Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world's largest district cooling services provider, announced that the number of buildings served by its district cooling services has increased by 8% from last year, reaching a total of 43 buildings during the first half of 2019, with a cooling capacity of more than 56, 000 Refrigeration Tonnes (RT).
Empower has connected its services to major projects in Dubai during the period, including the Royal Atlantis Resort and Residences at Palm Jumeirah, the Dubai Arena and the ICD Brookfield Place in DIFC. Empower has also begun its experimental operation in the Cityland Mall project in Global Village area.
Empower stressed that the increasing demand for its services is mainly due to the high number of new buildings and projects in Dubai, as well as the increased awareness of the benefits of district cooling and its importance in maintaining a safe environment for future generations.
Empower highlighted that district cooling is the ideal cooling solution as it uses upto 50% less energy compared to conventional cooling systems. This contributes upto 50% reduction in energy consumption resulting low maintenance costs, saving money, and contributes to reducing carbon emissions.
An International research study has revealed that the global demand for air conditioning would triple over the next 30 years and that demand would come from developing countries. The study recommends applying a regulatory framework for district cooling in developing countries where appropriate, so that costs can be controlled, as this result in saving energy worth more than USD 1 trillion worldwide by 2035. Reports state that district cooling systems are efficient cooling systems, which combine demand and usage with more energy-efficient techniques to cool high-density areas with less power than the most efficient stand-alone systems.
“Empower's district cooling services are witnessing increasing demand from building owners and developers who are starting to eliminate conventional cooling systems, which are causing health and environmental problems,” said Ahmad Bin Shafar CEO of Empower.
“Empower is significantly contributing to Dubai’s comprehensive development in various fields, especially in the field of environmental conservation, through the implementation of the great vision of our leaders. Our wise leadership pays pronounced attention to sustainability and development, in addition to addressing the challenges of climate change, which is a real obstacle to growth and prosperity,” continued Bin Shafar.
Empower adopts several sustainability strategies, mainly the UAE Vision 2021 and the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, which seeks to increase the contribution of clean energy in the total energy mix to 50%, the National Climate Change Plan 2017-2050, and the long-term national initiative to build a green economy in the UAE under the slogan ‘A green economy for sustainable development’, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, which lead the UAE to become pioneer in the field of the new green economy globally.
Empower provides district cooling services to more than 1,090 buildings, catering to more than 100,000 customers. The company operates more than 1.43 Million Refrigeration Tons (RT), providing environmentally friendly district cooling services to large-scale real estate developments, such as Bluewaters, 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, International Media Production Zone and others.