The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, DEWA, announced on Tuesday that it will no longer purchase paper supplies, adding that it would refrain from using some 8.5 million sheets of paper for 2020.
The move comes as part of the Dubai Paperless Strategy, which aims to use advanced technology to build an integrated paperless government framework.
Commenting on the announcement, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, DEWA Managing Director and CEO, said that the strategy is in line with the vision to make Dubai the city of the future and transform the Government of Dubai into a fully digital government and build an integrated, paperless government framework.
According to a statement issued by DEWA, the authority is deemed as "one of the leading organisations in implementing the Dubai Paperless Strategy".
It has cut its paper usage by 82 percent in the large entities category within Dubai Government, the statement added, noting DEWA's smart services have reached 96 percent at the end of May 2020.
DEWA also utilises smart technologies and solutions to carry out daily functions and procedures. One such technology, DEWA noted, is the Smart Office app which provides the authority's employees with 197 functions including, internal approvals processing, and enabling employees to draft, document, and follow up on official documents, among others.
Accessing the Smart Document through computers, tablets and smartphones, has avoided emissions of around 84 tonnes of carbon dioxide, DEWA noted. Over 4,000 employees are currently using Smart Documents for automation of forms and their communication needs, it concluded.
Microsoft opened an artificial intelligence centre for energy in Dubai - its first in the world - to develop technologies that could be used globally.
The centre, known as Microsoft Energy Core, was inaugurated virtually on Wednesday and is based at the company’s office in Dubai Internet City. The US technology giant is aiming to start developing AI-focused technology from this centre by September.
“It’s a global initiative ... Microsoft’s first centre to focus solely on energy and sustainability ... majorly we will be exploring AI and cloud computing,” Omar Saleh, Microsoft's Middle East and Africa head of energy and manufacturing, told The National.
“Currently, the foremost priority is to develop new AI technologies that could be used in [the] energy sector globally.”
Microsoft has joined forces with ten global partners to run the centre. They include Honeywell, Rockwell Automation, ABB, Sensia, Accenture, Aveva, Emerson, Schlumberger, Maana and BakerHughesC3.ai.
“To ensure we are on the same page and pursuing ethical principles of AI, we have constituted an industry board … we will meet every quarter to evaluate the developed prototypes, discuss challenges and bring fresh ideas on the floor,” Mr Saleh said.
The technology giant, whose local clients include Emirates Airlines and Dubai Airports, did not reveal the amount it has invested into setting up the centre.
“There has been a big push and investment from Microsoft's side. There is huge demand for AI solutions in [the] energy sector and that is giving us confidence,” Mr Saleh said.
Microsoft's move comes as global tech giants address digital transformation needs within the energy sector. Spending on energy-related AI is expected to reach $7.78 billion (Dh28.6bn) by 2024, according to a report by BIS Research in January.
Companies such as IBM, Amazon, Google and ABB are already selling digital solutions to the biggest oil and gas companies in the world.
In one of the industry’s first collaborations, announced last year, the US oil and gas major Chevron teamed up with the world’s biggest oilfield services firm, Schlumberger, and Microsoft to accelerate the creation of digital technologies.
In November last year, state-owned Abu Dhabi National Oil Company announced a 10-year partnership with Honeywell to use its monitoring platform as it embarked on a major predictive maintenance project.
Besides the AI centre that was first announced in November last year, Microsoft also launched an AI Academy to provide digital skills to energy industry workers
It also has agreements with global universities to educate undergraduate and post graduate students through its AI Academy.
“The academy’s aim is to train people to address the most pressing challenges faced by the energy sector – most of them pertaining to sustainable operations and responsibly dealing with the environment,” said Mr Saleh.
“Currently we are conducting online classes and workshops due to the Covid-19 restrictions … many individuals have enrolled for these virtual sessions that are already up and running.”
Microsoft has also committed to ambitious environmental sustainability goals. By 2030, the company aims to be carbon negative and by 2050, it aims to remove all the carbon it has emitted since it was founded in 1975.
The Microsoft Energy Core is "part of our unwavering commitment" to "reshape the future of the energy industry and drive a positive impact in our communities", said Samer Abu Ltaif, president of Microsoft MEA.
