ABU DHABI, 29th October, 2020 (WAM) -- Etihad Airways has announced the launch of the world’s first Transition Sukuk and the first Sustainability-Linked financing in global aviation, under a Transition Finance Framework.
According to Etihad, this follows the first aviation financing linked to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals raised in December 2019, further confirming Etihad’s role as an industry leader in sustainable finance.
The US$ 600 million transaction will support Etihad’s drive for sustainable aviation by linking the sukuk terms to Etihad’s carbon reduction targets: a commitment to Net Zero Carbon emissions by 2050; a 50% reduction in net emissions by 2035; and a 20% reduction in emissions intensity in the airline’s passenger fleet by 2025.
Commenting on the announcement, Adam Boukadida, Chief Financial Officer of Etihad Aviation Group, said, "Sustainability and responsible climate action are the most significant challenges facing the aviation industry. As the UAE’s flag carrier, Etihad is committed to sustainable development in aviation in line with Abu Dhabi’s vision.
"By issuing a Sustainability-Linked Sukuk, Etihad is voluntarily adding to its existing commitments under CORSIA (Carbon Offsetting and Reduction Scheme for International Aviation), and also committing to reduce carbon emissions intensity by over 20% from the 2017 baseline."
HSBC and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Joint Global Coordinators and Joint Sustainability Structuring Agents. Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD Capital, First Abu Dhabi Bank, HSBC, and Standard Chartered Bank acted as Joint Lead Managers & Bookrunners. Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank acted as Joint Lead Manager, and Mashreq Bank acted as Financial Advisor.
DUBAI- Moro Hub (Data Hub Integrated Solutions LLC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, announced the launch of the Middle East’s first certified Tier-III Green Data Centre today, at the virtual edition of the Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition, WETEX 2020.
Located at Al-Yalayis, Dubai, this is the region's first Data Centre fully powered by solar energy.
The announcement, which was made by Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, MD &CEO of DEWA, positions Moro Hub as a leading contributor to the UAE’s Circular Economy, while majorly contributing to the endeavours of DEWA in its sustainability journey.
"We work in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The launch of the Middle East’s first solar-powered Green Data Centre represents a new achievement for Moro Hub. This reinforces the Scale 360 Initiative that the UAE has signed as the first country in the world, in collaboration with the World Economic Forum to benefit from technology innovation and advanced solutions in accelerating the circular economy, while using fewer natural resources and reducing pollution to mitigate climate change," Al Tayer stated.
"Dubai continues to maintain its leading position with sustainable and futuristic solutions. This is in alignment with the government plans and strategies including the UAE Centennial 2071 that aims to make the UAE the world’s leading nation. It is also in line with the Dubai 10X initiative to transform and position Dubai ahead of other cities around the world by 10 years, which also aligns with the objectives of Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75 percent of Dubai's total power capacity from clean energy by 2050," he added.
The first certified Tier-III new Green Data Centre will be leveraged to offer digital products and services utilising Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as cloud services, Internet of Things and Artificial Intelligence.
UAE, Dubai: SirajPower, UAE's leading distributed solar energy provider, continues its rapid and consistent expansion in the UAE with a new significant partnership. The company recently signed a deal with Choithrams, a leading grocery retailer and food distributor in the Middle East, to help them shift from conventional power to 100% renewable energy.
On this occasion, a signing ceremony was recently held at Choithrams’ Head office in Dubai in the presence of Rajiv Warrier, Choithrams’ CEO, Laurent Longuet, CEO of SirajPower and Merzi Sodawaterwala, Founder & Chairman of World Sustainable Business Forum (WSBF).
Choithrams’ solar rooftop project includes three warehouses located at Al Quoz in Dubai with a 2.7 MWp system capacity that will generate 4.5 GWh of annual energy production. The solar rooftop installation will help displace approximatively over 3,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions (Co2) per annum, corresponding to more than 12 million smartphones being charged.
Laurent Longuet, CEO of SirajPower, said: “Despite the global challenging market situation which slowed the operation of projects, solar energy initiatives are still in place and in high demand. We have been able to accelerate our growth thanks to a clear and robust regulatory framework that supports the development of renewable energy and the distributed solar market. In addition, our local leadership has done exceptional work during these difficult times that allowed us to continue our work and maintain our momentum/or growth.
