Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) said it has signed an agreement with leading UAE developer Sobha Realty to provide its district cooling services to the Sobha Hartland master community with a capacity of 17,000 refrigeration tons (RT). 

 

As per the agreement, Sobha Hartland will join Empower’s extensive district cooling portfolio, while Empower will provide key district cooling services across eight buildings of Sobha Hartland by extending the distribution network from company’s Meydan district cooling project. 

 

Sobha Hartland is an 8-million-sq-ft waterfront community situated in the MBR City, with access to premium amenities, restaurants, retail centres, educational and entertainment facilities.

 

Empower said it will start serving the first two buildings during the current year, through a dedicated pipeline network to transmit and distribute district cooling energy extending from the Meydan plant, which has a cooling capacity of 45,000 RT and uses advanced technologies. 

 

It is a part of the Meydan master community district cooling project, which was acquired by Empower in 2021 through an agreement to supply the Meydan master community with 382,000 RT district cooling energy, covering 750 buildings in the city. 

 

Empower had also announced during the acquisition that it would build three new district cooling plants and a pipeline network to meet the required cooling energy at a total investment of more than AED1.6 billion ($435.6 million).

 

"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.

 

Empower, he stated, focuses on serving landmark real estate projects and aims to provide all sectors such as, residential, commercial, hospitality, healthcare, and others in Dubai with its eco-friendly district cooling services.

 

On the strategic collaboration, Alfred said it was in line with the group's dedication to supporting the UAE's sustainability-focused programmes, such as 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.-TradeArabia News Service