ABU DHABI, UAE, 9 November 2023: Tabreed, announced the conclusion of the first pilot project of its kind, which it conducted in partnership with Ireland-based HT Materials Science (HTMS). Making the announcement through a Press release, Tabreed said: the heat transfer fluid technology developed by HTMS, known as Maxwell, has been applied across its current portfolio of 89 District Cooling plants. 

Tabreed said it could increase efficiency by between nine and 15 per cent. The District Cooling company further said that, theoretically, this could mean preventing approximately 200,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions annually as a result of decreased electrical energy consumption. For context, Tabreed added,  this would equate to removing 43,500 cars from the roads each year as a result of saving 335 million kWh of electricity, which is also enough to power approximately 20,000 homes.

Introducing the project developed by HTMS, Tabreed said, Maxwell, named after James Clerk Maxwell, the scientist who first developed the concept of nanofluids in the 19th century, is an engineered suspension of sub-micron aluminium oxide particles in a base fluid of water or water/glycol (nanofluid), a drop-in additive for cooling and heating systems, that works by enhancing heat transfer. Tabreed further said it was trialled in the summer of 2023, at a Tabreed District Cooling plant in Khalifah City, Abu Dhabi, which exclusively supplies chilled water to a 55,742-square-metre educational campus.

Tabreed added that the performance of the Maxwell nanoparticle fluid technology at its facility was evaluated under industry-approved Energy Efficiency Analysis (EEA). The exercise demonstrated that its addition increased the efficiency of the plant’s chillers by 13.6%, leading to an overall plant efficiency improvement of nine per cent, compared with the same period in 2022.

Khalid Al Marzooqi

Khalid Al Marzooqi, CEO, Tabreed, said: “This development is a testament to the company’s pursuit of energy efficiency at every level of its operations, adding that as a sustainable cooling champion focused on innovation, we are always looking for ways to accelerate the energy transition and provide more efficient services that benefit our customers, our stakeholders and the communities in which Tabreed operates. Furthermore, this pilot project proves the power of international partnership and technological collaboration, and we look forward to working with HTMS to further the application of their technology to advance sustainable cooling solutions that benefit communities and industries worldwide. In real terms, we are looking at a potentially seismic improvement in energy efficiency that could radically change this industry, and the fact that Tabreed is spearheading such developments should not be a surprise. In addition, I am proud to be leading a company that’s completely aligned with the UAE’s  Net-Zero strategy.”

Tabreed also shared an overview of how Maxwell works in a chilled water system and said that Maxwell’s nanotechnology increases the thermal capacity of water, the base fluid for commercial and industrial chilled water systems. When added to a chilled water loop at a two per cent concentration of nanomaterials, Tabreed added, Maxwell increases the system’s cooling capacity by up to 15%, and this increased cooling capacity allows chillers, fan units, pumps and other equipment to operate more efficiently, reducing electrical energy consumption and carbon emissions. Maxwell is a non-toxic, non-corrosive material and fully recoverable and recyclable, the District Cooling company further said.

In addition, Tabreed said, it is in discussions with HTMS, following the pilot study results, to introduce the Maxwell technology to other District Cooling facilities in the company’s portfolio. With cooling accounting for an estimated 70% of energy consumption in the GCC region, and global demand expected to triple by 2050, Tabreed said, this technology could potentially play a critical role in reducing the environmental impact of an industry already widely viewed as an essential contributor to sustainability, with District Cooling being up to 50% more energy efficient than conventional cooling methods.

Commenting on the pilot project, Thomas Grizzetti, CEO, HTMS, said: “Thanks to the ease of installation and use in both new and existing HVAC systems, Maxwell can have a material impact on energy usage and the carbon footprint of a broad range of industries and sectors globally. Maxwell is a step forward for businesses wishing to drive down energy use, increase system capacity and meet regulated energy efficiency targets increasingly promulgated by governments globally. We believe Tabreed is an ideal strategic partner for HTMS to help achieve widespread adoption of this unique technology.”