Canon Middle East, a leader in printing and imaging solutions, has announced a positive development in the continued commitment to communities and sustainability with a one-month long customer collection service for those looking to continue to recycle their e-waste.
Canon Middle East’s authorised recycler in the UAE, Color Code, has been selected to support collection from customers’ homes. Collectable items include Canon consumables such as ink, toner, batteries and paper as well as electronic waste such as old printers, cameras and scanners.
The initiative is aligned with wider efforts on the part of Canon to support the achievement of the United Nation’s Sustainability Goals (SDGs) with an environmentally conscious approach to the manufacturing and recycling of its products.
Commenting on the initiative, Mai Youssef, Corporate Communications and Marketing Services Director, Canon Africa, Middle East and Turkey, said: “As a business we’ve been doing all we can to support the continuation of our activities despite the current environment. We are steadfastly committed to our corporate sustainability responsibilities and one of these is our effort towards a clearer and more circular economy. Aligned with our corporate philosophy of kyosei – which means living and working together for the common good – we wanted to ensure that we continue to support our customers with positive and meaningful initiatives with a positive impact, whilst adhering to government guidelines and ensuring we all stay safe, at home.”
Canon is committed to a ‘no waste’ to landfill policy. Toner cartridges are recycled as far as possible - be it as a component in a new toner cartridge, as a base material in other industries. Between 1990 and 2018, Canon recycled more than 408,000 tonnes of cartridges globally, saving more than 601,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.
To participate, customers simply need to fill in an online form with the details of their items for recycling as well as their home address and contact details, and collection will be implemented within 48 hours of the request. https://en.canon-me.com/sustainability/uae-recycling/
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has achieved record savings in the use of power by implementing 46 projects and initiatives during 2019 as part of its Green Economy strategy. Numbers released reflect that RTA’s savings amounted to 45 million gallons of water, 30 million litres of fuel, and 39 million kilowatt-hours. Results achieved can be contributed to RTA’s fifth strategic goal (Safety and Environmental Sustainability).
“RTA endorsed power-saving standards at par with the best in the world through launching 46 projects and initiatives resulting in record savings. Projects launched included broadening the use of solar power, using electric buses, deploying hydrogen fuel/electricity-powered taxis, fitting power-saving streetlights, expanding the scope of online services, and recycling used carwash water,” said Nada Jasim, Director of Safety, Risk, Regulation and Planning at RTA’s Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector.
“Results of power and water-saving initiatives undertaken in 2019 surpassed the targets set. Savings made amounted to 45 million gallons of water, 30 million litres of fuel, and 39 million-kilowatt hours. They resulted in reducing RTA’s carbon footprint by 102 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent. RTA is developing plans for environmental sustainability and green economy to counter the impact of global warming and climate change,” explained Nada.
RTA’s strategic plans for energy and green economy along with the use of green technologies have yielded huge savings in power consumption in both operations and services. Savings made also covered roads and transport infrastructure projects across the Emirate. RTA implements top energy management practices and has developed a specific power-management policy to measure, assess and monitor the efficiency of using power in processes, services and projects.
“RTA’s overall objective is to reduce the environmental footprint and conserve natural resources for upcoming generations. Initiatives undertaken serve the objectives of governments of the UAE and Dubai as well as the sustainable development of the United Nations. It is worth mentioning that in 2016, RTA became the first entity in the region to map out a comprehensive green economy structure,” concluded Nada.
Daikin Middle East and Africa (MEA) recently announced that the “Mini VRV 5-s” air-conditioning system with climate-friendly R-32 refrigerant will soon be available in the region as the company moves to strengthen its contributions to the MEA region, following the rising environmental protection and sustainability-related initiatives.
The newly developed Mini VRV 5-s was launched in Europe recently, marking a milestone in Daikin Europe’s bid to help reduce carbon emissions in the air-conditioning sector. With best-in-class design versatility, the system is the solution for the air-conditioning of smaller commercial applications and apartment buildings. Its intuitive online control and variable refrigerant temperature are all geared to provide optimum comfort.
Tuna Gulenc, Vice President-Sales Daikin Middle East and Africa (MEA), said: “Following the successful launch of the system in Europe, Daikin is looking at bringing it to MEA territories to address the growing demand for environment-friendly offerings within the regional air-conditioning sector. This latest innovation incorporates all the newest technological developments, including the low global warming potential (GWP) refrigerant R-32, to effectively meet the safety, environmental compatibility, economy, and energy efficiency standards in the field of VRV.”
