Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world's largest district cooling services provider, stressed during the 13th edition of Cityscape Abu Dhabi, the importance of technological advancements in district cooling systems for the growth of the real estate sector and the adoption of emerging technologies to boost the development efforts of this sector in the UAE. The event is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, at Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre, UAE, from 16-18 April, and under the theme ‘Exploring the Future of Regulatory and Technology Innovation’. The exhibition highlights the role of technology in the development of the sector and the agenda of the conference reviews the future of organisational and technical innovation, with a focus on the growth strategy of the private sector in Abu Dhabi.

District cooling technology enhances the efficiency and effectiveness of energy in buildings. The district cooling systems serves to meet one of the main objectives of construction sector that seeks to achieve smart modern buildings at a lower cost. It is illogical to construct these buildings with conventional cooling and heating systems. District cooling systems contribute to sustainability and conservation of natural resources, and promote energy efficiency and reducing consumption, as it uses 50% less energy compared to conventional cooling systems.

“All the vital sectors in the UAE promote sustainability and achieving comprehensive national development. The real estate sector plays a big role in showing the civilised part of the state, and serving various sectors of the UAE including industrial, tourism, economic, and residential sector. This sector has become the core of economic and social life and contributes directly to supporting the green economy through its role in implementing the long-term national initiative to build a green economy in the UAE, under the slogan ‘Green Economy for Sustainable Development’, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, through which the UAE seeks to occupy a leading global position in the new green economy,” said Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower.

Bin Shafar stressed that all sectors are committed to implementing the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership, represented by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to participate in the transformation towards a green economy based on reducing energy consumption and preserving natural resources for future generations. This supports achieving national strategies such as the UAE Centennial 2071, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, the UAE Vision 2021, and the Dubai Plan 2021, to establish Dubai as a smart and sustainable city whose environmental elements are clean, healthy and sustainable.

“Empower supports all the projects that are being launched in Dubai, especially the major urban projects. Empower works on developing its infrastructure and keep abreast of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and the use of digital technologies and AI applications. Empower is developing its technologies and devising solutions to implement the full transition to the green economy by implementing award-winning technologies, such as Thermal Energy Storage (TES) and Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) to serve chilled water and pump it into buildings, through the heat exchange plants located in each building. Empower has also adopted the '360 Solution for Metering Artificial Intelligence, AIMS 360', the first of its kind in the field of district cooling, and the 'Energy Transfer Solution Flow Control Optimisation Using Statistical Process Control' system in its projects,” concluded Bin Shafar.

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.