The 11th Edition of District Cooling Dialogue (“DC Dialogue”), held on May 15 in Dubai, was a platform that convened as both a map and a mirror reflecting the industry’s progress and outlining necessary pathways to make a difference for a decarbonised future.
Organised by CPI Industry, DC Dialogue is the longest-running event in the publishing house’s portfolio, with the inaugural edition dating back to May 2007. Surendar Balakrishnan, Co-founder and Editorial Director, CPI Industry, said that over the years, participants and delegates have left with strengthened resolve and knowledge of technological solutions for implementing at their respective worksites. While the chilled water and District Cooling sector has evolved, the core purpose of DC Dialogue has remained unchanged – to highlight trends and advance knowledge on recently introduced policies, regulations and technologies.
As like previous editions, the 11th Edition of the conference gathered government officials, developers, consultants, contractors, manufacturers, suppliers and service providers of technological solutions. Through Plenary Session addresses, technical presentations and panel discussions, the conference provided context for advancing knowledge on recently introduced policies, regulations and technologies with topics carefully picked on the basis of their impact on a wide range of socio-economic and sustainable development targets.
George Berbari, CEO, DC PRO Engineering, and author of the critically acclaimed book, The Energy Budget, chaired the conference. In his opening remarks as Chair, he reflected on the progress of the District Cooling industry in the UAE, marking over 27 years of service. He spoke candidly about the environmental consequences of past generations and the responsibility now shifting to the next. “I believe my generation has been the worst to the environment,” he remarked, acknowledging
both successes and failures in his career, spanning 40 years. “But it’s time to hand the torch to those who will do better.”
Berbari highlighted Dubai’s District Cooling landscape, noting that while the city has installed an impressive 2.2-2.3 million tons of cooling capacity, only about half is currently utilised. With District Cooling accounting for approximately 24% of Dubai’s total cooling load and growing by around 100,000 tons, annually, the city leads globally in penetration, but still falls short of cities like Copenhagen and Reykjavik, where coverage is approaching 100%, he said.
Berbari closed with a symbolic nod to progress, a mobile EV charger he spotted en route to the venue, describing it as a small but encouraging sign that infrastructure in the region is starting to align with climate goals.
Following Berbari’s opening remarks, in a heartfelt Keynote Address, H.E. Dr. Abdulla Bilhaif Alnuaimi, Chairman, Sharjah Consultative Council, and Former UAE Minister of Climate Change & Environment, spoke of his transition from an infrastructure developer to an environmental advocate, an arc that shaped his recently published book, Climate Change Enigma: A Delicate Balance, which he released to the engineering community at the event. H.E. Dr. Alnuaimi emphasised the paradox of progress – that the very structures we build for economic development also contribute to environmental degradation.
H.E. Dr. Alnuaimi stressed the importance of reconciling technical growth with planetary boundaries. Notably, he cited the UAE’s emissions share as less than 0.6% globally, while calling for a leadership role in policy, research and infrastructure design. He challenged the audience to innovate beyond efficiency and focus on material science, water reuse and customer-centricity.
James Grinnell, Director of Water at the Regulation & Supervision Bureau (RSB) Dubai, delivered a wide-ranging and data-rich plenary address on regulatory updates, energy and water efficiency, tariff restructuring and the evolving landscape of customer expectations. He began by aligning with previous speakers, when he said, “It is our generation that probably caused the most damage so far.” He reaffirmed the need to ensure that cooling is done efficiently.
Grinnell’s presentation offered a review of the trends of 2023-2024. Contracted capacity, he said, rose by three per cent, and demand by four per cent, signalling a maturing market with pent-up growth in new developments. He said the current penetration of District Cooling in Dubai is around 23%, influenced in part by an increase in villa construction since COVID-19.
Energy efficiency has markedly improved, dropping from 0.98 kW/ton/hr to as low as 0.845 kW/ton/hr, he said. “We are beginning to see curtailing of the poor performing plant,” he noted, “while over half a dozen systems now perform under 0.7 kW/ton/hr.” However, the use of recycled water has declined, leading to greater reliance on DEWA-supplied water, a development he described as double-edged.
Grinnell elaborated on the topics of tariffs, emphasising that greater utilisation of existing systems drives down effective rates; he cited a drop from AED 1.14 in 2022 to around AED 1.07 in 2024. “That’s somewhere in the region of AED 240 million in efficiency,” he said.
Dominic McPolin, Former Advisor to the Minister of Works, Bahrain, through a video message added a philosophy- and policy-driven layer to the day’s discussions. Reflecting on his 20-year journey with District Cooling in Bahrain, McPolin underscored the importance of integrating District Cooling into the “family of infrastructure” alongside water, power and drainage.
He identified a shift from “energy transition” to “energy addition,” describing a global trend toward pragmatic solutions that prioritise access and affordability. McPolin outlined five pillars: Access to affordable energy, efficiency, sustainability, security and health, pointing out that District Cooling scores well in four but struggles with the first.
