Etihad Energy Service Company (Etihad Esco) has signed an energy performance contract with Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) to replace 28,500 of DIFC’s traditional light bulbs with LED lights.

The contract supports the UAE Vision 2021 to make the country one of the top countries in the world for sustainable development by increasing the use of clean energy and implementing the UAE Green Growth Strategy, said a statement.

The contract was signed by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, vice-chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and chairman of Esco, and Essa Kazim, governor of DIFC. It was attended by Arif Amiri, CEO of Dubai International Financial Centre Authority; Saleh Al Akrabi, CEO of DIFC Property Management; Waleed Salman, vice chairman of Etihad Esco; Stephane Le Gentil, CEO of Etihad ESCO; and Ali Al Jassim, COO of Etihad ESCO.

Due to the increasing importance of green energy, DIFC will replace internal and external light bulbs and street lights with LED lights. This will increase and improve energy efficiency and sustainability, the statement said.

According to the contract, DIFC will achieve 72 per cent annual energy savings over six years.

DIFC has over 1,445 registered companies, with a workforce of 19,808 employees at the centre. This number is due to triple by 2024.

DIFC is the first financial free zone in the UAE to conduct such a major transformation of lighting system infrastructure, said the statement.

“The signing of the contract supports the directives of our wise leaders to increase the use of clean and renewable energy, and the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to diversify the Emirate’s energy resources, and increase dependence on clean and renewable energy,” said Al Tayer.

“This contract emphasises our role to enhance the energy-efficiency market, and our commitment to provide energy solutions, making Dubai an international role model for energy security and efficiency, and investments in renewable energy from low carbon,” added Al Tayer.

“DIFC is a major part of Dubai’s economic environment. To adhere to the emirate’s objectives to adopt green energy solutions, our cooperation with Etihad Esco aims to improve lighting infrastructure, making it more sustainable and efficient with energy consumption. This reflects our commitment to the Growth Strategy 2024 to ensure an advanced and updated infrastructure through the use of sustainable energy solutions. This will enhance Dubai’s vision to become one of the most sustainable cities in the world,” said Kazim.- TradeArabia News Service