Etihad ESCO Partners With Seven Tides To Improve Energy Efficiency Of 22 Buildings

Etihad Energy Service Company (Etihad ESCO) announced the signing of a contract with leading property developer Seven Tides to save 13.2 million KWh of electricity and 2.6 million IG of water, through the implementation of a range of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs), cutting costs by 14.8 per cent and saving AED 7.3 million annually. The agreement was signed by Ali Al Jassim, CEO, Etihad ESCO and Abdulla Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides on the first day of the ongoing 20^th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2018).

Property Developer Seven Tides owns several projects in the Middle East, including residential, commercial and resort properties. Etihad ESCO audited 22 buildings by Seven Tides before proposing multiple ECMs that offer enormous scope of energy savings. The energy and equipment performance post the implementation of the project are guaranteed for six years, with a payback period less than 3 years.

The retrofit project will encompass the installation of Variable-Frequency Drive (VFD) control on Air Handling Units (AHUs) to regulate the Fresh Air Handling Units (FAHUs) based on the demand for fresh air, thereby preventing wastage of energy. This will enable fresh air handling units to function based on the principle of demand-based ventilation, which provides fresh air on the basis of occupancy/demand. Besides, fluorescent, metal halide and other conventional lights will be replaced with high efficiency LED lights across Seven Tides’ properties such as Ibn Battuta Gate, Discovery Gardens, Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort and the rest of the Seven Tides projects based in Dubai as part of the program.

Ali Al Jassim, CEO, Etihad ESCO, said: “We are glad to equip the private sector with energy conservation measures, thereby helping them cut down consumption, improve efficiency and contribute to the emirate’s efforts, towards the achievement of 30 per cent reduction in energy demand by 2030.”

Abdulla Bin Sulayem, CEO, Seven Tides, said: “The benefits of retrofitting existing facilities are far reaching with a clear focus on cost and energy savings, while also creating increased comfort and wellbeing to all our residents and tenants. Sustainability is an integral element to every area of our business and such we’re extremely proud of our role in supporting Dubai’s sustainability goals.”

In 2016, Etihad ESCO signed its first private sector contract with Seven Tides to develop and tender ESCO energy conservation and solar photovoltaic (PV) solutions for its 22 properties, highlighting the role of the private sector in attaining the goals of Dubai’s Integrated Energy Strategy.

Etihad ESCO aims to create a viable performance contracting market for energy service companies by auditing and proposing energy conservation measures to major building contractors and developers, adding significant momentum to the ongoing sustainability efforts in the emirate.