< Previous30 MEP Middle East | March 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com INTERVIEW Over the past few years, UAE- based distributed solar energy provider, SirajPower, has been contributing signifi cantly to the UAE’s clean energy initiatives and helping buildings across Dubai save on electricity consumption and reduce carbon emissions through renewable energy alternatives. In 2020 alone, SirajPower reported signifi cant growth as it doubled its solar assets to achieve a 100MWp distributed solar portfolio. The fi rm currently operates and maintains more than 180 facilities in the UAE, covering a total area of 600,000m2 of roofs – the equivalent of 112 football fi elds – and displaces 65,000 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Speaking exclusively to MEP Middle East about the need for residential, commercial, and retail buildings in the UAE to consider retrofi tting to solar technology, the chief executive offi cer of SirajPower, Laurent Longuet, said: “Solar technology is important to initiate energy retrofi ts to deliver long-term savings for end-users. “Solar retrofi ts can reduce electricity bills by up to 50%, and in the long run, this can help reduce the facility’s carbon emissions down to 0%.” With the largest portfolio in the market, SirajPower expects to bolster its leadership in the UAE and accelerate its development to take the regional distributed solar sector to new heights. Through 2020 and early 2021, SirajPower has inked multiple deals for solar rooftop systems, accelerating the adoption of energy-effi cient mechanical and electrical systems in the UAE in line with the vision of the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to have solar panels installed on every roof in Dubai by 2030. The agreements signed include the installation of a 2.3MWp solar rooftop system on end-to-end logistics solutions provider Rex Dubai’s cold store and warehouse in Al Quoz; a 900kWp solar rooftop plant installed at KD Industries Inc’s steel factory in Dubai’s Jebel Ali Free Zone (Jafza); a 940kWp solar rooftop plant for packaging solutions provider Express Pack Print’s (EPP) buildings in Jafza; as well as a solar rooftop plant in the warehouse facility of Misterlight, which is a market leader in the supply of specialised electrical cables. Revealing further details on the fi rm’s ongoing projects, Longuet adds: “As a “Solar retrofits can reduce electricity bills by up to 50%, and in the long run, this can help reduce the facility’s carbon emissions down to 0%.” SOLUTIONS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO “ZERO-CARBON EMISSIONS” The chief executive offi cer of SirajPower, Laurent Longuet, talks about the fi rm’s ongoing projects, energy effi cient electricity consumption, and micro-grids, in coversation with MEP ME editor, Anup OommenMarch 2021 | MEP Middle East 31 www.mepmiddleeast.com INTERVIEW continuation to its thriving long-term partnership with its customers, SirajPower has made strides with solar energy for DP World’s fl agship property of commercial spaces and a conference centre, Jafza One. “This commercial complex in New Dubai will house more than 1,200 offi ces and 15,000m2 of exhibition halls and a convention centre. The 700kWp solar rooftop installation will produce 1.1GWh annual clean energy, eliminating 800 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions – which is equivalent to more than 150 passenger vehicles driven for one year.” Apart from Jafza One, SirajPower has also built solar rooftop plants for DP World Jafza East and West, and Hellman. Longuet adds: “We are also continuing partnership with Landmark with a 3.7MWp solar rooftop plant for their two facilities in Dubai South and Jebel Ali Industrial Area.” Furthermore, as the only locally-owned solar energy company thriving in the UAE, SirajPower also has an increasing number of prominent local conglomerates that the fi rm is working with, including Al Ghurair – where the initial phase of the deal includes a 1.8MWp solar rooftop plant for Gulf Extrusions. In addition, SirajPower has also been involved in expansion projects within the residential and educational sectors. “The construction for Al Khail Heights is well underway for its 3MWp solar carport for a large residential complex, with 850 car park spaces. For the educational sector, SirajPower has signed a partnership with Kent College Dubai for a 1.3MWp solar power plant installed, making it the largest in scale in Dubai’s education sector. Also, a 1,500kWp solar carport is being constructed by SirajPower within the school grounds,” Longuet reveals. The scope for improvement within GCC construction projects remains immense. With awareness for sustainable projects and lower carbon emissions growing, developers and contractors have begun evaluating possibilities to incorporate energy effi cient products and systems on ongoing projects. “Now, there are effective solutions available to integrate solar into even the façade and roofi ng of projects in the form of solar tiles,” Longuet explains. “Such kinds of products will be displayed during Expo 2020 Dubai. For instance, the solar tiles installed on the French Pavilion by Akuo Energy.” The southern façade as well as the roof of the France Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai will be covered with more than 1,225m2 of photovoltaic (PV) panels, which will power more than 67% of the pavilion’s electricity needs. “These solutions need to be considered and coordinated at the design stage between the architect, MEP contractor, and solar integrator,” Longuet adds. “Such solutions can contribute to the overall zero-carbon emission of a building. The perfect example is the DEWA HQ, Al- Shera’a, which is under