FIVE Hotels and Resorts has said that 100 per cent of its electricity used in 2022 at its two properties in Dubai – FIVE Palm Jumeirah and FIVE Jumeirah Village – was derived from solar energy.
To that end, it says that it has become the only hotel operator in the UAE to obtain the International Renewable Energy Certificates (I-REC) confirming that it has achieved 100 per cent renewable electricity for 2022.
These certificates were received from the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is under the purview of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA).
FIVE’s single delivery I-REC agreement was subsequently verified through the International Renewable Energy Certification Foundation.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of DEWA said, “FIVE’s commitment to sustainability is a role model for other businesses in the UAE and around the world at all levels. The current production capacity of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which DEWA is implementing, is 2,327MW using photovoltaic solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies. This is about 15.7 per cent of the total production capacity of energy in Dubai. We continue our efforts to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100 per cent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.”
FIVE’s two properties in Dubai have now become the only hotels in the UAE to purchase I-RECs from DEWA.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world, using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. It will have a production capacity of 5,000MW by 2030 with a total investment of Dhs50 billion.
In 2022, FIVE says that it achieved reduction in carbon use intensity of 76.2 per cent (MtCO2e/AED mn), electricity consumed per capita by 35.3 per cent (kWh/cover) and water use intensity by 36.2 per cent (litres/cover) compared to a 2020 baseline.
FIVE added that it has committed to setting Science Based Targets (SBTi) in line with a 1.5°C scenario by 2025. The company is a signatory to the UN Global Compact, a member of the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC).
Kabir Mulchandani, chairman and founder, FIVE said, “Ahead of COP28, FIVE’s electric milestone demonstrates the power of collaborative innovation when two future-focused changemakers (FIVE and DEWA) come together in pursuit of sustainable development. As the first hotel group in the UAE to receive 100 per cent renewable electricity from DEWA, we share a great honour amidst this historic Year of Sustainability.”
Other hotels in the UAE have also implemented significant sustainability initiatives recently. The Delta Hotels by Marriott, Dubai Investment Park property collaborated with AirOWater earlier this year in an initiative to transform humidity in the air into drinking water for its guests.
The Ritz-Carlton Abu Dhabi, Grand Canal meanwhile launched an on-site Vertical Hydroponic Farm. The farm is expected to generate 10kg of produce daily throughout the year, regardless of weather conditions, and has a 41 sqm footprint. It is expected to yield the equivalent of the produce otherwise acquired on one acre of land in a traditional farming setup – or 30 times higher growth yields than traditional farming.
The UAE will host the COP28 summit later this year at the Dubai Expo City site. The summit is expected to attract 45,000 participants daily.
(Image: Supplied by FIVE Hotels and Resorts)