Dubai - MENA Herald: The International District Energy Association (IDEA), headquartered in the United States of America (USA), renewed the membership of HE Ahmed bin Shafar, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower)at its Board of Directors for a second three-year term until 2019.
In 2013, IDEA appointed HE Ahmed bin Shafar to its Board of Directors as he became the first Arab from UAE to hold this title in the history of this association which was founded over a century ago.
The membership reflects the leading role played by Empower on local and international levels to popularise the district cooling sector worldwide. It also clearly indicates the success of Empower’s strategy and its regional and global active role as far as district cooling is concerned.
“This membership is to voice out the Arab district cooling industry to the world. I have felt a great appreciation of the IDEA’s Board of Directors to the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai to diversify energy sources in Dubai and Dubai Plan 2021 that aims to ensure that the environmental elements in Dubai are clean, healthy and sustainable,” emphasised Bin Shafar.
“The UAE is garnering a leading role in the environmental sustainability sphere,” said Bin Shafar. “This membership shows the greater awareness district cooling is achieving among energy decision makers and specialists as a sustainability alternative to conventional cooling systems.”
“We have noticed international interest to transfer our business model to other parts of the world being a leader in adopting best practices worldwide. We are delighted with the appreciation to our sustainability practices in our operations,” he added.
Bin Shafar emphasised that this membership goes along with IDEA’s objective of advancing future water and clean energy technologies. He anticipated that the membership will lead to pioneering partnerships locally and internationally.
Empower currently operates more than 1,100,000 RT, providing environmentally responsible district cooling services to large-scale real estate developments, such as Jumeirah Group, Business Bay, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai International Financial Centre, Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Ibn Battuta Mall, Discovery Gardens, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai World Trade Centre Residences and Dubai Design District, among others.