ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Neutral Group, a carbon abatement consulting and Execution Company, announced today it has received a license to operate from Masdar City, the emerging global clean technology cluster in Abu Dhabi. The company, which is relocating its headquarters to Masdar City, is the first carbon abatement consultancy to be licensed by the zero-waste, carbon-neutral, renewable energy-powered city.

With offices already in London and New York, The Neutral Group selected Masdar City for its headquarters because of the city’s emerging global role as a hub of the flourishing cleantech sector, the numerous business opportunities in the fast-growing region and the city’s tax-free, free zone status.

Khaled Awad, Director of Masdar City, said, “Many corporations have woken up to the need to operate in a more sustainable way, yet they require expertise to help them achieve their ‘green’ goals. Firms such as The Neutral Group provide an important service by helping companies reduce their carbon footprint in a manner that serves the environment and helps their bottom lines. The Neutral Group’s presence in Masdar City reflects the unique mix of firms and the synergy that characterises the business environment in the city.”

The Neutral Group, whose clients have included BP, Deutsche Post, DHL, Kraft, Marks & Spencer and Unilever, provides services in carbon footprint assessment, including supply chain assessment; carbon action plans, including preconstruction carbon action plans; and carbon reduction implementation programmes.

Noting that the firm initially considered other locations, including Copenhagen and Sydney, for their headquarters, Karl Feilder, Chairman of The Neutral Group explained why they settled on Abu Dhabi, “Masdar City is more than just a smart environment in which companies can grow; it will be home to a network of like-minded organisations that will assist each other in driving the new carbon economy. We now really feel like one of Masdar’s partners, working to realise the Masdar City vision.”

The Neutral Group is launching a fund for carbon and energy cost-reducing projects. “We have identified over $250 million of financially attractive cleantech projects in the region that are currently stalled due to lack of carbon-abatement expertise and suitable financing, so we have decided to work with some UAE-based organisations to provide these services and offer a great investment vehicle in the process.”

Feilder expects to identify many other projects in the region, as companies gain a better understanding of the benefits of carbon abatement programmes that generate carbon credits and lower operating costs. “This is just the start of the cleantech revolution – with companies already reaping the benefits of lower-cost, innovative and clean solutions. We are delighted with our new offices in Masdar City – now everyone knows where to come for world-class advice and experience.”

Although Masdar City is still under construction, with the first building – part of the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology campus – set to open in the second quarter of 2010 and the first commercial buildings in 2011, the city is already creating a community of cleantech companies by offering temporary facilities in Abu Dhabi city.

For more information about Masdar and Masdar City, please click here or visit www.masdar.ae

For more information about The Neutral Group, please click here or visit www.theneutralgroup.com

Source: ME NewsWire

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