Today's Edition
MAYS IBRAHIM (ABU DHABI)
Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) Municipality is spearheading an ambitious energy transition strategy with multiple ongoing projects aimed at promoting sustainability and efficiency, according to Andrea Di Gregorio, Executive Director at the Energy Efficiency and Renewables (Reem) Office of RAK Municipality.
In an interview with Aletihad on the sidelines of the World Future Energy Summit 2024, hosted by Masdar at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), Di Gregorio outlined the comprehensive strategy known as RAK Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Strategy 2040. It comprises nine programmes targeting various sectors, such as new and existing buildings, industrial processes, infrastructure, mobility, and consumption behaviours, each driven by an assigned government entity.
Highlighting the progress made so far towards the annual targets of this strategy, Di Gregorio noted electricity savings equal to more than 2% and about 3% water savings, compared to business as usual.
The strategy targets achieving 30% electricity savings, 20% water savings, as well as a 20% contribution of renewable energy to the supply mix by 2040, according to Di Gregorio. Intangible goals include improvements in healthy lifestyles and indoor air quality, in addition to the enhancement of governmental capabilities to drive change, exemplified by Ras Al Khaimah’s achievement as the first government worldwide to attain the prestigious ISO 50001 energy management certification across all its entities.
Di Gregorio further highlighted initiatives concerned with enhancing the standards for new buildings, such as Barjeel, the green building regulations of RAK. Introduced in 2019, Barjeel has already influenced the construction of over 2,000 buildings, adhering to heightened sustainability criteria, while a retrofit programme has revamped over 300 buildings in Ras Al Khaimah.
He added that industrial consumers representing over 50% of Ras Al Khaimah’s industrial electricity consumption are actively engaged in an innovative energy management initiative for the industrial sector, involving auditing and reporting. He also noted the replacement of 100% of street lighting in the emirate with LED technology, citing energy savings of at least 70% compared to traditional lighting.
Moreover, Di Gregorio outlined the Manzily Energy Advice Service, a recent initiative launched last year by RAK Municipality in collaboration with Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) for the purpose of promoting energy-efficient practices among UAE residents. Upon request, a municipality team conducts free home audits, assessing energy consumption and offering advice to improve its efficiency. Eligible UAE nationals who undergo the audit are provided with incentives in the form of bill credits from EtihadWE, based on their achieved electricity savings.
Di Gregorio expressed optimism about the initiative’s potential impact in driving national energy and emission reduction targets, as well as its contribution to the modernisation of Ras Al Khaimah’s building stock. While the initiative is in its early stages, he encourages participation from all residents of Ras Al Khaimah so that they may benefit from the programme.
