD not only enhances its operational efficiency but also sets a strong example for students and the broader community in the pursuit of a sustainable future. 

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi actively promotes carbon reduction awareness among its community by providing access to a Carbon Footprint Calculator. This tool allows individuals to assess their personal carbon footprints, highlighting their largest contributors to carbon emissions. By analysing the results, users receive tailored tips on how to adopt more sustainable practices and reduce their environmental impact. This initiative not only fosters a greater understanding of individual carbon contributions but also empowers students and staff to make informed choices for a more sustainable lifestyle, reinforcing the university’s commitment to environmental responsibility. 

Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi is committed to sustainability through significant reductions in utilities consumption on campus. By upgrading facilities and implementing energy-efficient technologies such as LED lighting, occupancy sensors, and electric vehicle charging stations, the university has achieved a 5% reduction per capita in water, electricity, and chilled water usage. Additionally, there has been an impressive 80% reduction in liquefied petroleum (LP) gas consumption. These initiatives reflect the university’s dedication to environmental stewardship and its ongoing efforts to create a more sustainable campus for students and staff alike. 


Achievements 

• 150kg of plastic pollution eliminated from the system 
  
  
• 6% reduction in water consumption 
  
  
• 12% reduction in chilled water consumption 
  
  
• 80% reduction in LP gas consumption 
  
  
• 10 RECAPP recycle bins added on campus 
  
  
• 80 IT devices decommissioned 
  
  
• 137,151 kg of reduced emissions 

Check carbon reduction targets

This trio of short presentations brought physicists and mathematicians together to discuss the role of novel materials and statistics in the path to sustainability. The talks focused on three principal research trends: 1) the use of innovative fabrication techniques to enhance both optical and thermoelectric properties of structural layers used for energy harvesting applications; 2) the deployment of nonparametric statistics for estimating intermittent and stochastic quantities arising from integrating renewable resources into existing power systems; and 3) the development of environmentally friendly materials with new properties derived from the utilisation of nanoparticles in combination with polymer matrices. 

Dr Emad Alhseinat, Chemical Engineer, Khalifa University (Leading as PI)  

Prof. Kosmas Pavlopoulos, Professor of Environmental Geomorphology-Geology, SUAD (Leading as Co-PI)  

This project contributes directly to the efforts to achieve one of the goals of Abu Dhabi 2030 plan as it targets the issues related to water scarcity, lack of water resources and reducing energy consumption in UAE by providing full water management guidelines towards the utilisation of oil and gas produced water.  

Dr. Joumana El Rifai, an Assistant Professor of Physics at SUAD, worked on developing a reliable, environmentally safe, and waste-free energy source. While photovoltaics (PV) are widely researched, a major concern is the waste heat generated on the surface of PV panels, which reduce power output and performance stability. To address this, her work is focused on utilising thermoelectric materials to capture and convert waste heat into useful energy through thermoelectric generation. The goal is to fabricate and characterise novel materials that would enhance light absorption and simultaneously harness thermal waste, with the ultimate aim of incorporating these materials into PV cell applications. 

Dr. Stavros Christopoulos led a project aimed at developing environmentally friendly materials with advanced properties by embedding metal-oxide nanoparticles (e.g., ZnO, TiO2) into polymer matrices. The goal is to improve the physical properties of the films for applications in agriculture, construction, and display technologies, such as greenhouse covers and anti-glare coatings. The nanoparticles are treated, coated, and incorporated through processes like extrusion, resulting in low-cost, high-performance materials. The project also focused on using biodegradable polymers and developing a theoretical model to better understand the interaction between nanoparticles and the polymer, optimising the films' performance.