Ahmad bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, has briefed Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al-Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, on the latest projects carried out by Empower in the field of district cooling.

During the meeting held at the ministry, Bin Shafar stressed the importance of district cooling as part of fighting climate change, which provides environmentally friendly cooling solutions.

The two officials discussed the importance of partnerships between the public and private sectors to promote international cooperation in green technology solutions, adopting and supporting the global trends towards sustainability, energy conservation and optimal use of natural resources.

"Climate change is a global issue that requires concerted efforts at local and international levels. We, in the UAE, are committed to our role in enhancing cooperation between the public and private sectors, and supporting international efforts to limit the effects of global warming. Moreover, we are working on preparing a comprehensive national strategy to combat climate change in line with the vision of UAE leadership to realise sustainable development spanning economic, social and environmental sectors," said Dr. Al-Zeyoudi.

He underlined the importance of the vital role played by the private sector in reducing the negative impacts on the environment and achieving sustainable development. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment is keen to set priorities, face challenges and grab opportunities for including in the national strategy for climate change, the UAE minister said.

"We fully support the efforts of the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in conserving natural resources for the benefit of future generations. As the world’s largest district cooling services' provider, we believe it is our duty to collaborate with the ministry to protect the environment against climate change, which forms one of the key elements of Dubai Plan 2021," Bin Shafar said.

"Empower has emerged as a global model for energy efficiency and sustainability, and our visit to Dr. Al-Zeyoudi demonstrates our commitment to collaborating with public institutions in the UAE and the world. We are keen to develop and deploy the latest technology tools in the field of district cooling, devise global strategies to address environmental issues, and help other countries to adopt more sustainable solutions," he added.

Bin Shafar also briefed Dr. Al-Zeyoudi on the progress achieved by Empower in the use of treated water instead of fresh water in its district cooling operations, resulting in a significant contribution to saving natural resources in Dubai by saving millions of gallons of water.

Empower’s district cooling service model is 50% more efficient than conventional air conditioning solutions. That means a decrease in energy production that in turn leads to reduced consumption of fossil fuels, thus helping create a long-term green economy and sustainable development.

Empower currently operates more than 1 million 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.