We continue our coverage of the Climate Control Summit. The following are excerpts of reactions from two of the participants (a ‘witness’ and a ‘juror’)

It was a pleasure for Techem to participate in the Climate Control Summit, and to have had the opportunity to be one of the ‘witnesses’ in the courtroom.

As discussed during the two-day event, smart sustainable energy is crucial for the developer, district cooling supplier and the end user. The demand for cooling energy is vital in the Middle East’s harsh desert climate. Air conditioning in the Middle East is an essential service, with obvious life-safety implications. Therefore, even greater attention needs to be directed to enhancing efficiency, maintaining reliability and ensuring safety and security of supply. Simultaneously, the energy supply should be affordable for the end user and used carefully by him.

I look forward to continuing our discussion with you to find solutions and attractive models for all market participants, such as the utility provider, developer and the end user.

It is important to ensure that the recommendations that came out of the Summit go to the right people and, from there, arrive at ways and means to implement them. It is important to conduct workshops at the governmental level and not just implement but also adapt to existing legislation without affecting comfort cooling. And later, there is an opportunity to export this model in the GCC to the entire cooling community the world over. We are the leaders for district cooling the world over.

– Hans Altmann, Regional Manager (MENA), Techem Energy Services Middle East FZCO

Conclusively, the individual project parameters would determine which system is best suited for the purpose. However, the jurors believe district cooling being the more environment friendly and sustainable system, it would be the preferable system in the larger social interest, provided the industry proves the cost effectiveness to the end-users. Currently, 10% of the local cooling load demand is being met by district cooling, mainly owing to various problems the district cooling industry is currently facing, including the issues related to finance, lack of proper legislation, lack of transparency and mistrust among the stakeholders. The onus lies with the industry to ensure that it overcomes all the hurdles and makes further progress.

– Ramesh Kumar Prasad, Senior Portfolio Contracts Manager, Abu Dhabi Airports Company