Today, we celebrate another significant partnership with Choithrams, a company with a remarkable heritage that further diversifies our strong market portfolio and expands our presence in the FMCG/F&B sector. We are honored to be entrusted by major groups across industries that recognize our expertise and our service excellence to achieve their sustainability objectives and join the green community. We also thank Merzi Sodawaterwala, Founder & Chairman at World Sustainable Business Forum (WSBF) that acted as our sustainability partner for this project.”
Rajiv Warrier, CEO of Choithrams said: “Sustainability has always been a key initiative for Choithrams and shifting to 100% renewable energy is a crucial step in our sustainable journey. We were keen to find the right local partner with proper knowledge and technical expertise for such a significant commitment, we selected SirajPower for these reasons. As one of the leading food retailers and distributors, we take great pride in supporting noble causes and the adoption of renewable energy in conjunction with the leadership’s UAE vision 2021 agenda.”
UAE-based United Foods Company has signed a deal with Yellow Door Energy to develop and maintain a 2-megawatt rooftop solar power plant at its edible oil and fats factory, located in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Industrial Area.
The DFM-listed company, which is a leading food manufacturer as well as distributor in the UAE, said in a press statement that the duration of the design-build-operate and maintain agreement would be for 20 years.
It said the plant, which will cover the entire area of the factory’s roof in Jebel Ali, would include over 4,400 solar panels, and provide almost half of the factory’s energy consumption needs.
The rooftop solar plant is expected to generate 3.3 GWh of clean energy in its first year of operation and more than 78GWh over its lifecycle of 25 years, the statement said.
United Foods CEO Fethi Khiari said the plant will help the company reduce its energy bill by close to 50 percent and save 700,000 UAE dirhams in the first year of operation.
“Considering the system’s lifetime of 25 years, we will be saving 25 million dirhams or one million dirhams every year,” said Khiari.
The plant would save the company over 50 percent on every kilowatt-hour it generated, according to Jeremy Crane, CEO, Yellow Door Energy.
“Solar power systems decline slightly in their performance year-over-year, but it tends to be less than one percent,” he said.
Crane pointed out that general rule of thumb is that 20 percent of the cost of manufacturing is electricity.
He continued: “If a business can reduce that by 50 percent, its overhead cost would be reduced by 10 percent. In the difficult times we are in today, this can have significant impact on a business’s profitability.”
The rooftop solar plant would meet more than 40 percent of the Jebel Ali factory’s energy consumption. It would also be connected to the power grid under the Shams Dubai net metering program of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
Crane said: “Under Shams Dubai, a company can produce as much as power as it has permit for, and if it produces more power than it is consuming in the daytime, the excess power goes to the grid. The company gets credits that it can consume in the night time.”
The rooftop plant would reduce the company’s carbon footprint by offsetting 1,400 tonnes of CO2 per annum, he noted.
Other sustainability initiatives being considered include adding electric vehicles to the company’s transportation fleet.
“We use big tankers, trucks, vans and small cars. [Existing] prices are not allowing us massive use of electric vehicles, but they would be a priority as soon as they are available,” he said.
The company currently uses fuel efficiency as the main criteria for acquiring vehicles for its fleet.
8 October 2020 (UAE): Tristar Group (“Tristar” or “the Company”), the global integrated energy logistics company, was given an award by the Arabia CSR Network for its ‘Safety at Sea’ initiatives at the 13th Arabia CSR Awards 2020 held on October 6 in Dubai. ‘Safety at Sea’ initiatives were recognized under the ‘Partnerships and Collaborations’ category.
Tristar has been involved in raising safety awareness at sea in collaboration with other stakeholders in the industry. On November 10, 2019, Tristar’s Shipping Division organised the ‘Safety at Sea Conference’ which addressed the topic of mental health amongst seafarers.
Following the conference, Tristar organised a series of town hall-style workshops for Vessel Masters and Senior Officers in Mumbai. The workshops focused on psychological first aid (PFA). During the Covid-19 pandemic, the PFA workshops were conducted through video conferencing.
Tristar also established a dedicated helpline that is handled by the Sailors’ Society in the UK. All crew members and their families have access to use the 24/7 helpline. The services include crisis response assistance, counselling through various channels such as email, WhatsApp and other social media chat platforms, and making appointments with counsellors on behalf of the seafarer in accordance with the ports they will visit during their contract. The latter enables seafarers the opportunity to book a ship visit in advance and provide continuity of care by following seafarers as they move from port-to-port and ensuring that counsellors visit them.
