Bin Shafar: AI based district cooling mechanism increases efficiency and leads to more reduction in energy consumption

Dubai, United Arab Emirates - May 26, 2019:  Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world's largest district cooling services provider, stated that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology in district cooling systems helps to improve the efficiency of the sector and provide an easier experience for the countries and companies looking for adopting district cooling systems. Empower is committed to offer innovative and environmentally friendly district cooling solutions since its inception, 15 years ago.

With the advancement of AI technology, the company will continue its efforts to employ smart and advanced district cooling systems, which support the transition towards the circular economy, to enhance Dubai’s global position as the city of the future for its use of AI technology in district cooling systems.

Empower follow the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to accelerate the adoption of AI technology and its tools in all sectors. Empower stressed that it has adopted a solid approach that relies on encouraging innovation and employing modern and smart technologies; to achieve sustainable development standards.

“We always strive to develop and achieve excellence in the field of district cooling through the use of AI technology. AI contributes to reducing the annual operating costs of companies in the district cooling sector, as well as enhancing efficiency in facilities,” said Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower.
“At Empower, we work to provide a unique experience for our customers through automated systems that rely on AI technology. Over the past few years, the company devised innovative AI technologies to advance the development of the district cooling sector, which is witnessing a significant demand increase in Dubai. This comes in line with Empower’s strategy to make the UAE as one of the most advanced countries in the world in the development of the AI sector and including its tools in different fields of work,” added Bin Shafar.

“We have worked to keep up with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, using digital technologies and AI applications, to enhance the efficiency of the district cooling sector and provide a unique experience for our customers. The company has developed its technology to implement the complete transition to a green economy. Empower received IDEA Innovation Awards for the '360 Solution for Metering Artificial Intelligence, AIMS 360', and the IDEA Innovation Awards for the 'Energy Transfer Solution Flow Control Optimisation Using Statistical Process Control', at the 109th International District Energy Association (IDEA) Annual Conference and Tradeshow 2018.

“Empower has also introduced the world’s first unmanned and fully automated 50,000 Refrigeration Tonnes (RT) district cooling plant, in Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC). It uses AI technology to monitor and automatically adjust inflow and outflow of the chilled water, as well as Advanced SCADA system with the capacity to read 2 million data related to cooling towers, chillers, transformers, water supply etc. It also uses the award-winning Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) and Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technologies to serve chilled water. The plant is set to be completed in Q4 of 2019. This achievement is the first of its kind in the world in the field of district cooling,” continued Bin Shafar.

The UAE ranked first in the Middle East and 19th worldwide, in the Government Artificial Intelligence Readiness Index 2019, issued by Oxford Insights and the International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in Canada, where it achieved a score of 7.445.

AI applications in various economic sectors are expected to contribute to about 35% of the UAE's GDP in 2030, according to specialised international references, which shows that the country is now one of the best equipped countries to benefit from AI technology worldwide.

Empower provides district cooling services to more than 1,090 buildings, catering to more than 100,000 customers. The company operates more than 1.43 Million Refrigeration Tons (RT), providing environmentally friendly district cooling services to large-scale real estate developments, such as Bluewaters, 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 and Dubai Design District, International Media Production Zone and others.