“I realized I’ve been looking through the wrong end of the telescope,” he said, advocating for customer-first approaches and warning against monopolistic practices. He cited Denmark’s model, achieving high uptake without compulsory connection, thanks to zero CAPEX tariffs, community-driven networks and urban integration, as a replicable benchmark.
In his closing message that was urgent yet hopeful, McPolin said: “The business model must change. Only by focusing outside the industry, into the planning systems, can we drive customer satisfaction.” McPolin’s call to reorient from technology towards community outcomes resonated as a challenge to the entire industry.
In the Plenary Discussion, subsequent to McPolin’s address, Berbari led an interaction on the topic, ‘The future of District Cooling regulations and enabling mechanisms. The panel brought together H.E. Dr. Alnuaimi; Andreas Michael Feil, First Secretary for Climate, Energy and Environment Policy, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Abu Dhabi; Grinnell; and Steve Lemoine, CEO and General Manager, Middle East, Dalkia.
Berbari opened with a provocative comparison: “A USD 1 billion investment in District Cooling delivers three times the emissions reduction of a metro system, yet policy prioritization remains skewed.”
Dr. Alnuaimi acknowledged past missteps. “We failed, as technicians, to really take District Cooling from only doing the work to innovating,” he said. “I have not heard so far offering anything that spoke about innovation.” He advocated exploring nanotechnology and new materials to evolve the sector beyond cost debates.
Feil, bringing a European perspective, explained how energy scarcity since the 1970s, had driven German efficiency. “If you exchange your oil heating system for a heat pump, after 5-7 years, you recover the cost,” he said. He also emphasised that Germany’s 2045 carbon neutrality goal makes building sector reform the focus of urgency.
Berbari pressed for an integrated policy in the UAE, noting that even cost-effective, scalable ideas, such as aligning District Cooling with nuclear and solar, face inertia. He underscored the fact that without clear governance frameworks and performance-based regulation, District Cooling cannot reach its full potential.
Subsequent to the Plenary Discussion, in a technical presentation representing Pegler, under the Aalberts umbrella, Bader Yousef, who represents Aalberts Integrated Piping Systems MEA, presented the company’s comprehensive approach to fluid regulation and distribution. “We offer our customers bespoke integrated piping solutions,” he said, noting the company’s reach across industrial, commercial, and residential sectors.
Yousef emphasised that the firm doesn’t merely sell valves and connectors but delivers complete system solutions. “When you work with us, you aren’t just buying our pipes and valves, you are buying our know-how, our can-do and our tireless innovation,” he said. Aalberts’ team of engineers provides tailored support across the project lifecycle, from conception to maintenance, he said.
Through his presentation, Yousef reinforced the brand’s “core promise”: Agility in problem-solving and innovation at scale. By combining connection, valve and fastening technologies with domain expertise, Aalberts aims to deliver not just hardware, but confidence in long-term performance and regulatory compliance, he said.
Following this, in another technical presentation, featuring Kingson Jebaraj, General Manager, Innovative Water & Energy Tech, formerly of Tabreed, the delegates received information on the evolving challenges of using Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) in District Cooling. “Fifteen years ago, TSE was difficult to work with, but over the last decade, treatment technologies have matured, Jebaraj said. “Now, we are seeing new variability in TSE quality.”
Jebaraj emphasised that despite rising complexity, TSE remains critical due to its low cost, often 10-20% that of potable water, and its environmental advantages. However, suspended solids and organic load variations in the last few years are pushing current polishing systems to their limits. “There are lots of issues, even when water is taken directly to the cooling tower,” he noted.
He advocated for performance guarantees to de-risk adoption of new water-treatment technologies and highlighted regional trends across the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. His presentation was both a cautionary update and a call to adapt TSE systems for greater resilience and precision in response to shifting water quality.
In a panel discussion on the topic, ‘AI and cooling optimisation’, Sagar Kulkarni, Managing Director, Consistent Engineering Consultants; A R Suresh Kumar, Head, International Operations Business Group, Voltas Limited; Mohammed Shameer, Co-Founder & Partner, Design Solutions Inc., sat with Berbari to talk on how AI, IoT and automation can elevate District Cooling systems from being just centralised to becoming intelligent and responsive.
Kulkarni opened the session by stating that while District Cooling has immense decarbonisation potential, the industry still underutilises digital tools for optimisation. He emphasised the need for data-driven design and post-occupancy monitoring, urging stakeholders to move from legacy practices to “intelligent, adaptive systems”. He stressed that a well-calibrated Building Management System (BMS), complemented by AI, could significantly improve chilled water flow, delta T management and energy use intensity.
Suresh Kumar echoed the view, describing Voltas’ focus on energy audits, AI-based predictive maintenance and digital twins. He advocated for real-time monitoring of secondary loop systems, highlighting that the operational efficiency of a District Cooling system lies not only in the plant but also in the building interface. “Unless the loop is closed between the user and the plant,” he said, “you’re only fixing half the problem.”
