Dubai Airports Initiates Last Steps of Significant Lighting Modernization for Enhanced Sustainability Efforts
Lights, Camera, Sustainability: Dubai Airports' monumental lighting retrofit project
Dubai Airports and Etihad Energy Services Company (Etihad ESCO) have teamed up to kickstart the final phase of an airport-wide lighting overhaul. This initiative, set to revolutionize Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC), represents a major stride towards energy-efficient operations in the bustling city.
The project is all about replacing a whopping 180,000 conventional light fixtures with energy-saving alternatives, with Concourse A at DXB taking center stage as the largest area under transformation. Adding the 150,000 units retrofitted in an earlier phase, the project aims to upgrade over 330,000 fixtures in total, making it one of the most extensive in the Middle East region. [1][2][3]
With the project's conclusion, anticipated by the second half of 2027, it's expected to slash annual energy consumption by a staggering 47 million kilowatt-hours, roughly enough to keep 4,300 families' homes illuminated for a year. The initiative also promises a substantial AED 20 million in annual cost savings and a marked decrease in the airports' carbon footprint. [1][2][3]
Paul Griffiths, Dubai Airports' CEO, underlined the project's potential to drive tangible sustainability outcomes through operational changes. [4] Meanwhile, Dr Waleed Alnuaimi, CEO of Etihad ESCO, hailed the venture as a testament to public-sector energy efficiency. [4] HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), praised its synergy with Dubai's Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and its Net-Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. [4]
The retrofit's business end is slated to commence towards the end of this year. The move underscores Dubai Airports' dedication to infusing sustainability into their core operations and bolstering Dubai's broader green ambitions. [4]
News Source: Dubai Media Office
[1] Enrichment Insight 1: The project is expected to be completed by the second half of 2027.[2] Enrichment Insight 2: The retrofit is anticipated to save approximately 47 million kilowatt-hours in annual energy consumption.[3] Enrichment Insight 3: Combined, the project will retrofit more than 330,000 lighting fixtures across both airports, making it one of the most extensive in the region.[4] Enrichment Insight 4: The initiative is expected to generate cost savings of over AED 20 million per year.
- The marriage of sustainability in environmental-science and finance is evident as the project promises AED 20 million in annual cost savings.
- Technology plays a crucial role in this endeavor, as the new energy-saving alternatives will replace the conventional light fixtures in Dubai Airports.
- The project's impact on the environment extends beyond energy savings, with estimates suggesting a marked decrease in the airports' carbon footprint.
