Terrapin Bright Green was invited to submit a plan in the fall of 2010 to the Saudi Arabian government for a new, energy-efficient city on the axis between the western, eastern and central strategic cities of Saudi Arabia.

Terrapin’s recommendations for King Abdullah City of Atomic and Renewable Energy (“KA-CARE”) primarily establish the framework for the economic development of the city in stages over several years. To catalyze sustainable economic growth based on capturing the business and employment opportunities of the new energy economy, Terrapin has recommended the establishment of several research institutions that function as the engine of KA-CARE’s business sector. The institutes focus on technological training, industrial ecology and atomic and renewable energy, and are meant to develop and channel technological innovation directly into the business world. The institute of atomic and renewable energy is especially instrumental in KA-CARE’s growth, focusing on distributed solar, wind, geothermal, waste-to-energy and potential atomic sources. Terrapin’s plans for KA-CARE envision other economic sectors centered around waste and recycling, agriculture based on date farming, transportation, and a service sector.

Terrapin recognizes that sustainable growth must consider a quality of life and respect for the environment. To that end, the plan recommends the city grow incrementally in “eco-districts” that are driven by efficient, clean-energy technology. These eco-districts are linked by a multi-modal transportation system that include innovative a Personal Rapid Transit system, and respect Islamic culture by providing easy, on-foot access to a mosque from anywhere in the city.

The city’s infrastructure monitors and manages real-time bilateral energy flow between the national grid and a citywide renewable energy platform. Extensive water and waste management systems aim to reduce the demand for water, energy and fertilizer production.