Daikin managed to commission its systems installed in Qatar’s Khalifa International Stadium in time for the Emir Cup final, held on April 19, Paras Adhvaryu, Regional Business Director, Chillers and Modular Plants, Daikin, said.

“Last year, the biggest projects going on in terms of air conditioning requirements were the stadiums,” said Adhvaryu. “The first stadium we secured was Khalifa International Stadium, where we had 18 chillers of 3,000 tonnes of refrigeration (TR), each.” The first chiller was commissioned on April 26, and the remaining, four, by the first week of May. The first match was played at the venue on a cold pitch, where while the ambient temperature was 40 degrees C, the temperature on the pitch was 22 degrees C.” 

Adhvaryu added that Daikin is now in the process of delivering the chillers for the next project, Al Bayt Stadium, which will feature 12 chillers at 3,000 TR, each. This will be followed by work on Al Wakrah Stadium, which will have six chillers at 3,000 TR, each, currently in production. Al Bayt is under construction and expected to be completed sometime next year. 

Adhvaryu said that the company has had a long history in Qatar with landmark projects. All stadia, he said, are going for LEED certification, which is why “they want the highest energy efficiency”.