DUBAI, UAE 4 October 2023: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower) announced that it concluded its participation in the District Energy Conference (LATAM2023) held in Cartagena, Colombia. Making the announcement through a Press release, Empower said the event featured the presence and participation of global leaders, delegations from government and private sectors, decision-makers in the district energy sector, and experts and consultants from various countries worldwide. 

Empower said its CEO, H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, served as a keynote speaker in the session, ‘Contribution of Energy Districts to Reducing CO2 emissions and Improving the Sustainability of the Cities’, on the second day of the conference showcasing Dubai as an example to other cities in the world in implementing energy districts. During his presentation, Empower said H.E.Bin Shafar highlighted that air conditioning is a necessity rather than a luxury in the Middle East region due to the hot climate and limited scope for natural cooling. The District Cooling utility provider also said UAE has been increasingly aware of climate change and global warming, so it is one of the early adopters of energy-efficient solutions. Given that space cooling accounts for as much as 70% of the energy consumption in the region’s buildings, the adoption of District Cooling stands as an environmentally friendly solution, leading to a substantial reduction in annual CO2 emissions, Empower said.

H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar

The District Cooling utility provider said that H.E.Bin Shafar emphasised that Empower, which was established to provide energy-efficient and world-class District Cooling services to the real estate developments in Dubai, is at the forefront of implementing Energy Districts in the region with a total cooling capacity of over 1.5 million refrigeration tonnes. Utilising a hybrid approach, Empower added that it incorporates public-private partnerships and serves as the preferred District Cooling services provider for Dubai’s most iconic and landmark projects, boasting a dynamic portfolio of ongoing and upcoming developments in the region. 

H.E.Bin Shafar said: “UAE gives great importance to sustainability and environmental conservation to mitigate climate change. Moreover, national and regional policies, including the UAE Energy Strategy 2050, UAE Net Zero 2050, Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy, and Dubai’s Demand Side Management (DSM) Strategy, which aim to achieve annual savings of 30% in electricity and 30% in water by the year 2030, have been instrumental in our efforts”. 

Furthermore, H.E. Bin Shafar emphasised that these international events provide Empower a valuable platform to establish robust connections with key players and commercial partners in the industry. H.E. Bin Shafar said, “They offer an invaluable opportunity for exchanging ideas and engaging in meaningful dialogues to enhance the operational efficiency of district cooling systems and foster the development of innovative technologies.”