khaleej times | ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
Viable medium for chilled energy
District cooling
D
istrict cooling in the
UAE is a unique
plays an and technically vi-
able option to main-
essential role in tain cooling in cen-
tralised premises. It also pertains
industry to production and distribution of
chilled energy in the form of wa-
operations in ter through specially insulated
mediums.
the country The concept has taken roots in
urban development and is one of
the most sustainable methods of
cool energy for building, industrial
Ishtiaq Ali Mehkri plants and other associated
concerns. Chilled water is
delivered through an underground-
insulated pipeline, which helps in
cooling the indoor air within a
district/unit. The same energy,
i.e., chilled water is used to lower
the temperature of air passing
through the buildings air
conditioning units.
It is of economic utility as one
cooling plant is enough to meet
the cooling-energy demand of
many units/buildings in a district.
The cooling is run on electricity or
natural gas, and can use either
regular water or seawater. It
constitutes a new form of energy
service, and is becoming a
constant in changing times of
technology.
District cooling is measured in
refrigeration tonnes, which is
equivalent to 12,000 BTUs per
hour. The phenomenon is apt and
can be a leading alternative in air-
conditioning systems. It features a
built-in structure, composition
and technique that it does not
need enormous amounts of
electricity or gas supplies. It is a
compressed form of energy
evaluation that can compete with
air-cooled reciprocating chiller
systems serving large buildings.
District cooling is capable of
dealing with extreme
temperatures, weather conditions
and humidity. The equipment
installed is specially insulated,
and extra care is taken to ensure
that it does not get corrupted
underneath the soil or in open-air
temperature, as it conducts and
flows chilled water.
The system is suitable for large-
scale, high-density developments
and that too on commercial scales.
Such plants utilise a variety of
conventional fuels such as coal,
oil and natural gas. The interesting
point is that district cooling is a
convertible avenue and can use
renewable fuels such as biomass,
geothermal, and combined heat
and power.
mehkri@khaleejtimes.com
Economic solutions for
Dubai Health Care City
Empower receives
Dubai Healthcare City
Authority Excellence
Awards for
sustainable approach
to district cooling
T
he Dubai Healthcare
City Authority (DHCA)
recently recognised
Empowers efforts and
achievements for its cost-effective
and eco-friendly solutions in
Dubai Health Care City (DHCC).
The chilling plant set in the zone
has a total capacity of 56,000 RT.
This recognition is a reflection
of our constant efforts to develop
solutions that facilitate
sustainability and best cooling
solutions for the healthcare
professionals in Dubai Health
Care City, said Ahmad bin
Shafar, CEO of Empower.
The UAE-based district cooling
provider continues to adopt new
methodologies to provide
environmentally-friendly cooling,
rather than simply implementing
standard district cooling
technology.
District cooling solution is the
way forward to achieve the
The district cooling process
A central plant chills the water
Water circuit distributes the chilled water to units through
insulated pipes
A parallel circuit in the unit circulates the cold water
Turbines then work to produce chilled or conditioned
environment using air
Energy, i.e., water is constantly re-chilled and recycled
governments vision of a
sustainable development. We are
pleased that our reliable and
efficient solutions have succeeded
in delivering cooling services in
accordance with highest
standards of efficiency and
environmental sustainability for
Dubai Health Care City. We look
at this initiative as the ideal
channel to demonstrate our stand
in this regard, added Shafar.
Empower currently operates
more than 1.250 Million RT,
providing environmentally
responsible district cooling
services to large-scale real estate
developments such as Jumeirah
Group, Business Bay, Jumeirah
Beach Residence, Dubai
International Financial Centre,
Palm Jumeirah, Jumeirah Lake
Towers, Ibn Battuta Mall,
Discovery Gardens, Dubai
Healthcare City, Dubai World
Trade Centre Residences, Dubai
Design District, among others.
Key progress
in green
initiatives
Dubai Clean Energy
Strategy 2050 aims to
generate 75 per cent
of total energy output
from clean resources
T
he energy sector in the
UAE is undergoing
change to improve the
industry and add a
boost to trends. The 43rd meeting
of the Dubai Supreme Council of
Energy (DSCE) took place to
discuss progress in several key
projects, initiatives and
programmes, notably the World
Green Economy Organisation
(WGEO), as well as a hydroelectric
power station in Hatta area, and
the Dubai Green Mobility
Initiative.
This is aligned with the Dubai
Clean Energy Strategy 2050,
launched by His Highness Sheikh
Mohammed bin Rashid Al
Maktoum, Vice-President and
Prime Minister of the UAE and
Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai a
global hub for clean energy and
green economy, and also one of
the cities with the lowest carbon
footprints worldwide by 2050,
said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer,
Vice-Chairman of DSCE.
Other discussions included an
approved roadmap to implement
the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy
2050, which aims to generate 7
per cent of Dubais total energy
output from clean resources by
2020, 25 per cent by 2030 and
75 per cent by 2050.
In addition, WGEO formally
signed a collaboration agreement
with UNDP to seek partnerships
with private, government, civil,
banking, NGOs and educational
bodies.