December 17, 2017– Producing chilled water during off-peak hours and storing them for later use to cool buildings at peak time is one of the key energy efficiency drivers for Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world’s largest district cooling services provider. Through Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology, the district cooling company eases the power grid during peak hours and ensures consistent supply during periods when there is strong demand.

Dubai, as a global model for sustainable cities, has issued decree instructing district cooling companies to replace desalinated water used in the process of producing chilled water, with Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE), in DC plants. Empower is inspired by such guidelines and regulations, which led to successfully innovating in TES. Empower said that investing in TES complements the UAE Government’s efforts to reduce its carbon emissions and attain its energy efficiency goals. TES in district energy is widely used in advanced countries such as the United States and becoming more popular in other markets. Research shows that the global TES market could grow from an estimated USD 3.67 billion in 2017 to USD 6.2 billion by 2022.

Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, said: “Thermal energy storage tanks, which have already been positively contributing to district cooling’s energy efficiency goals, offer huge potentials for the district cooling sector. They act like batteries, which makes it easier to address the fluctuations in energy demand. The potential for district cooling to expand its role in the sustainable energy sector is huge, considering the latest developments in the clean technology sector. District cooling systems provide an ideal platform to explore innovations and integrate them into the system.”

Bin Shafar added: “Given the huge energy demand of both heating and cooling in buildings, which takes up as much as 60 per cent of a facility’s total energy consumption, advancing our interests in energy-efficient solutions will keep the UAE closer to its sustainability goals while providing a new range of solutions for property developers to build sustainable communities. Empower is keen to continue exploring the opportunities for district cooling to further enhance its position in environmental sustainability.”

Empower provides environmentally responsible district cooling services to large-scale real estate developments such as Jumeirah Group properties, 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, and Dubai Design District, among others.