Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
The UAE-based district cooling company Tabreed is leading the way towards a greener, more energy-efficient future.
With a presence that extends across the GCC, India, and Egypt, the company is committed to delivering environmentally sustainable cooling solutions that significantly reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Innovative Cooling for a Sustainable Future
In a recent interview with Aletihad, Tabreed's Chief Operating Officer Antonio Di Cecca highlighted the unique advantages of district cooling.
"It's an environmentally sustainable service that delivers efficient and cost-effective cooling solutions," he explained.
By leveraging specialised equipment that requires replacement every 30 years - double the lifespan of traditional air conditioning systems - Tabreed not only lowers maintenance costs but also enhances reliability.
According to Di Cecca, district cooling is up to 50% more energy efficient than conventional methods.
This translates into reduced electricity consumption, ultimately lowering clients' carbon footprint.
District cooling also provides developers with greater flexibility when designing buildings, freeing up valuable space and resulting in a more aesthetically pleasing architectural design.
Di Cecca explained that district cooling, designed for high-density urban areas, centralises cooling demand and capitalises on the diversity factor, effectively halving the electricity needs.
Tabreed's impact is visible in some of the most iconic developments in the UAE, including Burj Khalifa, the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World, and The Dubai Mall, among others.
The company currently delivers over 1.3 million refrigeration tons of cooling through 91 plants - 76 in the UAE, with additional locations in Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain, India, and Egypt, in addition to other international projects and operations.
Di Cecca provided an overview of Tabreed's substantial strides in energy savings since its inception.
Up to the end of 2022, the company's operations saved 19.2 billion kilowatt hours-enough to power approximately 1.1 million homes annually in the GCC.
This achievement has prevented the release of 7.6 billion metric tons of carbon emissions, equivalent to removing over 1.6 million cars from the streets.
In 2023 alone, Tabreed's operations across the GCC resulted in saving 2.52 billion kilowatt hours, enough to power more than 143,000 homes every year, and avoided the emission of 1.5 million metric tons of CO2-akin to taking 330,000 internal combustion engine vehicles off the roads.
Tabreed has taken bold steps toward further decarbonisation.
In collaboration with ADNOC, the company has launched G2COOL, the region's first district cooling plant powered by renewable geothermal energy.
Situated in Masdar City, this innovative facility harnesses geothermal energy to provide 100% renewable cooling, setting a precedent for sustainable practices in the region.
Di Cecca pointed out the advantages of this system, "Geothermal energy is the only renewable energy source that is not intermittent. This allows us to decouple our cooling systems from the electricity grid, utilising thermal energy from deep underground to drive our operations."
Tabreed is also working on integrating solar energy into its operations, with two new solar-powered plants recently commissioned.
By producing its own electricity through renewable sources, Tabreed is committed to increasing the share of renewable energy in its cooling solutions, in line with the UAE's National Energy Strategy 2050.
Demonstrating its commitment to a diverse energy mix, Tabreed purchased 116,000 MWh of solar-sourced Clean Energy Certificates in 2023, sufficient to cool prominent locations such as Masdar City and key attractions on Yas Island.
Tabreed has also become the first district cooling company to receive the 'Verified Carbon Standard' label from Verra, an independent non-profit agency that sets standards for climate action and sustainable development.
"Our purpose is always sustainability. We are not only saying it; we are also doing it," Di Cecca said.
Tabreed was the exclusive cooling partner at the 3rd World Utilities Congress held in Abu Dhabi last week under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council.
