Environment & Energy | Thursday 6 December, 2018 1:32 am |

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world's largest district cooling services provider, announced that the 8th International District Energy Association (IDEA) Annual Conference and Tradeshow 2018 will be held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, and Chairman of Emirates Airlines & Group. The conference will be conducting from 9 to 11 December, at Atlantis, The Palm under the slogan ‘Effective Energy for Smarter Cities’, in the presence of leaders, specialists and stakeholders in the district cooling sector, from the UAE, the region and the world. This is the third time; Dubai is hosting this annual event and is expected over 600 local and global participants this year. 

On this occasion, Ahmad Bin Shafar; CEO of Empower said, “Our wise leadership pays great attention to sustainability as the foundation of development and the driving force in the transition towards a green economy. Dubai has become a regional as well as global model for reliance on clean and renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions. Hosting the conference in Dubai for the third time highlights the city’s progress in the field of district cooling, which is one of the pillars of environmental sustainability, and the cornerstone of the development of smart cities that are keen on effective management of resources and enhancing energy efficiency to reduce carbon footprint. We hope the conference achieves its objectives to increase dependency on district cooling services, to ensure a more sustainable and bright future for generations to come”.

Bin Shafar, , stressed that Dubai has proved that it is one of the best destinations in the world to host and organise major conferences and business events, and this has contributed in enhancing its regional and global position. In addition, Dubai has adopted the best systems, expertise and practices in various fields, especially in district cooling. This reflects the role of the UAE in supporting sustainable developments in the region and in different parts of the world, and its relentless efforts in the field of district cooling, which has become an essential part of planning and designing modern buildings.

Bin Shafar highlighted that the UAE’s wise leadership represented by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, believes in the importance of investing in energy efficient endeavours that contribute to preserving the environment, in order to achieve sustainable development goals and the UAE Vision 2021. 

“Dubai’s achievements in the field of energy efficiency wouldn’t have been possible without the guidance of the Almighty and the efforts and guidance of our wise leadership, which harnesses its full potential to achieve the objectives of the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 and the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050. Empower will continue its efforts in the development of advanced district cooling solutions and smart technologies that conserve environmental resources more efficiently. Moreover, we are all set to host this conference,” added Bin Shafar.

Bin Shafar thanked His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, for his patronage of the 8th IDEA Annual Conference and Tradeshow2018, as it reflects his interest in the environmental affairs and the best initiatives and activities that support sustainable development goals, through developing the efficiency of district cooling sector and the use of advanced technologies in new projects. The conference is an ideal platform for sharing experiences, best practices and the most innovative solutions in the district cooling sector and related industries. It also sheds light on the major challenges facing in environmental resources, and developing solutions to overcome them, as well as the role of district cooling systems in shaping the future of smart cities.

Empower is hosting the IDEA conference and tradeshow for the third time, after 2014 and 2016. The announcement was made recently during the 109th IDEA Annual Conference and Tradeshow 2018.

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.