The VRV is an air-to-air heat pump that obtains its energy for cooling, heating, and ventilation from a sustainable energy source air and enables all-round thermal energy management in the building. All known VRV standards such as Variable Refrigerant Temperature (VRT) technology are also incorporated in the compact Mini VRV version. Thanks to its compact dimensions, the outdoor unit is easy to transport and flexible to use. It is equipped as well with new asymmetric fan design, leak detection system, stop valves, and Daikin swing compressor.
With only one, newly designed, and larger fan, the Mini VRV 5-s provides a high airflow rate and reduced noise emissions up to 39 dBA. It can be combined with wall, concealed and cassette units, and now also with a door air curtain. It can also be integrated into a ventilation system.
It emits lower carbon because of its single-component R-32 refrigerant, which is easy to reuse and recycle. The GWP of R-32 is only one-third of that of the R-410A refrigerant commonly used in the market and up-to 75% of CO2 emission equivalent reductions. Further, the Mini VRV 5-s is already fully compliant with European LOT 21, Tier 2 and it offers leading-edge seasonal efficiency as it is designed with unique three-row heat exchanger.
We have been aware for decades that driving a personal car for private use contributes to pollution. However, if you manage a fleet of vehicles, the negative environmental impact is even higher. The onus lies with regulators, companies and fleet managers to mitigate emissions, and this crucial item on the environmental agenda should not take a back seat to commercial growth and success; in fact, it should be considered a complementary conversation to commercial efficiency.
Rising CO2 and Particulate Matter (PM) emissions have brought the transportation sector under heavy pressure to reduce its environmental footprint. Transportation accounts for 24% of direct global CO2 emissions from fuel combustion, with road vehicles together accounting for nearly three-quarters of transport-related CO2 emissions.
Road transport also causes around one third of all emissions of PM, fine particles that can restrict breathing and cause premature death. Overall, there were 385,000 deaths estimated worldwide due to transport-related air pollution in 2015.
As a result, we have seen renewed efforts and a rise in legislations to encourage individuals to cut down on car travel and use public transport, walk and cycle. Initiatives to encourage drivers to trade petrol and diesel fueled cars for new electric vehicles (EVs) are also on the increase.
It is easier said than done. When it comes to reducing carbon footprints, replacing older vehicles with modern green alternatives and driving people towards e-vehicles, the road is a bumpy one, and change is not always practically feasible or financially viable.
There is no instantaneous solution. There is little doubt that electrification of vehicles can immediately cut greenhouse gas emissions from commercial vehicles.
There is also no question, that these vehicles lag behind, as they face major technical hurdles to be surpassed in a bid to achieve sufficient electrification of the commercial vehicle sector, and in particular, longer distance road freight, to drive tangible results. What remains crucial is to keep in sight projected monetary savings that could help finance a gradual or wholesale greening of existing fleet.
For the 3PL and express delivery industries, there is a limited scope to reduce the number of journeys made, nor is it feasible to trade in entire fleets of diesel and petrol vehicles for electric vehicles within a short or even medium timeframe. That being said, we are seeing great examples of long-term projected plans by industry leaders to achieve full fleet greening.
Recently, Amazon announced plans to achieve a fleet of around 100,000 electric trucks as part of the company’s participation in the Climate Pledge, to reach the Paris Agreement’s terms 10 years early. Signatories of the Climate Pledge also agree to make their businesses net zero carbon by 2040, ten years ahead of the Paris deadline of 2050. The resonating message here is that while it may not be today, that a full fleet overhaul is implemented, it should be a part of every company’s long-term plan. We need to start somewhere.
If we are to make a rapid reduction in our environmental footprint, we need to become much better at managing existing fleets. The good news is that there is plenty we can do right now to make existing fossil fuel vans and trucks more sustainable.
ION was born out of an emissions reduction initiative and a joint venture between CE-Creates, Crescent Enterprises’ internal business incubation platform and Bee’ah, the leading Sharjah-based environmental solutions company. Bee’ah was looking for ways to reduce the carbon footprint of its existing fleet of 1200 vehicles. The company discovered that through the use of route optimisation software and RFID-tagged bins, it could dramatically reduce emissions and optimise fuel consumption.
