Year-long review by Verra confirms district cooling’s unrivalled energy efficiency

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: Tabreed, the world’s leading district cooling company, has made a major advancement in its efforts to decarbonise the cooling sector, achieving the ‘Verified Carbon Standard’ at one of its Abu Dhabi plants, certifying carbon credits to offset emissions.

Independent non-profit agency, Verra, which sets the world’s leading standards for climate action and sustainable development, carried out a year-long verification programme at the plant, which supplies a high-profile commercial and tourist attraction development with sustainable cooling services that are vital to its daily activities.

The study confirmed that the plant’s operations bring significant environmental benefits through maximising energy efficiency, estimating that the 28,000 Refrigeration Ton (RT) facility prevents approximately 19,320 tons of carbon emissions each year due to savings in electricity consumption (compared to the baseline of other stand-alone cooling solutions). The Verra report states that Tabreed’s “highly efficient district cooling will displace the cooling from conventional/less efficient cooling system[s] and reduce the electricity consumption which would result in [a] reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.”

The resulting report’s findings mean Tabreed is eligible to trade carbon credits (in the voluntary market) as an emissions preventer – a major recognition for Tabreed and the entire district cooling sector. Remarkably, this is the first time any district cooling company has been able to achieve this and opens the possibility for Tabreed to bring in additional revenues from the trading of carbon credits, as companies worldwide look for ways in which to offset their own emissions.

While the project focused on a single Tabreed plant, its success will allow the company to apply the same methodology to other facilities in its portfolio under a ‘framework’ where it has been independently proved that district cooling technology is more energy efficient and consumes less electricity than others, thereby resulting in significantly fewer carbon emissions.

This development follows the company’s numerous renewable energy initiatives during 2023, which included (in collaboration with ADNOC) the design, construction and commissioning of the region’s first district cooling plant powered by renewable geothermal energy.

Commenting on this latest advancement, Khalid Al Marzooqi, Tabreed’s Chief Executive Officer, said the company has always been a trailblazer in the district cooling industry. “Where we lead, others try to follow, and this will be no different,” he said. “In fact, Tabreed is the first district energy company anywhere in the world to achieve this recognition and that’s really important for multiple reasons, not least because it backs up what we’ve always said: that district cooling is up to 50% more energy efficient that conventional methods.

“The world is rapidly waking up to the unavoidable fact that climate change is real. And as populations continue to grow, so is the demand for cooling, which is no longer a luxury but a vital aspect of daily life for countless communities, businesses and industries. Tabreed is well placed to meet that demand, as the company is already operating in six different countries, and is ready, willing and able to expand into new territories, bringing its unrivalled expertise to help countries meet their own net-zero targets while facilitating societal and economic progress.”

About National Central Cooling Company PJSC (Tabreed)

Tabreed provides essential and sustainable district cooling services to iconic developments such as the Burj Khalifa, Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, Louvre Abu Dhabi, Ferrari World, Emirates Towers, Yas Island, Al Maryah Island, Dubai Mall, Dubai Opera, Dubai Metro, Bahrain Financial Harbor and the Jabal Omar Development in the Holy City of Makkah. The company owns and operates 91 plants in its portfolio across the GCC, including 76 in the United Arab Emirates, five in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, seven in Oman, one in the Kingdom of Bahrain, one in India and one in Egypt, in addition to other international projects and operations.

Tabreed is a leading driver of progress for people, communities and environments around the world towards a more sustainable future. Founded in 1998 and publicly listed on the Dubai Financial Market, it is one of the UAE’s strongest growth companies. Through its extensive regional and international operations, industry-leading reliability and efficiency, R&D programmes and investment in AI technology, Tabreed further solidifies its position as the industry’s global leader. In addition to district cooling, Tabreed’s energy efficiency services extend the company’s sustainability impact, helping businesses and organisations to improve their overall energy consumption, in turn reducing CO2 emissions and assisting in the achievement of carbon neutrality objectives.