The Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation, known as “Empower,” which is the largest provider of district cooling services worldwide, has reported a 7.1% increase in the consumption of its district cooling services during the first half of 2025, compared to the same period in 2024. This rise is attributed to a higher occupancy rate in existing real estate projects and an increase in the number of recently added projects to the corporation’s portfolio. This diversification has expanded their customer base, which includes sectors such as residential, commercial, hospitality, retail, and entertainment, all of which are adopting eco-friendly practices with a focus on sustainability and reducing carbon emissions.
The sustained growth in district cooling consumption reflects a growing demand for environmentally friendly cooling services. In the first half of the year, Empower signed 86 new contracts to supply over 99,000 tons of cooling to various projects and buildings in Dubai. This has led to an increase in the total contracted capacity of Empower to reach 1.86 million tons. Furthermore, the delivering capacity has surpassed 1.6 million tons after the addition of approximately 38,000 tons, resulting in a total of 1,684 buildings served by the corporation.
Ahmed Bin Shafar, the CEO of Empower, stated, “Empower is committed to providing district cooling services with the highest levels of quality and reliability, utilizing the latest technologies and sustainable innovations. This approach supports the continuous demographic, urban, and economic growth of Dubai, aligning with the leadership’s vision of building a greener future and achieving sustainable development and carbon neutrality goals.”
He added, “We take pride in the trust our clients across various sectors have placed in us as a reliable partner in their journey toward reducing their carbon footprint and adopting best sustainable practices. The continuous rise in consumption and the ongoing expansion of our customer base are testaments to the efficiency of Empower’s district cooling services. It drives us to maintain the quality of our offerings and expand our operations and partnerships for the benefit of all stakeholders.”
Bin Shafar emphasized that the readiness of the corporation’s stations, their high operational efficiency, and reliance on the latest district cooling technologies, along with their large capacity, have been key factors in meeting the increasing demand for environmentally friendly cooling services during the first half of this year. He noted that this outstanding operational performance has enabled Empower to address the needs of various sectors, showcasing the flexibility and efficiency of the corporation’s infrastructure. This was further enhanced by extensive maintenance campaigns and preparations conducted before the peak season, covering dozens of stations and distribution networks, to ensure all units and facilities were ready to accommodate the anticipated seasonal increase in demand, especially during the hot summer months. This guarantees a comfortable and stable environment for residents and various clients in sectors such as residential, commercial, and tourism.
It is worth mentioning that Empower has experienced a significant increase in the consumption of its district cooling services over the past five years, with a rise of approximately 69% (in cooling tons per hour) from 2020 to 2024. The growing annual rates of district cooling consumption by clients in Dubai remain one of the strongest drivers for the corporation’s continued expansion and achievement of sustainable revenues and profits.