There have been similar successes elsewhere. Logistics Emissions Reduction Scheme (LERS), a UK supply chain industry initiative, claims that its members have become 13% more fuel efficient by adopting six measures and applying them to existing diesel vehicles. Some of these measures, such as keeping consistent speeds, avoiding unnecessary braking and accelerating more smoothly, are a matter of modifying driver behaviour.
Adoption of telematics and route optimisation software require moderate investments in technology. Other measures include the use of low resistance tyres, regular monitoring of tyres to ensure air pressure is at optimum levels and installation of aerodynamic devices on vehicles. With the emergence of smartphone technology, it has become easy to track vehicle movements, optimise routes, schedule periodic maintenance and encourage the shared utilisation of vehicles.
All these measures can be applied now to existing vehicles. They achieve significant carbon and cost savings and create a breathing space for fleet managers to begin planning the transition to electric vehicles.
Unless there is regulation in place to force fleet electrification, operators would be advised to run trials in which they would first replace up to 10% of their fleet to gauge EVs’ overall impact on operations. If there are positive results, they could move to change the whole fleet at a faster pace. At least for the next two years, smaller vehicles used for express delivery are the most likely candidates for electrification. Their shorter charging times make them easier to integrate into everyday operations and charging points tend to be more plentiful in urban locations.
Despite a recent setback with DHL’s decision to close StreetScooter, the choice of electric delivery vans is increasing and their range continues to improve. More and more logistics companies are adding them to their fleets, including FedEx with an order for 1000 Class 5 electric vans made by Ryder and UPS with 1000 vans from Workhorse Group.
Eventually, even the very largest trucks will be candidates for electrification. In 2018, Daimler announced the all-electric, 18-wheel Freightliner eCascadia. Scheduled to begin production at the end of 2021, this class-8 truck is planned to have a range of 250 miles and a battery charge capacity of 80% in 90 minutes.
Tesla has also announced its entry into the market, with plans to make two semis, with a range of 300 and 500 miles. Although production has been pushed back to an unspecified date, Tesla is claiming buyers of the truck will earn their money back in operating savings within two years. We should soon see the Semi on the region’s roads, with Bee’ah placing an order for 50 of the vehicles straight after their official launch.
There are, naturally, barriers to the acquisition of EVs. These include a lack of legislation to enforce green vehicles to be used in fleets, the higher purchase cost of EVs and a lack of historical data comparing the total cost of ownership of a green fleet with an ICE fleet. Sacrifices need to be made, and these barriers can be overcome if the world is to conserve its ecosystem.
In Dubai, DEWA has solved one significant problem by spearheading the rollout of charging points. We at ION have partnered with SEWA to establish a charger network in Sharjah. Resistance to the idea of EVs will, we believe, disappear with time and greater awareness.
The debate over the overall cost of sustainability measures will continue. In the short term, the financial impact is negative as the cost of implementing green initiatives, including the purchase of EVs, is absorbed. There is, however, an economic benefit of 15 to 20% if the fleet is operated for three years or more.
In the context of EVs, legislation is vital for two reasons. It first and foremost signals the intent of regulators. It also incentivises the first movers in the ecosystem by providing them with subsidies or discounts. Naturally, there is friction between policymakers and civil society groups regarding the stringency of green fleet legislation; however, as we become aware of the negative effects of global warming, regulators are now being embracing opportunities to make our future more sustainable. The UK government is amongst those leading the way, with plans to end the sale of new diesel and petrol cars by 2035.
Fleet managers looking to reduce their carbon footprints can implement a range of measures to the vehicles they already own. As these savings start to manifest on balance sheets, they can begin planning the long-term transition to an electric fleet with motivated vigor, and a belief that change is both feasible, and profitable, in the not so distant future.
ION is a sustainable transportation company, established in 2018 as a joint venture between CE-Creates (Crescent Enterprises) and Bee’ah.
