Philips Lighting is aiming to source 100% of all its energy needs from renewable energy sources by 2020, and also aims to be completely carbon neutral by that same year. It is one of the world leaders in lighting technology, and is also a member of RE100 — The Climate Group and CDP’s leadership initiative committed to advocating and supporting 100% renewable energy power.
Philips Lighting has become the first major international company to secure renewable electricity through renewable energy certificates in the Gulf region, as one more step in the company’s goal towards sourcing 100% of its energy needs from renewable energy sources.
The company announced that, in collaboration with ECOHZ, Philips Lighting will now purchase traceable renewable electricity from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA) Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai using the pioneering International REC Standard (I-REC) — which documents that 1 MWh of renewable energy has been produced. I-REC is a global standard for documenting renewable energy consumption in countries where no local Renewable Energy Certificate scheme is in place.
Since I-RECs in the Gulf region are issued by a local issuer that has full overview of local regulations, Philips Lighting can be sure that no double counting is taking place. Also, we need a flexible solution, and using I-RECs means that Philips Lighting can easily expand or adjust the agreement according to our operations in the Gulf region. Ultimately, I-RECs are an efficient way of meeting our sustainability and renewable energy targets.