Abu Dhabi to invest Dhs20m, save power usage in mosques
ABU DHABI: In line with the country’s strategy to conserve resources and rationalise consumption using the latest technology, Abu Dhabi Distribution Company (ADDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in collaboration with the General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments (AWQAF) to invest approximately Dhs20 million in a project that will optimise air conditioning (AC) equipment in 850 mosques, which equals 65 per cent of the mosques in the Abu Dhabi and Al Dhafra regions.
Combined, these mosques serve over half a million worshippers.
Through the collaboration between ADDC and AWQAF, the project will reduce 20 per cent of electricity consumption in these mosques, saving 26 gigawat-hours of electricity and approximately 4,600 tonnes of CO2 annually - equivalent to taking more than 900 vehicles off the road for a year.
The initiative will contribute to Abu Dhabi’s Demand Side Management (DSM) and Energy Rationalisation Strategy, which aims to reduce overall electricity consumption by 22 per cent and water consumption by 32 per cent in the emirate by 2030.
Saeed Mohammad Al Suwaidi, Managing Director of ADDC, said, “Aligned with Abu Dhabi’s sustainability goals and the UAE’S Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative, our collaboration with AWQAF encompasses a comprehensive approach to use energy more efficiently in Abu Dhabi mosques. It is a testament to the potential of these types of projects in dramatically increasing energy efficiency and reducing the overall carbon footprint. With the right mix of expertise and innovation, the ADDC will continue to develop initiatives to facilitate a more sustainable future.”
For his part, Mohammed Saeed Al Neyadi, Director-general of AWQAF, affirmed the authority’s eagerness to upgrade mosques in accordance with the commandments of Islam. This includes providing a clean and comfortable environment for worshippers, utilising the latest technology available to improve services, and instituting regulations that ensure the effective management of mosques.
He praised the UAE leadership, indicating that the signing of this agreement aligns with the authority’s strategy and plans for rationalising electricity consumption in mosques, stemming from the wise leadership’s interest in achieving a balance between economic and energy conservation requirements to reduce the operating costs of mosques and their associated institutions in Abu Dhabi.
As part of the agreement, the ADDC will provide smart, programmable thermostats that can be monitored and controlled remotely to maintain optimal temperatures while keeping power consumption low and prolonging the life of the air-conditioning equipment.
The control system will also perform predictive maintenance activities using performance metrics to forecast maintenance needs, minimising major equipment failure and saving energy. In addition, a control room featuring advanced technology with live control and monitoring will be established at an AWQAF facility to keep track of equipment performance in all participating mosques while maintaining targeted consumption for long-term sustainability.
The ADDC’S long-standing partnership with AWQAF has already helped reduce the volume of water used for ablution in more than 600 mosques. That partnership led to annual savings of approximately 700,000 cubic metres of water.
In a separate development, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is showcasing its key projects and innovative initiatives in sustainability and clean and renewable energy, at the 15th World Future Energy Summit (WFES), which is held from Jan.16-jan.18, 2023.
This is part of the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW) hosted by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar). DEWA is the Opening Ceremony Associate Partner of ADSW.
DEWA invited the public to visit its stand in Hall number 5 (Energy Hall) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC) to learn about its key projects in the renewable and clean energy sector and its smart initiatives, as well as its efforts to advance the sustainable development and shit towards a sustainable green economy.
Through its stand at WFES, DEWA highlights the latest developments in the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. It contributes to achieving the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100 per cent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.
The current production capacity of the solar park is 2,027 megawats (MW) using solar photovoltaic and concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies. This is about 14 per cent of Dubai’s energy mix, which has reached 14,517MW.