Etihad Airways, the national airline of the UAE, has continued to progress its sustainability agenda, testing a range of initiatives during the wind-down and suspension of its scheduled passenger services in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. The airline has highlighted some of its continuing activities in a new video released today to mark Earth Day 2020
Tony Douglas, Group Chief Executive Officer, Etihad Aviation Group, said: “In these challenging times, and beyond Covid-19, our response to the climate change crisis will not be neglected. Earlier this year, we pledged a target of net zero emissions by 2050, and to halve our 2019 net emission levels by 2035. Through the Etihad Greenliner Programme, we remain committed to reducing our impact on the environment, in collaboration with partners across the aviation industry.”
This year, Etihad has worked with Boeing, GE Aviation, EuroControl and others to test and implement measures to reduce fuel consumption, carbon emissions and noise.
When it was delivered from Boeing’s North Carolina assembly plant, the signature aircraft of the Etihad Greenliner Programme – a ‘green-themed’ Boeing 787 - was fuelled with a 30 per cent blend of sustainable aviation fuel, refined from agricultural waste.
Boeing engineers used the delivery flight to research new fuel efficiency measures, based on real time data from the aircraft, to maximise efficiency and minimise emissions by providing customised data to the pilots.
Recently, on Ireland’s national day, the signature Etihad Greenliner operated an optimised roundtrip flight between Abu Dhabi and Dublin, reducing the usual journey time by 40 minutes, cutting fuel consumption by 800 kilograms and reducing carbon emissions by three tonnes over a standard Boeing 787 flight on that route.
The sustainable performance of this Boeing 787 flight was also measured against the same flight one year prior, which was operated with a less efficient aircraft type. Compared to the 2019 flight, the 2020 service operated with eight tonnes less fuel and a staggering 26 tonne reduction in carbon emissions.
Etihad has also implemented a range of other sustainability measures, including the use of data to determine the optimal volumes of potable water for aircraft toilets and washrooms, and ‘taxi fuel’ to power the aircraft on the ground. By customising volumes of both, the airline is reducing significantly the weight of aircraft on many routes, helping to reduce fuel burn and emissions.
During the grounding of its scheduled passenger flights, Etihad has also been testing single-engine taxi-in of Boeing 787 aircraft without using the aircraft’s auxiliary power unit (APU), again with more sustainable outcomes.
Dubai - Sharaf DG Energy, part of UAE business conglomerate Sharaf Group and a major solar energy solution provider, said it has successfully completed the installation of solar PV panels in 500 villas across Dubai within 45 days.
With the current Covid-19 pandemic affecting businesses and consumers across the globe, it is now more important than ever to protect from utility tariff increases and the volatility of oil, said a statement from Sharaf DG Energy.
Although Dubai Electricity and Water Authority's (DEWA) grid is majorly powered by natural gas, not petrochemicals, the oil industry affects all spheres of life and it is important to think long term. Dewa had launched a project to install solar PV panels on the homes of UAE nationals in Dubai. DEWA entrusted Etihad ESCO to oversee the project, including Sharaf DG Energy, 500 villas each in Dubai.
Sharaf DG Energy said it had executed the project from mechanical erection, to the completion and energisation in just 45 days. Around 12 teams were deployed that worked on around eight villas per day and successfully completed the installations within the stipulated time period, said the company in a statement.
Dewa had earlier launched a project to install solar PV panels on the homes of UAE nationals in Dubai. It had entrusted Etihad Esco to oversee the project. Sharaf DG Energy said over 6,500 solar PV panels had been installed as part of the project. Each villa will now produce 6,220 kilowatt-hours of electricity in one year, equivalent to CO2 emissions from consuming 1880 litres of gasoline or growing 70 trees for 10 years.
Vice President Sanjay Dabur said Sharaf DG Energy wants to empower communities to achieve higher levels of sustainability. "It was an important project for us to complete, not only to show our commitment to the growth of sustainable energy in the UAE, but to prove that we will always deliver on any promise we make."
On the key hurdles faced by the team, Dabur said: "A major challenge on the engineering front, was the orientation and the size of the buildings, each villa had different positioning with respect to the sun and different roof size."
"Our engineers designed custom solar PV panel layouts for these roofs in order to receive maximum sunlight and thereby produce maximum energy," he stated. Another challenge was helping the families involved to understand more about solar energy and how it works – there was a need to create awareness and inform the families about leading an alternate lifestyle based on using clean energy, he added.
