DUBAI, 10th January, 2017 (WAM) -- Etihad Energy Services Company,Etihad ESCOs, retrofit projects have saved 54GHW of energy in 2016, with the retrofitting of 2,178 building which equates to $9.3m (AED34 m) in monetary terms.

Five of Etihad Escos major projects include Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority (JAFZA), Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), and Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment (MRHE).

The energy service provider said today that it will be working towards achieving the goals of demand side management strategy (DSM Strategy) and Dubai integrated energy strategy (DIES), by undertaking a number of projects and activities in 2017 as well.

DSM Strategy and Dubai's electricity aims to reduce energy consumption by 30 per cent by 2030.

Commenting on the energy savings achieved, Ali Al Jassim, CEO of Etihad ESCO, said, "As of today, we are pleased to announce that 2016 saw positive growth for ESCOs in Dubai.''"Most of our projects and programmes enabled a considerable amount of energy savings while advancing into more extensive phases of implementation. We have successfully completed retrofitting of 2,178 buildings,'' he added.

"In general, buildings comprise a huge amount of the total consumption in Dubai, and thus make an important component in the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy and Demand Side Management Strategy 2030."He added that in line with its objective to build a platform and facilitate the ESCO market in the Emirate, Etihad ESCO will continue to accredit ESCOs to participate in ESCO tenders. The organisation is also working closely with accredited ESCOs in the UAE to bring in best practices into the energy sector.

Jassim also said that its retrofit programme for 2017 includes 2,000 buildings and energy saving of 20 per cent.

Etihad ESCO is a Dubai Electricity and Water Authority venture that aims to make Dubai set a leading environment example of energy efficiency for the region and the world.

Copyright Emirates News Agency (WAM) 2017.