Eugene Mayne, Group CEO of Tristar said: “Seafarers are particularly susceptible to mental health issues at sea, as they are often far from home, with little contact with family and friends. Whilst we are all encouraged to talk about mental health, it seems that it is still a taboo subject amongst seafarers and as a result they are missing out on vital support and treatment at what could sometimes be early stages of depression.
The initiatives we have put in place are small steps as part of a wider movement to address these issues and ensure adequate support is provided to our most valuable assets – our people. I’m honored that Tristar has been recognised for its work in this space, and I look forward to celebrating many more successes with the team and with Arabia CSR Network in the future.”
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has become the country’s first airline to implement electronic technical logs (eTech logs) for airline operations.
The approval from the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) for implementation on Etihad’s freighter fleet accelerates the journey towards paperless airline operations which is a key initiative for Etihad Airways and the GCAA.
Following implementation on the freighter fleet, Etihad plans to implement eTech logs on the backbone of its fleet – the Boeing 787 Dreamliners – and the rest of its passenger fleet by 2021.
The implementation on Etihad’s Boeing 777 freighter fleet follows three months of trials in partnership with the GCAA, where eTech logs replaced paper logbooks currently used by flight crew and engineers to document all flight and maintenance information.
Although modern aircraft are technologically advanced, most airlines continue to use paper-based logbooks. By replacing paper documentation, eTech logs provide real-time data capture that can be shared with multiple stakeholders, from the air to the ground - increasing operational efficiency, reducing delays and costs.
The eTech logs are another example of Etihad’s investment in innovation to continue enhancing safety outcomes, as they reduce complexity and workload, and improve how Etihad manages compliance requirements.
Paul Kear, Senior Vice President Technical, Etihad Airways, said: “Etihad Airways is proud to have partnered with the GCAA to be the first airline in the UAE to use electronic technical logs in our fleet. This initiative supports Etihad’s innovation and sustainability goals, which are core values for the airline, Abu Dhabi, and the UAE. The digitalisation of our technical logs will go a long way towards enhancing the operational efficiency and airworthiness of our fleet and this is a monumental step forward for aviation in the UAE.
“Etihad remains committed to driving value to the aviation industry, regardless of the current Covid-19 crisis, and we thank the GCAA for their continued support,” he said.
Saif Al Suwaidi, Director General of the GCAA, said: “The GCAA have approved Etihad to implement electronic technical logs for their Boeing 777 freighters. This is a historic achievement not just for Etihad but for the aviation industry in the UAE. This initiative supports the GCAA’s vision for paperless operations and we thank Etihad Airways for their pioneering efforts.”
Steve Russell, Chief Executive Officer of Conduce, the technology provider for the eTech logs said: “We see eTech logs as a ‘disruptive technology’ in the aviation industry bringing significant benefits to airlines and the entire industry. We are excited to be working with Etihad Airways in its implementation, a first in the UAE.”
The eTech logs will contribute to Etihad’s sustainability programme aimed at reducing the carbon footprint and impact of aviation on the environment through driving sustainable practices across its operations. By replacing paper documentation with electronic logs across Etihad’s freighter fleet, an estimated 166 trees will be saved and approximately 6 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions will be reduced per annum.
Supermarket chain Waitrose & Partners has introduced a 25 fils plastic bag charge across all its stores in the UAE as part of its sustainability programme, it announced on Wednesday.
The new policy, which began on October 1, aims to “inspire its customers to shift to using reusable, sustainable bags” for shopping, a statement said.
All proceeds from the sale of plastic bags will be donated to the non-profit conservation organisation Emirates Nature-WFF.
Waitrose & Partners UAE also has a line of reusable bags that can be purchased starting at Dhs3.5, both in store and online.
Sunil Kumar, CEO of Fine Fare Foods – which runs Waitrose & Partners UAE, said: “This new charge is part of a gradual phase-out in line with the policies being introduced by the government across the UAE – and one that we are committed to following.
“We are dedicated to reducing our impact on the environment, and while we know there is still a lot of work to be done, the removal of single use carrier bags is a major step in the right direction. So far, we’ve received really positive feedback from our customers.”
The supermarket chain has also committed to making its own-brand packaging reusable, widely recyclable or home compostable by 2023 and has pledged to remove 20 per cent of plastic from its own-brand ranges by the end of 2021.