construction and is set to be the tallest, largest, and smartest government Zero Energy Building in the world. SirajPower actively promotes such solutions now, notably through the usage of the Akuo Energy solar tiles.” As the UAE and the Middle East regions look to construct “smarter cities”, the MEP demands for future connected building are also being infl uenced by micro-grids – which provide decentralisation of electricity generation and distribution – and yet, there is scope for more energy effi cient micro- grid solutions. “In the UAE, there are more than 1GW of gen-set powering micro-grids – including construction camps and facilities, and remote industrial and commercial facilities – which can be converted to solar using hybrid micro-grid technology. SirajPower now offers these solutions, which include solar-battery hybrids.” The renewable energy sector is heavily contributing to more energy effi cient electrical and mechanical systems within residential, commercial, retail, and healthcare construction projects, but there’s still a long way to go. Longuet concludes: “We believe that this market is signifi cant in size, and could further reduce CO2 emissions and support the UAE Energy Strategy 2050.” Laurent Longuet CEO, SirajPower SirajPower has been involved in solar rooftop projects across the UAE32 MEP Middle East | March 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com INDUSTRY FOCUS Cities have become one of the most populated places in the world. Their growth changes every year with the increase and arrivals of new inhabitants, and it is estimated that this growth will continue increasing over the next few years. According to the latest United Nations report (UN), 68% of the population will live in cities in 2050, and the building sector has enormous potential to mitigate the impact of climate change in both developed and developing countries. This means that the main cities around the globe have the challenge of becoming ‘Smart Cities’ or intelligent cities. By making the most out of the energy resources and taking advantage of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) data, it is possible to create better infrastructure and city asset management, which promotes urban planning that is more balanced. Smart Cities create great business opportunities for both the public and the private sectors. One of them involves the optimisation of energy resources through energy-effi cient technologies. Energy effi ciency is the series of actions that allows optimisation of the relationship between the quantity of energy consumed and the fi nal products and services obtained: making more from less. The aim is to reduce the energy consumption of a given asset and then share the associated savings between the client and the sustainability expert company. In this way, both parties have a tangible – and relatively fast -- profi t along with a reduction of the carbon footprint for decades to come. For some years now, there has been a growing interest in improving energy effi ciency on the part of companies and public administrations. The opportunity to make use of these technologies in the UAE are signifi cant since buildings in the UAE require heavy cooling systems – to cope with the extreme seasonal heat – as well as other energy- hungry equipment. The implementation of energy effi ciency procedures in those buildings coupled with the UAE’s commitment to renewable energies has paved the way for a drastic decrease in the impact on the environment. It is important to create awareness on energy effi ciency practices and to initiate more retrofi tting of existing – ineffi cient – buildings and projects to reduce the overall energy consumption. The residential sector is responsible for the consumption of almost 47% of the GCC’s total energy, against a global average of 25%. Considering that there are 25,000+ ongoing construction projects in the GCC right now, it is extremely important to join forces, address current challenges and harness the immense opportunities that lie ahead. Systems, hardware, and equipment must be updated and appropriately maintained to reach a balance between energy and water SAVING RESOURCES Pablo Alvarez, the Business Development Director for Energy Services at ACCIONA shares his thoughts on the need to focus on energy effi ciency in public buildings The residential sector is responsible for the consumption of almost 47% of the GCC’s total energyMarch 2021 | MEP Middle East 33 www.mepmiddleeast.com INDUSTRY FOCUS Each one of the buildings will soon be monitored to produce real-time data on consumption by installations and systems, including lighting, heating, and air conditioning savings. Should we not take corrective measures to improve energy effi ciency in the building sector, energy demand is expected to rise every year. One of the key drivers to attain more intelligent buildings and system integration is through the energy savings that can be achieved. Evaluation of occupancy patterns; application of daylight; Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC); and lighting sensors in appropriate locations, are only a few examples. A report published in October 2016 by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) noted that cities account for 65% of global energy used and 70% of man-made carbon emissions. This makes optimising energy consumption a fundamental objective of a smart city. Therefore, effi ciency is one of the principles that should govern the work undertaken by all public authorities. Achieving the desired effect by using the least possible resources is an obligation that applies to every area of our public administrations. In recent years, this approach has become increasingly relevant to the