To what extent has Tabreed deployed variable frequency drives (VFDs) in its plants and other HVACR-related installations? Would you say you have reached a critical mass, compared to the time when they were first introduced in the market?

In 2019, we had performed a technical assessment and feasibility study on the application of VFDs across our asset base, in order to understand the impact of VFDs on different district cooling process equipment. On completing the assessment, Tabreed put together an ambitious four-year-long programme to retrofit chillers and pumps with the latest VFD technology available in the market. Between 2020 and 2023, Tabreed will implement a VFD-retrofit programme over four phases. We commissioned the first phase in 2020; the second phase is under execution.

Atef Mohamed Awadh AlBreiki

Typically, what kind of efficiencies have you been able to achieve ever since installing them? For example, by what percentage has the power consumption in pumps dropped to?

There are a number of factors that can influence the specific benefits of any individual VFD installation; however, the large-scale of the Tabreed retrofit programme allows us to estimate. By the end of 2023, we will aim to reduce power consumption by 35 million kWh per year and, as a result, reduce CO2 emissions by another 21,000 tons per year, going forward. Those figures are reductions from the VFD programme alone, as we have several other programmes in Tabreed targeting our operational efficiency.

Typically, are there any challenges in installing VFDs in existing infrastructure, such as ease of access or lack of space?

Yes, as in any project, there are several challenges in engineering design and in execution, as well. For example, we needed to upgrade some of our chiller models to be able to retrofit them with VFDs. We also needed to innovate, when it came to space utilisation in plant room, so that we could accommodate new panels and equipment. We also had to upgrade plant automation systems to integrate the VFD philosophy in plant chilled water management systems.