Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), the world’s largest district cooling services provider, has commenced construction of its new district cooling plant in Dubai’s Deira district.
This follows the recent award of the main construction contract for the facility. The new plant will serve over 46 buildings within the Deira Waterfront development, a key component of the Deira Enrichment Project.
The project aims to transform and upgrade the vibrant district by creating 20 residential communities featuring spacious apartments, distinctive commercial spaces and modern offices, all built while preserving the beauty of Deira’s heritage and cultural character.
The company indicated that advanced technologies will be incorporated into the operations of the Deira Waterfront district cooling plant. Award-winning technologies such as Thermal Energy Storage (TES), which optimizes energy usage during on-peak and off-peak hours, and Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE), which helps conserve fresh water, will be integrated into the plant.
Ahmad bin Shafar CEO – Empower
“Our teams are increasing their efforts to provide reliable and high-quality district cooling services to customers across Dubai. Empower is committed to expanding its projects and operations to meet the growing demand for district cooling. These efforts will result in developing our infrastructure, expanding distribution networks, increasing the number of cooling plants, and targeting new areas to be covered by district cooling systems such as the Deira Waterfront. This will contribute to expanding our customer base to reach around 140,000 by the end of the year.”
The work is progressing on schedule under the direct supervision of Empower’s in-house project team. The new plant will be completed in two phases, reaching a total production capacity of 39,000 refrigeration tons (RT). The first phase, with a capacity of approximately 20,000 RT of environmentally friendly cooling, is scheduled to become operational by the end of June 2025.
With over 80 percent of the Dubai district cooling market share, Empower will continue to invest significantly, backed by investors and shareholders, to expand its operations in Dubai. This commitment includes upgrading and developing its facilities and technical staff to meet the growing demand for its services from various segments.
The new plant is designed according to the highest international standards, taking into account sustainable green building standards and Dubai’s recent urban developments, and in harmony with the overall aesthetic appearance of the area and the exterior of the buildings in the development.