Shameer added a valuable on-ground perspective, drawing from his design consultancy background. He pointed out the importance of interfacing design intent with real operational feedback. “We often see performance gaps when sub-metering and energy valves are missing or underutilised,” he said. He called for harmonising HVAC design with user behaviour and system feedback, underlining that smart cooling isn’t just about sensors – it’s about intelligent coordination.
Berbari, as moderator, stressed that AI alone would not solve inefficiency unless paired with correct commissioning and a culture of operational accountability. He urged for early stakeholder collaboration and continued training for FM teams, noting, “The future is not just smart, it must be adaptive, collaborative and verifiable.”
The session concluded with consensus that while AI tools offer promising optimisation pathways, systemic implementation and integration into building codes and developer mandates remain the next essential step.
The final panel discussion, once again moderated by Berbari, brought together leading developers to explore District Cooling through the lens of implementation, cost, performance and end-user satisfaction. It featured Ra’ed Al-Hammouri, Senior MEP Manager, DAMAC Properties; Prasanth Chakkingal, Head – MEP Design, PNC Architects of Sobha Group; Dr Samiullah Khan, Chief Sustainability Officer, Fakhruddin Properties; and Jason Prince, Head of Energy Management Services, Nationwide Management Services (a subsidiary of Deyaar Development PJSC).
Prince set the tone by explaining how his team often enters the picture years after construction is complete. “We work on projects after four or five years,” he said. “These buildings come to us with issues, which could be retrofit in nature and have to do with delta T, or it could be BMS.” He likened Delta T issues to diagnosing a human body. “It’s not one section, it’s a combination of a lot,” he said.
Al-Hammouri, sharing DAMAC’s perspective, said the organisation has adopted a strategic approach of outsourcing of district cooling services, owing to commercial pressure and the need for speed. He highlighted, however, that sustainability often takes a backseat in the region. “Not everyone in this field is caring about sustainability,” he said. “To be frankly speaking, decision-makers take decisions based on cost.” He noted that while District Cooling typically achieves 0.9 kW/TR efficiency, some in-house systems hit 1.2. He advocated shared responsibility, where the authority, the District Cooling provider and the developer must sit on one table and convince the end users.”
Berbari pushed for right-sizing. “Why accept 30 m²/TR when reality is 45–50?” he asked. Al-Hammouri agreed, but stressed that design accounts for worst-case loads and that retail and public areas skew demand.
Giving a rather unique perspective for a developer, Chakkingal described Sobha Group’s transition from standalone chillers to in-house District Cooling networks. “Our advantage is backward integration,” he said, noting that designers, FM teams and operational data are all internal, allowing accurate performance prediction. “We’re not afraid of going to the limits,” he said, though he declined to share specific performance metrics.
Speaking on one of the challenges District Cooling faces, Chakkingal said that design oversizing is inevitable due to regulatory pressure and safety factors. “Even with best design, you end up with 30-40% oversizing,” he said, adding that his team is experimenting with nanofluid technology and adiabatic systems to further reduce energy consumption.
Dr Samiullah Khan offered a dual perspective – personal and professional. Despite having used District Cooling at home for 15 years, he said, “If I switch off everything, I still pay 90% of my electricity bill.” He stressed the need for collaborative design validation and revealed how he has partnered with a university to create a consortium involving consultants, developers, and regulators. Fakhruddin Properties, he said, avoids cost-driven decisions. “We are looking at the embodied cost, operational cost and end-of-life cycle cost,” he said. Despite these efforts, innovation is often blocked by time constraints in the approvals process.
In closing, the panellists aligned on key points: District cooling must evolve into a more collaborative, data-backed and customer-transparent ecosystem. End users currently bear the cost of inefficiencies; with this in mind, the developers called for more flexible contracts, improved coordination with providers and standardized performance validation.
Overall, the conference concluded on a note of deep introspection and cautious optimism. The collective sentiment from speakers, particularly in the final panel, served as an organic wrap-up to the day’s events.
Throughout the event, a recurring theme was the need for systemic alignment among developers, District Cooling providers, consultants, regulators and end-users. Participants called for greater transparency, accountability and agility within the value chain. This was evident in the sense of shared frustration among the developers over rigid capacity contracts, lack of flexibility for retroactive corrections and the high operational costs passed on to end-users.
Yet, the addresses, panels and presentations were not just about challenges; they also showcased a growing culture of innovation. Examples ranged from nano-fluid technologies and SCADA-integrated energy meters to collaborative design reviews with academic institutions. The conference also highlighted how real-world operational data must feed back into design strategies to avoid repeated inefficiencies.
As Berbari put it: “We are developing outdoor air conditioning. We are wasting so much energy.” It was a stark reminder that the industry must continuously evaluate not just systems but also behaviours and expectations.
From regulatory shifts and digital tools to developer ambitions and user demand, the conference reaffirmed its role as a catalyst for unvarnished conversations and actionable insights. As District Cooling networks expand in response to rising urban heat, the call is clear: Efficiency must be systemic, and sustainability must be inclusive – not just in design or operations but also in business models, policymaking and public trust.
