CPL Aromas, the world’s leading fragrance-only fragrance house, is known for embracing environmental sustainability programmes in running its  business and sourcing fragrance materials. Now, its major manufacturing facility in Dubai is to create a private solar power plant that will offset 326,041kg of carbon dioxide annually. The plant is being installed by ALEC Energy which will be handling the installation at the facility in the Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai. ALEC Energy will be responsible for the design, obtain local approvals, construction, operation and maintenance of the facility.

Matthew North, CPL Aromas’ Operations General Manager, is leading the solar project for the company. He said: “CPL Dubai started to investigate potential solar solutions that existed in Dubai in conjunction with the Shams Dubai Initiative – a scheme that enables the connection of solar energy to the Dubai Power Grid, promoting the use of clean renewable energy. We began this development as environment sustainability is one of CPL’s key values”.

The CPL Board of Directors recognises the need to minimize the environmental impact of its operations and products in order to protect the environment. The project will take 9 years before it begins to pay for itself but the overall aim is improved environmental sustainability and not money saving.
Matthew North explains: “CPL Aromas is committed to the protection of the environment, continual improvement in our environmental performance and compliance with both applicable legislation and company policies”.

The solar project forms part of CPL’s Environmental Management System in accordance with ISO14001:2015. The System is based on four key objectives:
1. Reduction in CO2 emissions and energy consumption
2. Products of limited environmental impact
3. Reduction in waste
4. Pollution control.

Francis Pickthall, one of the Directors of CPL Aromas, says that this is the first but not the only project the company has considered.  “We hope that our facility in Colombia will be installing solar panels and other operations in the Far East and Asia are being reviewed for their suitability,” he said.

James Stewart, General Manager of ALEC Energy which is undertaking the work in Dubai, said: “We are very excited to collaborate with CPL Aromas on this solar project. Solar energy is a smart choice and has many financial and environmental benefits which will assist the UAE in meeting its 2030 renewable energy targets.
 
Following the launch of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, Dubai aims to  produce 25% of its total energy using solar plants by 2030 and 75% by 2050. This contract is in line with the Shams Dubai programme and is regulated by DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) who have prepared a specific solar code for Dubai which allows consumers to use solar on rooftops without compromising the quality and safety related with use of solar. Whilst there are several larger, Government-backed solar panel developments taking place in Dubai,  CPL Aromas believes it will be one of the first manufacturing companies to install Solar Power in JAFZA (the Freezone – from which CPL Dubai operates).