UAE agrees to world’s largest single energy management project

The world's single largest energy management project was announced yesterday. The deal, between Hara and the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), was announced during the 16th Conference of Parties in Cancun.

Hara will provide its environmental and energy management technology software, helping ADWEA to implement system-wide consumption monitoring for over 200,000 commercial and residential facilities across the UAE.

Speaking at a press conference in Cancun yesterday, Amit Chatterjee, Hara's Chief Executive, said: "With the price of energy rising, the scope for cost savings through energy efficiencies will become even greater. This solution enables the identification, prioritisation and tracking of energy efficiency on an unprecedented scale."

The Hara Environmental and Energy Management (EEM) project will enable the analysing and tracking of energy efficiency projects and is expected to save around US$3 billion over 10 years, as well as 10 million tonnes of carbon dioxide.

The figures, analysed by independent firm Verdantix, showed a potential reduction of about 12,000 gigawatt hours could be achieved by 2020. According to Chatterjee, EEM would also serve as a platform to "optimise Abu Dhabi's energy and electricity use, its greenhouse gas emissions and provide advanced analytical support for the implementation of the regions smart grid and alternative energy investments."

ADWEA is the largest state-run utility company in the UAE, supplying electricity and portable water supplies to around 1.4 million people.

Speaking at a press conference, Sheikh Diab Zayed Al Nahyan, Chair of ADWEA, claimed the project was a result of rapid growth within region. "The Abu Dhabi economy is achieving rapid growth which makes it vital for us to make the best use of our natural resources."

He added: "[EEM] will facilitate and accelerate the implementation of alternative and sustainable strategies for energy efficiency as well as reduce the Emirate's carbon footprint."

Chatterjee indicated that EEM could be replicated elsewhere because "it enables organisations to manage and optimise their organisational metabolism – the collective resources consumed and resulting outputs across an organisation and its value chain – including energy, water, waste and carbon".

Hara EEM is deployed in 97 countries and is a solution that enables organisations to establish each client's environmental and energy record, as well as identify and prioritise energy reduction projects. Since its launch 16 months ago Hara has worked with organisations such as Coca Cola, Safeway, News Corporation and Hasbro.

Author: Leroy Robinson | Climate Action