Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, receives the 2018 IDEA Global leader award

Dubai, UAE, 11 December 2018: The eighth edition of the International District Energy Association (IDEA) District Cooling Conference and Tradeshow 2018 ended with Dubai being crowned as the ‘Champion City’ of the District Cooling sector globally, showcasing a cooling capacity of nearly 2 million tonnes of refrigeration (TR), the organisers announced in a Press communiqué. In addition, Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, was named as 2018 IDEA Global leader, the communiqué said. The conference was held from December 9 to 11, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Chairman of Emirates Airlines Group, the communiqué added.

Commenting on the conference, Bin Shafar, said: “District Cooling is recognised as a proven and key climate solution for cities. While the conference has brought to focus several efficient methods for increasing efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, it has also illuminated Dubai’s strength in the District Cooling sector, showcasing the emirate’s pioneering experience in the industry, during the event.”

While the conference shed light on strategies for improving efficiency for District Cooling, it also focused on the importance of cooling towers, as well as highlighted the growing importance of District Cooling in sustainable cities, the communiqué said. In addition, the conference also brought to light energy budgets and operational efficiency through automation and machine learning in District Cooling, the communiqué added.

Rob Thornton, President and CEO, IDEA, said: “Dubai has been a forerunner with sustainable solutions and Empower has further accelerated the city’s position with its innovative District Cooling solutions, helping the country to achieve its sustainability goals. The way the country is shaping its projects, integrating District Cooling solutions, I am confident that the city is well-placed to achieve the lowest carbon footprint in the world by 2050. The eighth edition of this conference, has not only discussed efficient strategies to achieve sustainable urban growth, but has also positioned Dubai as the champion city for District Cooling solutions.”

The communiqué said the conference focused on regulating the District Cooling sector, as well as innovative solutions that would generate cost optimisation and decrease carbon footprint. The communiqué said the conference also highlighted financing, where officials from several companies in the sector pointed out the importance of finding suitable financing that can drive the further growth of the sector. The communiqué added that apart from cost efficiency, the participants also highlighted several other benefits of the industry, including reduction in electricity as well as water consumption, by using treated water for District Cooling and the reduction of loads on the network.