Empower calls to intensify fight against global warming at the (IDEA) BoD meeting in Austin

A senior delegation from Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world’s largest district cooling services provider, headed by HE Ahmad Bin Shafar, Chief Executive Officer, has wrapped up a successful participation in the International District Energy Association (IDEA) Campus Energy Conference 2016, held in Austin, Texas, USA. 

During the participation, the delegation highlighted the importance of investing in sustainability, elaborating that district cooling is a feasible investment which yields economic and environmental benefits and combats the global warming and climate change issues.

The delegation included HE Ali bin Abdullah Al Owais, Chairman of the Regulatory and Supervisory Bureau and Saeed Bel Jafla, Acting Senior Manager of Government Relations, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) who both presented ‘Flashes of Thought’, the book written by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to Mr. Rob Thornton, President and CEO of IDEA.

On the sidelines of the event, Empower delegation held a series of meetings to discuss the latest advancements of district cooling technology. Also, Bin Shafar attended the IDEA Board of Directors Meeting being a Member of it.

IDEA praised Empower’s rapid growth, to become the world’s largest district cooling services provider, which has become a role model in the district cooling industry. Empower’s efforts in terms of enhancing the spread of district cooling and its efforts in implementing sustainability and efficiency standards were recognised by the international association.

“We are pleased to take part in Campus Energy 2016 Conference organised by IDEA under the theme ‘The Changing Landscape’. Relying on our expertise, we highlighted the latest technological innovations, best practices and policy we follow to raise the industry’s standards, promote sustainability, apply innovation, enhance efficiency, and building trained local capacities,” said Bin Shafar.

“This comes in line with the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to diversify energy sources in Dubai, under the Dubai Plan 2021, to make Dubai sustainable with its resources and make its environmental elements clean, healthy, and sustainable,” added Bin Shafar.

“It is always beneficial to meet with our strategic partners in global conferences, and discuss ways to expand cooperation. The Gulf region is eligible to play a leading role in this industry, due to the demand of cooling all year round. Our spending in research contributes in enhancing our smart transformation move and our sustainability drive,” Bin Shafar pointed out.

This year, IDEA's Campus Energy Conference brought together a galaxy of industry experts to focus on peer exchange, best practices and business development. Moreover, case studies were presented about assessing the benefit of energy efficiency and water preservation. The main sessions also highlighted the best technical ways to embed global practices to the industry. At the sidelines of the conference, a tradeshow was held and witnessed participation of machinery suppliers, system developers and consultants from the energy industry worldwide.

Participants at the conference delivered presentations about the trends in DC industry, best practices for its growth, latest technologies to boost innovation as well as other topics such as master energy planning, thermal distribution and solutions, strategies in these fields, maintenance and operations of plants, and the latest trends in DC infrastructure.

Empower currently operates more than 1 million and 100 thousands 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 and Dubai Design District, among others.