DUBAI, UAE, 26 December 2023: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower) announced that it met the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in Dubai to collaboratively formulate short and long-term strategies and action plans towards the global expansion of the District Cooling industry while ensuring the widespread sharing of knowledge and best practices.

Empower said the focus will be on enhancing energy efficiency in the cooling and heating sector. The meeting, Empower said, was held in Empower’s headquarters and attended by H. E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower; Ginger Scoggins, President, ASHRAE; Dennis Knight, the new presidential candidate of ASHRAE; Eng. Farouk Mahboub, Former President, ASHRAE, and Dr Ahmed Alaa El-Din, Director and President- Greater Region, Al-Kubra and Member of the Board of Directors, ASHRAE.

Empower said the meeting featured in-depth discussions on important topics, most notably the agreement to develop a Standard based on the current District Cooling guide, which is applicable in different countries of the world and is compatible with various District Cooling activities and guarantees environmental, climatic, and economic gains for investors, customers, and the public by providing safe, effective, and economical cooling services. 

Empower also said that the parties agreed to hold a second meeting in Chicago, Illinois, during the ASHRAE annual conference, which will be held from January 20 to 24, to finalise the agreement on standardising the District Cooling guide, which is expected to be a key reference for District Cooling operators, consultants, and industry experts to improve operational efficiency. 

H.E. Bin Shafar, said: “The meeting served as a valuable opportunity to strengthen the ties that bind Empower and ASHRAE. Sharing issues of common interest was particularly fruitful, given ASHRAE’s standing as a global force for District Cooling technology and bringing together numerous leading companies, in the field, under its umbrella. In addition to being a global reference for best practices in this industry, ASHRAE possesses a deep understanding of the critical challenges facing the refrigeration sector across the globe.”