way they use energy resources. Environmental awareness and the growing public concern about the effects of climate change mean that energy effi ciency has become not merely our responsibility, but also an opportunity – a way to encourage a greater commitment to sustainability throughout society. By consuming energy sensibly and effi ciently, public authorities are taking on an educational role and leading by example. The essential fi rst steps towards saving energy involve understanding how that energy is used, how much energy is consumed, and when it is used and to do what. For this reason, it is essential to perform an energy audit on the group of buildings that we want to be more effi cient in order to diagnose their energy consumption over a period of time. Each one of the buildings will then be monitored to produce real-time data on the consumption by all the installations and systems: lighting, heating, and air conditioning. Our technical team design and implement the energy monitoring facilities, which enables the registration of consumption at all manner of facilities and systems (lighting, heating, air conditioning and thermal insulation), integrating different control solutions. Then, we perform a remote real-time follow up of consumption at the facilities and of the operating processes of its customers. This enables a correct analysis of the variations detected with respect to the reference indicators, generating alarms and examining measures and alternatives in transmission and operation, thereby enabling energy consumption and economic expenses to be reduced. The information obtained through the Building Control Centre on the status and energy performance of the facilities enables the technical team to design savings measures and solutions based on customer needs, offering permanent advisory services adjusted to variability in the operation or in the use of energy consumers. By applying these analysis techniques, all sorts of specifi c savings and effi ciency measures will be implemented, such as changes to how installations are used, the replacement of obsolete or ineffi cient equipment, and the use of control and automation devices. This will allow a response to isolated alerts raised by unusual consumption and provide information that should lead to operational improvements, the identifi cation of ineffi cient consumption patterns, etc. It is imperative to cut down fossil fuel power generation plants in favor of renewable plants and alternative power plants such as waste-to-energy facilities. Newest residential/commercial buildings must meet more stringent energy effi ciency targets to accomplish a 30% reduction in energy consumption by 2030. Not being able to do so will leave our future generations struggling with all the negative consequences that climate change will bring. Improving the energy performance of buildings is a key element in the fi ght against climate change. With the government sector leading the adoption of retrofi t projects across the GCC, we are optimistic that the above goals will be accomplished.www.mepmiddleeast.com 34 MEP Middle East | March 2021 COMMENT Per Johansson, the General Manager at Robert Bosch Middle East FZE talks about how the firm is leveraging digital transformation of buildings to catalyse greater energy optimisation in the built environment ADOPTING AVAILABLE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES As we move towards a world where more buildings install photovoltaic panels on their roofs to fulfi l their energy needs, harness rain for their water needs, and build vertical farms for their food requirements, there are still aspects within the building itself that need to be addressed to achieve the full potential of a green economy. Internet of Things (IoT) can support our view that sometimes buildings also need a standby button just like many of our electronic appliances. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), smart thermostats and lighting systems could reduce energy demand of buildings by 10% by 2040. Buildings currently account for nearly one-third of global fi nal energy consumption and 55% of global electricity demand, the latter has grown rapidly over the last decade especially in countries with emerging economies; this is expected to increase further in terms of power-generation and network capacity over the next few years. In the UAE, 62% of residents tend to leave their air-conditioning units running while they leave home for work in summer months and nearly 50% while holidaying during summer, according to a survey by a UAE based air conditioning solutions provider. With a large share of energy diverted to air-conditioning in the region, IEA attests that cooling energy use in buildings has doubled since the year 2000, from 3.6EJ to 7EJ, making it the fastest growing end-use in buildings. To minimise this, we can achieve greater energy optimisation of our infrastructure by matching occupancy with our air- conditioning system, also leveraging connected location awareness tools. Bosch’s systems for example can heat, cool and dehumidify building zones from a single source as required, retrofi ttable into buildings and allowing for individual zone adjustments. Incorporating a matrix of sensors, meters, inverters, and analytics software in building management can help assess While many buildings are designed as ‘smart’ right in the planning phase, there are opportunities to retrofi t existing properties with sensors within their lighting, security, and energy management systems, that could help make spaces safer, more comfortable, and more effi cient. The variable refrigerant fl ow feature introduced in several of Bosch will be the fi rst globally operating industrial