It also plans to ensure its branded plastic packaging contains at least 30 per cent recycled content and phase out non-recyclable plastic from all packaging by 2021.
Several retailers have announced initiatives to phase out the use of single-use plastic.
Last year, UAE retail conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim announced that it will eliminate single-use plastic from its operations by 2025. The decision will apply to all its units including Vox cinemas and more than 285 Carrefour stores across the Middle East, Africa and Asia region.
Meanwhile, earlier this year, the emirates of Abu Dhabi and Ras Al Khaimah also announced a full phase-out of disposable plastic bags in all retail outlets by 2021.
According to the UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, approximately one billion plastic bags are used in the country every year – an average of 1,184 a person, which compares with a global figure of 307 per person.
Three pioneering fire trucks featuring Volvo Penta electric drivelines are on their way to fire departments in Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai to begin real-world customer testing.
Volvo Penta has developed an electric driveline for leading fire service vehicle manufacturer Rosenbauer’s pioneering fire truck, named “Revolutionary Technology” (RT). The truck – which features groundbreaking drive technology, vehicle architecture, operability and connectivity – was officially launched at an event in Austria. The RTs will now be sent to fire departments in Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai to begin real-world customer testing.
Revolutionizing the fire service industry
By walking away from conventional commercial vehicle concepts and developing an electric solution for the truck’s driveline, Volvo Penta and its customer Rosenbauer have introduced a completely new vehicle architecture which is set to transform the fire service industry. With its electric driveline, the fire truck boasts excellent ergonomics, functionality, and safety, as well as high loading volumes, compact dimensions and one-of-a-kind agility. The Volvo Penta electric driveline also brings benefits such as zero exhaust emissions and significantly reduced noise levels.
“We are extremely proud to collaborate with our longstanding customer Rosenbauer and help create the most revolutionary and progressive vehicle in the fire service industry,” says Paul Jansson, Chief Project Manager at Volvo Penta. “Our two teams worked closely together during the development process and the result is an industry-leading truck that will help fire departments around the world improve safety and functionality, as well as reduce emissions and fuel costs.”
Volvo Penta's electric driveline uses proven Volvo Group technology which has been tailored to meet the performance requirements of a fire service application.
The fire truck of the future
Firefighters responding to a call need a vehicle capable of high speed, rapid acceleration, hard braking and maneuverability. The RT’s electric driveline, paired with independent suspension and a hydropneumatic chassis, delivers a high standard of safety and great driving performance.
The RT fire truck features two electric motors that have the potential to provide a total output of up to 360 kW (490 HP) and impart a propulsion and an acceleration to the RT only comparable to airport rescue and fire-fighting vehicles with 1,000 HP engines. The truck’s energy storage system allows for an electricity-powered journey with ample time for operation at the rescue location. In addition, there is a backup diesel engine on board, providing sufficient energy supply should the journey or operation take longer.
Proven Volvo technology
As part of the Volvo Group, Volvo Penta leveraged proven technology and competence from Volvo Trucks and Volvo Buses, and adapted it to meet the performance requirements of a fire service application. The result is a proven Volvo Group technological solution that is tailored to meet Rosenbauer’s specific needs.
“The RT is in a different league to modern standard firefighting vehicles in terms of its operational tactical benefits, loading options and firefighting equipment,” says Dieter Siegel, CEO at Rosenbauer International. “Volvo Penta already supplied us with diesel engines for our conventional fire trucks. After many years of successful collaboration – coupled with the fact that they are part of the Volvo Group which is leading the way when it comes to electromobility and electric trucks – they were the ideal partner for the RT project. We’ve worked together closely to design a tailored solution, using proven Volvo technology, that enables our electric fire truck to do its job in a safer, more effective and more sustainable way than a conventional vehicle.”
Three RTs are on their way to fire departments in Berlin, Amsterdam and Dubai to begin real-world customer testing.
The future is electric
Volvo Penta takes a full system, modular approach to electromobility. “We can create a flexible, bespoke electric driveline solution for a specific vehicle and application,” explains Paul. “We are very experienced in our different segments, so by using that knowledge and combining it with the Volvo Group’s electromobility experience, we can build the best modular platform for our customer’s applications. With that as a base, we can optimize the design and adapt the complete electric driveline system for a specific vehicle, considering the exact application, usage, climate and environment it will operate in. This is what we did for Rosenbauer and we’re doing it in other development projects too, such as our fully electric terminal tractor.”
