Philips buys traceable renewable power in Dubai

Philips Lighting has announced the purchase of traceable renewable electricity from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA’s) Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. 

Through collaboration with ECOHZ, Philips Lighting is said to have become the first major international company to secure its renewable energy consumption in the Gulf region using the International REC Standard.

I-REC is a global standard for documenting renewable energy consumption used in regions where no similar documentation scheme exists. It is available in a growing number of countries and meets the robust criteria from RE100 — The Climate Group and CDP’s global initiative for influential businesses committed to 100% renewable power.

“If we look around us, we see an ever-increasing need for more energy. Through the sales of our energy-efficient lighting, we contribute to reducing lighting’s share of all global electricity consumption from the current 15% level to 8% in 2030. However, this alone is not enough. To keep our planet on course with the Paris agreement to mitigate climate change, we must fully switch to renewable sources of electricity. Partnering with ECOHZ enables us to keep to our part in this fiduciary duty,” said Nicola Kimm, head of Sustainability, Environment, Health & Safety at Philips Lighting.

“Currently, around 1% of electricity in the Gulf region is generated from renewable sources. Looking at the great interest in renewable energy from multinationals operating in the region, this is not enough. Philips Lighting is taking a bold first step and is a great example of how corporate action can show this demand for traceable, credible renewable electricity,” said Tom Lindberg, managing director at ECOHZ.

Philips Lighting is one of the 96 influential companies committed to 100% renewable power and is a member of the collaborative, global RE100 initiative.

The renewable energy certificates will be issued by the Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence (Dubai Carbon) that has recently been appointed as the local I-REC issuer for the United Arab Emirates. The I-REC secretariat is working together with the I-REC Standard board and Dubai Carbon to ensure the I-REC Standard is implemented in the UAE in a reliable and transparent manner.