enterprise to become fully climate neutral by the end of 2020March 2021 | MEP Middle East 35 www.mepmiddleeast.com COMMENT the performance of a building and identify interventions and energy-saving opportunities. A smart framework like this can improve measurement accuracy by collecting building systems’ energy performance data in real time, enabling the continuous quantifi cation of energy savings to deliver real-time feedback on project performance. Access to such information will also help third-party suppliers and contractors identify the best possible solutions, further simplifying their work processes. Networked energy management can combine energy and process data with Industry 4.0 solutions to pinpoint weaknesses in foundations and increase productivity. At Bosch, such a form of energy management is bolstered by a cloud-based software solution for capturing and analysing energy data and converting them into highly useful metrics. Our platform crunches several layers of data to generate precisely tailored metrics to assess the effi ciency of energy and resource use, whilst lending itself to a vast range of applications, also at industrial sites, including visualising energy consumption, assessing per-unit costs by factoring in energy data, and many others. In factories, such technology can help business owners compare effi ciency levels across multiple production sites and systematically plan and implement improvements. Currently, we are spearheading cloud- based solutions that can track and control every single machine’s power consumption. For organisations across the world, applying technologies in the built environment and enhanced energy effi ciency can be powerful tools for achieving carbon neutrality. By 2030 , we at Bosch, plan to save additional energy amounting to some 1.7-terawatt hours per year at over 400 locations worldwide. In parallel, our engineering, manufacturing, and administrative facilities, will no longer leave a carbon footprint, making Bosch the fi rst globally operating industrial enterprise to become fully climate neutral by the end of 2020. According to the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the per capita annual consumption of electricity in Dubai is already declining. A strong government-led push for green building effi ciency and increasing consumer discipline could be among the many factors supporting this. Forrester suggests that companies that have embraced IoT-enabled sensor technology and smart devices have seen energy savings of up to 70% in a period of three years. As architectural styles also evolve to use larger windows that allow more natural light, but in effect require more cooling power, we are spearheading technologies that deliver a “digital twin” that is a complete digital image of a building that includes all its technologies, systems, sensors and other relevant aspects, which can exist in the cloud or locally. A single, integrated digital twin makes it possible to depict how a system interacts with it and with each other, something that until recently was only possible for individual systems and only with laborious manual processes. A digital twin connects them all and lets them share and communicate with one another, taking transparency to a whole new level. Such a system will also help make offi ce spaces more comfortable, providing a more equitable form of cooling that can even boost employee productivity. Educating the society to make effi cient use of energy resources is one of the most important steps towards combating climate change. Before it becomes a major environmental concern, it is vital for industry players to adopt the advanced technologies available and positively contribute towards the digital transformation journey of governments in the region. Per Johansson General Manager, Robert Bosch Middle East FZE36 MEP Middle East | March 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com EXPO EXCLUSIVE PV Panels Power Expo 2020 Dubai’s “Pavilion of Light”March 2021 | MEP Middle East 37 www.mepmiddleeast.com EXPO EXCLUSIVE The construction of Expo 2020 Dubai’s $15.6mn France Pavilion – located within the Mobility District of the 4.38km2 World Expo site – is 90% complete, with MEP work progressing on schedule for an H1 2021 handover, well before the six-month “world’s greatest show” begins on 1 October, 2021. Marseille-based architectural fi rm Atelier du Prado and Paris-based Celnikier & Grabli Architectes designed the pavilion based on the theme, “Lumière, Lumières” – translated as “Light, Enlightenment” – which was chosen by the French government. In keeping with its light-based theme, the southern façade of the pavilion as well as the roof will be covered with more than 1,225m2 of photovoltaic (PV) panels, which will power more than 67% of the pavilion’s electricity needs. The pavilion is being constructed over a built-up area of 4,200m2 by French developer-operator COFREX, which is the French government fi rm responsible for organising and promoting France’s participation in World Expos. The design-build construction contract is being implemented by a consortium led by UAE-based Six Construct – a subsidiary of Belgian construction giant BESIX – which is the main contractor on the project. In an exclusive conversation with MEP Middle East, the commissioner-general for France at Expo 2020 Dubai and the chairman of COFREX, Erik Linquier, said: “The project is due to be delivered in the next few weeks. The fi t-out, FFE, and scenography are planned to be completed in due course for the grand opening. “The main contractor has used various consultants such as OTE, SJ, Tenable, among others, and a major local subcontractor, Al-Bonyan Company, for the implementation of the works. Some