“We’re proud to be pioneering electric drivelines together with Rosenbauer on this revolutionary project,” concludes Heléne Mellquist, President of Volvo Penta. “We are working with our customers on sustainable power solutions for tomorrow so we can help them future-proof their businesses. We want to open the door to new, more efficient possibilities that are also cleaner and quieter – just like the electric driveline enabled Rosenbauer to do. Our aim is to become the world leader in sustainable power solutions, this project demonstrates an important step in our journey.”
DUBAI, 6th October, 2020 (WAM) -- The Sustainable City, the first fully operational environment-friendly community in the Middle East by Diamond Developers, has launched a community-wide biodiversity assessment programme. It has deployed monitoring equipment to measure the impact of urban ecology on biodiversity and ecosystem health.
The Sustainable City is the region’s first community to monitor and measure the health of its ecosystem, in association with Emirates Nature-WWF, by installing advanced monitoring equipment, like ultrasound recorders for bats and audio recorders for birds; to monitor the diversity of local species.
Faris Saeed, CEO of Diamond Developers, the sustainable community developer in the UAE, said, "We endeavour to provide living spaces where we can coexist along with nature, while providing nature with a better chance to flourish and thrive. We have channelled our efforts to help reduce carbon emissions in our cities, and research has always been a key part of what we do, that is why we are constantly collecting and analysing data, and testing new technologies through SEE Institute, our knowledge and research arm.
"This initiative aims to provide deeper understanding of local species and the positive impact they have on the environment," he noted.
To engage its residents, The Sustainable City is using two cloud-based platforms called iNaturalist and eBird where residents can upload images of different species like birds and plants sighted in their neighbourhood and other green spaces within the community. The sightings uploaded by residents are recorded, classified and verified by Emirates Nature-WWF staff as well as a global community of scientists and naturalists.
This opportunity will encourage residents to discover, learn, and document biodiversity in the spaces they live in, while helping the developer and community managers understand the impact communities have on the environment, and set plans to promote biodiversity and support a healthy ecosystem.
To support the mission of Diamond Developers, the company’s research and education hub, SEE Institute, will publish the biodiversity findings and develop guidelines to support the design of future cities and communities in the region. The surveys will provide an inventory of species present in The Sustainable City, and bio-indicators that can be monitored on the long term, to establish a sound baseline that will guide similar initiatives in the urban environment.
From the onset, The Sustainable City embraced an urban design which promotes biodiversity and encourages outdoor activities. The city has integrated local species in its landscapes and created a suitable natural environment for bees, bats, butterflies, and birds, while the urban farm and green spine provide ample natural spaces for outdoor fun and educational activities.
Emirates RDF, a partnership between water treatment expert Besix, Finnish group Griffin Refineries and Ajman-based Tech Group Eco, has announced that is set to start production of alternative fuel at the company’s facility in Umm Al Quwain.
In a statement, it explained that the household waste collected will be converted into an alternative energy source called Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF), which will be used as a fuel in cement factories instead of coal. This is part of Emirates RDF’s strategy to generate green energy, it said.
Once operational from October 1, Emirates RDF, the first RDF facility in the region, will be able to handle over 1,000 tonnes of waste from the emirates of Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.
A delegation drawn from the municipality of Ajman and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment visited the Emirates RDF plant ahead of its start of operations early next month.
The head of the Ajman Municipality, together with the undersecretary toured the facility ahead of the launch of its operation.
Abdulrahman Al Nuaimi – Director General of Ajman Municipality and Planning Department, Saif Al Shara – Assistant Under-Secretary of Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE), Yousif Alahmed Al Rayssi – Director, Municipal Affairs Department at MOCCAE, Elias Sfeir – Northern Emirates General Manager, Besix Middle East, Yousef Sultan Al Ajmani, Executive Manager, Emirates RDF, and other officials took part in the inspection visit.
“Emirates RDF is delighted that after intensive cooperation with the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment and the President’s Initiatives Committee (Ministry of Presidential Affairs), the RDF facility is ready for the production of high-quality alternative fuel for factories in the region, said Nicolaas de Koning, general manager, Emirates RDF.
“The Emirates RDF plant will have enhanced capacity that will enable us to divert over 80 percent of household waste from the landfill. This will be a huge boost to our environment conservation efforts,” he added.
