Empower Enhances District Cooling Network Across Dubai

Dubai: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower) has underscored its commitment to Dubai’s sustainable expansion by boosting its district cooling facilities and underground pipeline infrastructure at strategic sites within the emirate.

The firm indicated that its ongoing infrastructure enhancements are pivotal in addressing the needs of Dubai’s increasing population and the swift pace of urbanization, while also aiding in minimizing electricity use and alleviating stress on the power grid. As of late 2025, Empower operates over 430 kilometers of underground pipelines and 90 district cooling facilities throughout Dubai.

Empower emphasized the global rise of district cooling as a key approach by governments and urban developers seeking efficient means to manage escalating temperatures, swift urbanization, and higher electricity needs. These systems also contribute to mitigating urban heat island effects and fostering environmental sustainability.

During a recent webinar hosted by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Cool Coalition focusing on “District Cooling as Urban Energy Infrastructure,” H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, remarked that Dubai has set a global standard in sophisticated district cooling infrastructure, emphasizing sustainability and energy efficiency.

Bin Shafar indicated that Empower remains dedicated to expanding its facilities and networks via a scalable model, keeping pace with Dubai’s rapid development while ensuring dependable and eco-friendly cooling services. He noted the transformation of district cooling into a dependable utility service that propels Dubai’s sustainability objectives.

Since 2004, Empower’s connected cooling capacity has soared from 5,400 refrigeration tons (RT) to roughly 1.7 million RT, reinforcing its position as the largest district cooling service provider globally.

The company also revealed upcoming projects across Dubai, including the awarding of the design contract for its fifth district cooling plant situated in Business Bay, projected to achieve a cooling capacity of approximately 44,000 RT upon completion.

In the first quarter of 2026, Empower added 33,500 RT to its connected capacity, expanding its clientele to nearly 160,000 across 1,776 buildings.

In 2025, the firm inaugurated operations at its Deira Waterfront cooling facility, offering a total capacity of 39,000 RT to more than 46 buildings. Additionally, excavation and foundational work contracts were secured for a new cooling plant in Al Sufouh 2, estimated at a capacity of 23,400 RT.

Ongoing construction is set to establish Empower’s second cooling plant in Jumeirah Village, anticipated to yield around 37,000 RT of cooling capacity. Moreover, the design contract for a new facility in Dubai Science Park has been awarded, projected to serve nearly 80 buildings with a total capacity nearing 47,000 RT.

Empower asserted that these expansion initiatives enhance Dubai’s readiness for the future by delivering reliable, adaptive, and sustainable cooling solutions, reinforcing the emirate's energy efficiency ambitions and elevating its global prominence in the district cooling realm.