specialised contractors have also been involved for fi refi ghting, safety, security, and more.” In addition, the French independent producer of distributed renewable energy, Akuo Energy, is also present over the whole value chain, from development and fi nancing to construction and operation. Linquier added: “The Paris- headquartered Akuo Energy – which has more than 350 members of staff and is established in more than 18 countries around the world – will install its solar tiles with Sunstyle® technology on the France Pavilion, enabling us to meet our needs for durability, energy autonomy, and aesthetics of the pavilion.” The building has been designed to ensure that Expo 2020 Dubai’s 25 million visitors feel and experience light, mobility, and sustainability even before they enter the pavilion. Each of the PV panels will be coloured and when viewed together will create a design – inspired by French impressionist painter Monet. Akuo Energy and the architects have worked hard to balance the colour of each panel with the power that will be generated by the PV panels. “Indeed, these blue-green solar tiles will enlighten the France Pavilion during day and night. The commissioner general for France at Expo 2020 Dubai, Erik Linquier, and project manager at OTE Ingénierie, Pierre Jager, speak to MEP Middle East editor, Anup Oommen, about the pavilion’s focus on sustainability and energy efficiency while meeting its electricity and HVAC needs38 MEP Middle East | March 2021 www.mepmiddleeast.com EXPO EXCLUSIVE “The solar tiles installed on the façade and roof of the pavilion will ensure most of the energy autonomy during the six months of the World Expo,” Linquier said. The France Pavilion is designed to showcase the best use of light – from the harnessing of solar energy for light to the different ways in which light is used effi ciently within the pavilion. Furthermore, the pavilion has also maximised energy effi ciency in terms of cooling, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. The project manager at OTE Ingénierie, Pierre Jager, explains: “The project’s objective is to obtain less than 90kWh/m2 GFA of consumption by taking into account the energy used for cooling, lighting, small power, and processes loads. “To obtain this objective, we reduced the energy generated from renewable sources (RES). Our design focuses on reduced energy consumption through both an adapted design and intensive use of renewable energy sources, including thermal envelope effi ciency. Jager adds: “The refl ective material on the roofi ng, solar glazing, exterior solar protection, and solar shading helped in the reduction of energy consumption. Also, technical installations in the pavilion include exhaust air heat pumps and photovoltaic production.” The 1,225m2 of photovoltaic (PV) panels installed on the southern façade and on the roof will provide a total of 170 MWh of power. In addition, the photovoltaic tiles on the roof also double-up as a roofi ng material, providing water tightness due to its over- lapping confi guration, which resemble classic tiles. However, prioritising energy effi ciency and sustainability through photovoltaic (PV) panels provided the France Pavilion with its own share of challenges. “All technical equipment had to be positioned discreetly into the pavilion, and the louvres for air intakes and discharges had to be integrated into the PV façade. Therefore, we created a false PV tile,” Jager explained. Japan-headquartered Daikin – which promotes and provides aftermarket support for a full range of air conditioning equipment and systems – supplied MEP and HVAC installations, including air- cooled chillers, air handling units, and fan coil units to meet the needs of the Expo 2020 Dubai France Pavilion. “The production of cold water in the France Pavilion will be carried out through two air-cooled chillers of 600 kW each, which are equipped with a high effi ciency scroll compressor,” Jager added. “The open-air chiller room is located on the top fl oor, and is protected from view with perforated tiles to avoid any impact on the chiller performance.” The majority of the pavilion is a steel The pavilion’s roof, terrace, canopy, and facade form an artificial screen and sky that dematerialise day and night in line with its theme Pierre Jager, Project Manager, OTE IngenierieMarch 2021 | MEP Middle East 39 www.mepmiddleeast.com EXPO EXCLUSIVE Erik Linquier Chairman, COFREX structure and is cladded at every fl oor with concrete. The steel for the structural works has been supplied by Dubai-based Galadari Engineering Works. MEP and HVAC controls are located in the security room on the ground fl oor. Energy meters will be connected to a central Energy Management System (EMS), which form part of the BMS system. All networks run under the metal structure, between beams On the inside, the pavilion’s façade will have a built-up area of 5,100m2, with installations, interactive experiences, shops, and restaurants on the ground fl oor. The second and third fl oor of the building will have technical and administrative offi ces; and the fourth fl oor will comprise an auditorium, a conference centre, and meeting rooms. In addition, the pavilion hosts a 40m terrace, as well as a canopy hanging at an altitude of 15m, which along with the façade forms an artifi cial screen and sky that dematerialise day and night in line with its theme. When the Expo 2020 Dubai ends in April 2021, the pavilion will be dismantled. More than 80% of the pavilion – including the steel structure, electrical equipment, solar panels, and the cladding panels on the façade – will be reused. The southern facade as well as the roof will be covered with more than 1,225m2 of photovoltaic (PV) panelsNext >