Emirati students showcased their talents to a global audience this week in Dubai that included a tidal power project by the first Emirati female engineers.

“The Future Generation” competition, a new initiative launched at Middle East Electricity, encourages undergraduate students from UAE universities to develop and present innovative solutions focusing on alternative energy, energy efficiency or energy conservation.

The project created by Anood Al-Hamadi and Aisha Al-Hamadi, who are currently studying at the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Ruwais, was among eight shortlisted projects put forward to thousands of visitors, who will cast their votes to decide the winner.

On a dedicated stand at the 3-day event that concluded on Thursday at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center, the duo presented their tidal power generation prototype project, comprising an electricity generator, water pump and rotating turbines that simulate the energy created from the UAE’s ocean tides.

The energy is then converted into 220 AC volts using a power distribution system, which is enough to power their model of a college building, featuring light fixtures and water fountains.

“The objective of this project is to understand the feasibility of a tidal power generation plant in the UAE,” said Aisha Al-Hamadi.

“Tidal power is an endless source of energy and doesn’t produce greenhouse gases. As 71 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by oceans, there is scope to generate tidal energy on a large scale, and its efficiency is around 80 percent, making it far more efficient than coal, solar, or wind energy,” she said.