Dubai, UAE, 21 September 2020: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) announced that it has connected the world’s tallest observation wheel, ‘Ain Dubai’ to its district cooling network. ‘Ain Dubai’ stands at the Bluewaters Island, on the coastline of Dubai. Though the island has already opened its doors to tourists and residents, the whole world awaits the launch of ’Ain Dubai’, the massive Ferris wheel, Empower said through a Press release.

Ahmad Bin Shafar

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower said: “All operations for providing the project with district cooling services have been successfully completed, and the wheel building was efficiently and professionally connected with 850 Refrigeration Tons (RT).” Bin Shafar highlighted that the operations that were performed recently are part of fulfilling the obligations of the contract signed with ‘Meraas’ in 2015 to provide the island project with a total capacity of 25,000 RT. In August 2017, Bluewaters Island was connected to the Empower network, and this was followed by the successful operations for ‘Ain Dubai’ Ferris wheel, Empower said.

“With an investment of AED 6 billion, the ‘Bluewaters Island’ project, which embraces the Ain Dubai Wheel, in addition to many luxurious residential and hotel buildings, including the Caesars Palace Bluewaters Dubai and the distinctive shopping and entertainment centers, is indeed a qualitative addition to company’s portfolio,” Bin Shafar said. The project lies among the most prominent multi-use urban icons that Empower provides with high-quality district cooling services, as per global standards, he added. Bin Shafar said that Ain Dubai and Bluewaters Island are supplied with eco-friendly district cooling services from the recently modernised plant of Empower in Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR). The plant was upgraded to the second generation district cooling systems, which significantly save power, improve efficiency and reduce carbon emission, Empower said. The plant in JBR, Empower added, leverages the latest technologies in district cooling systems, including Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology that monitor and adjust the water flow to and from the cooling plant and help in reducing the burden on the state power grid during peak hours.