istrict cooling means the centralized production and distribution of cooling energy. Chilled water is delivered via an underground insulated pipeline to office, industrial and residential buildings to cool the indoor air of the buildings within a district. Specially designed units in each building then use this water to lower the temperature of air passing through the building's air conditioning system. The output of one cooling plant is enough to meet the cooling-energy demand of dozens of buildings. District cooling can be run on electricity or natural gas, and can use either regular water or seawater. Along with electricity and water, district cooling constitute a new form of energy service.
District cooling is measured in refrigeration ton which is equivalent to 12000 BTU's per hour. Refrigeration Ton is the unit measure for the amount of heat removed. Refrigeration Ton is defined as the heat absorbed by one ton of ice (2000 pounds) causing it to melt completely by the end of one day (24 hours). District cooling systems can replace any type of air conditioning system, but primarily compete with air-cooled reciprocating chiller systems serving large buildings which consume large amounts of electricity. This air-conditioning system is subject to a difficult operating environment, including extreme heat, saline humidity and windborne sand. Over time, performance, efficiency and reliability suffer, leading to significant maintenance costs and ultimately to equipment replacement.
Empower's District Cooling system is underpinned by a skilled around-the-clock service team and a comprehensive set of emergency back-up systems that ensure complete reliability and ease of use. Empower has always been one of the company pioneering in the local,regional and international district cooling services sector, as it has played an essential role in promoting the implementation of green practices across all sectors in Dubai and creating a kind of balance between economic development and the necessity for reducing carbon emissions.
Ahmad bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, told WIP:
“International trends are moving to provide a sustainable future and a green economy that is mainly dependent on eco-friendly services. Our participation in various local and international events and initiatives is crucial to build platforms to showcase innovative solutions that can address the growing global sustainability challenges. District cooling systems are increasingly becoming a key element in planning and designing modern green buildings worldwide and in Dubai in particular, as one of the six energy efficiency accelerators set by the UN.”
Empower also stated that the company is working tirelessly to improve and innovate a set of the latest technologies that could help to reduce energy and water consumption. By using advanced artificial intelligence-powered systems for operating Thermal Energy Storage systems (TES) within its district cooling plants, the company promotes power efficiency during peak times, as well as monitor and control in and outflow of the cooling plants. Empower also uses the advanced SCADA system that provides the ability to read two million data parameters from cooling towers,coolers, transformers and water supplies. The company also utilizes Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) Technology that reduces the consumption of potable water and conserves natural resources for future generations.
Empower currently operates over 1.43 Million RT, providing district cooling services to more than 1,090 buildings and over 100,000 clients. The company also provides environmentally responsible district cooling services to large-scale real estate developments in Dubai, such as Dubai Waterfront, Blue Waters, Jumeirah Group, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai International Financial Centre, Business Bay, Dubai Health care City, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Palm Jumeirah, Discovery Gardens, Ibn Battuta Mall,Dubai Design District and International Media Production Zone, among others.
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