Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has completed Dh60 million ($16.3 million) expansion at its district cooling plant in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), according to the approved time plan in April 2018, a media report said.

The 62,000 RT plant is now one of the largest operational district cooling plants in the region, reported Emirates news agency Wam.

The expansion included adding 6 eco-friendly EcoWise Centrifugal Chillers by Trane, with a capacity of 3,150 RT each. The Ingersoll Rand EcoWise portfolio of products is designed to lower their environmental impact with next-generation, low-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants.

"The continuous demand for district cooling systems reflects confidence from real-estate owners and developers, and their awareness of the importance of efficient and environmentally responsible district cooling systems. District cooling systems have become an integral part of planning and designing modern buildings in Dubai," said Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower.

In 2004, Empower began supplying two buildings with district cooling systems, and the number of buildings supplied reached 1,000 by the end of 2017. Empower currently operates 73 district cooling stations. Empower also announced that it has supplied 40 new buildings, from January 2018 to June 2018, with environmentally responsible district cooling services, operating over 52,000 RT.

Empower currently operates over 1.34 Million RT, providing environmentally responsible district cooling services to large-scale real estate developments, such as Jumeirah Group, Jumeirah Beach Residence, Dubai International Financial Centre, Business Bay, Dubai Healthcare City, Jumeirah Lake Towers, Palm Jumeirah, Discovery Gardens, Ibn Battuta Mall, Dubai Design District and International Media Production Zone, among others.