Dubai - Del Monte, a global provider of fresh and healthy consumer food, is continuing its sustainability drive by exerting more efforts in several fields such as waste management. The company carefully recycles cartons, plastic, nylon bags, metal etc. and has partnerships with various waste management companies for kinds of re-purposed waste to achieve its sustainability objectives.
“Our commercial operations go hand-in-hand with our sustainability efforts which have always been a part of Del Monte’s DNA since its early days,” commented Taymour Shukri, the Regional QA & HSE Manager, Del Monte. “The end-to-end waste management operations we run include recycling cardboards, papers, plastics, treating drain water from production operations and re-using it for irrigation of perimeter garden and greeneries, as well as ensuring proper disposal of land fill waste.”
To help the environment and get valuable revenues; cardboards, papers and plastics are sold to vendors for recycling, and considerable amount of funds is saved on a monthly basis from selling these items. Del Monte was able to make considerable revenues in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region in 2017 and 2018, as well as during the period from January to June 2019.
“Adopting an effective waste management policy doesn’t only aim to help us reduce cost and create revenues from the waste we recycle; it primarily targets reducing the effect of our operations on the environment and mitigating our environmental footprint with the aim to achieve sustainability and preserve the environment in the places where we operate,” Taymour Shukri added.
Del Monte has also established a Waste Watch Committee, which continuously monitors and controls the waste generated at various sites including farms and production facilities. The Committee’s mandate include recycling, reusing and even selling various types of wastes, where feasible.
Notably, the Committee witnessed significant reduction in carton waste during the first six months of 2019 compared to previous year, with a reduction percentage in the volume (kilograms) reaching to 6%. Plastic waste volume increased by 26% due to the packaging resulting from the addition of a newly joined operation, however there was an overall reduction of 1% in packaging compared to last year.
Dubai - When you buy something in a store, do you rely on the store’s plastic bags to get your items home? Or do you bring your reusable bag? Avani aims to help rehabilitate the Middle East by offering 100% sustainable disposable packaging solutions and compostable plastic alternatives. Last month it opened a production facility in Dubai to fulfil rapidly growing local demand.
Avani, which means ‘mother earth’ in Bahasa, was established in 2014 as a social enterprise on the Indonesian island of Bali. It aims to help rehabilitate the island by offering 100% disposable packaging materials and compostable plastic.
“Can I offer you a plastic bag which is made out of Cassava? Or do you prefer a plastic cup produced from corn? How about a take-away box made from the waste materials of sugarcane?”, said Peter Avram director of Avani Middle East.
Avram has a history of over 22 years in the UAE. He worked in senior management positions in the hospitality sector including the Ritz Carlton, the Jumeirah Group and Meraas. “The plastic bag that lies here on the table is 100 per cent compostable. It takes about three months. It is even safe when accidentally consumed by a land or sea animal”, Avram explained.
Main clients
Avram is licensed to manufacture and sell Avani’s products in the Middle East and GCC countries. One of Avani’s core objectives is to provide affordable & eco-friendly alternatives. The goal is to minimize the number of toxic plastics consumed and discarded into the regions critical ecosystems. In a relatively short period, the company managed to get over 300 customers. These customers vary from the coffee shop around the corner to market leaders as Atlantis the Palm, Marriott International and the Virgin Megastores.
“Virgin is one of our main clients, and the Virgin Group’s founder Richard Branson is one of our main advocates. When they started using our bags and introduced a 1 Dirham fee per bag, do you know what happened? Within a matter of weeks, they saw a 60% reduction in bag usage. I find that truly amazing and fantastic”, he added.
The Romanian national strongly believes in his company’s social mission. Avani is proud to have introduced an educational element through partnership programs in which things like how to maintain a sustainable future for generations to come is a core message. At the same time, it explains, for example, to packers in the supermarket how to use fewer bags when packaging groceries.
Plastic ban
On Tuesday Abu Dhabi announced that it plans to eliminate single-use plastic bags by 2021. The Environment Agency Abu Dhabi (EAD) confirmed the move, which includes accelerating a sustainable circular economy for plastics.
Avram is very pleased by this move which will accelerate the already rapidly growing interest from some of the big local retailers and supermarkets. “We have to take action now and reduce the large amounts of plastic we all consume. That is one of my most important motives to be active in this business. Our products can strongly support these important Government initiatives.”
