DUBAI, UAE, February 2024:Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower) has announced that it was honoured by the International District Energy Association (IDEA) in a special ceremony during the ‘IDEA Campus Energy 2024’ conference, held from February 20 to 23 in San Francisco in the US state of California. Making the announcement through a Press release, Empower said that it is in line with its continuous cooperation with the IDEA for two decades and significant contributions to innovation, sustainability and advancing District Cooling technologies in the Middle East region and worldwide over the past two decades. Furthermore, Empower said the ‘IDEA Campus Energy 2024’ was held under the slogan ‘Bridge of the Future’, with the participation of more than 1,200 professionals and entities worldwide.

Empower said IDEA’s recognition was awarded to H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, who made exceptional efforts with his teamwork in leading the company and capitalising on the support of its partners and shareholders to make a breakthrough in this vital, environmentally friendly industry and expand the scope of its positive gains in societal and economic sustainability. Empower said the recognition also honoured the H.E. Bin Shafar’s endeavours to strengthen the District Cooling utility providers’ position at the forefront of the District Cooling industry worldwide.

Empower said the celebration reflected the strength of the 20-year strategic partnership between Empower and IDEA and highlighted the significant advancements in the District Cooling sector in the UAE and the Middle East region over the past years. The District Cooling utility provider said in addition to their efforts to advance innovation, sustainability and efficiency in the District Cooling industry, Empower and IDEA have together succeeded in shaping a modern landscape for environmentally friendly cooling solutions in the Middle East region and addressing the unique challenges.

H.E. Bin Shafar said: “The bilateral collaboration between Empower and IDEA has contributed to the development of best practices in the District Cooling industry, and driven investment in innovation, technologies and purposeful initiatives. This fruitful collaboration has advanced the standards of District Cooling services provided by Empower and contributed significantly to the growth and resilience of the entire District Energy sector in the Middle East region.”

Empower said it has actively promoted the District Cooling industry globally and added that the company has hosted international District Cooling conferences and events in Dubai across the years 2014, 2016 and 2018. Empower also said that it has provided support to the Latin American District Energy Conference (LATAM2023), held in Cartagena, Colombia and added that this international commitment was further extended when Empower co-hosted the District Cooling Summit 2023 with IDEA during COP28 in Dubai, alongside multiple international organisations. These various initiatives, Empower said, demonstrate its dedication to fostering advancements in District Cooling technology on a global platform.