With a capacity of 17,000 refrigeration tonnes, Emirates Central Cooling Systems Company (Empower) announced that it has entered into a deal with renowned UAE developer Sobha Properties to offer its district cooling services to the Sobha Hartland master community (RT).
As per the agreement, Sobha Hartland will join Empower's broad district cooling portfolio, while Empower will deliver critical district cooling services across eight buildings of Sobha Hartland by extending the distribution network from company's Meydan district cooling project.
The MBR City's Sobha Hartland is an 8 million square foot seaside neighbourhood with access to first-rate services for dining, shopping, entertainment, and education.
Using a specialised pipeline network to transfer and distribute district cooling energy extending from the Meydan plant, which has a cooling capacity of 45,000 RT and uses cutting-edge technologies, Empower said it will begin serving the first two buildings during the current year.
It is a portion of the Meydan master community district cooling project, which Empower purchased in 2021 after signing a contract to provide 382,000 RT of district cooling energy for the city's 750 structures.
In addition, Empower had stated during the acquisition that it will invest more than AED1.6 billion ($435.6 million) in the construction of three new district cooling plants and a pipeline network to supply the necessary cooling energy.
"Adding Sobha Realty projects to our portfolio reflects the confidence of real estate developers and customers in our reliable services, and highlights its role in providing quality district cooling services that save up to 50% energy than traditional air conditioning systems," remarked Empower CEO Ahmad bin Shafar after signing the deal with Francis Alfred, Sobha Realty Managing Director.
He explained that Empower concentrates on serving renowned real estate projects and seeks to offer its environmentally friendly district cooling services to various sectors in Dubai, including residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and others.
When it comes to the strategic partnership, Alfred said it was consistent with the organization's commitment to assisting the UAE's sustainability-focused initiatives, like the Net Zero Strategic Initiative 2050.
"Our goal is to create a portfolio of buildings that reflect our commitment to sustainably constructed environment. In every phase of our projects, sustainability is a top priority, right from incorporating eco-friendly practices, materials, and technologies during the design stage to reducing carbon emissions and enhancing project efficiency during the execution stage," he added.