Empower is a diamond sponsor for the world's largest District Energy conference and exhibition in Chicago.

Attended by hundreds of experts from more than 30 countries

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower), the world's largest district cooling services provider, has announced its diamond sponsorship for the 'IDEA 2023' Conference and Trade Show, organized by the International District Energy Association (IDEA) in Chicago, USA, from 5 to 8 of June, under the slogan 'Empowering the Next Generation'. The world's longest-running event of its kind, for 114 years the IDEA conference and trade show has brought together district energy experts from private and public sector organizations from around the globe to focus on best practices and emerging technologies.

Empower stated that its support for this international event aims to deepen cooperation with IDEA, expand its global role in fostering a culture of excellence and innovation in district cooling, and strengthen its position in achieving strategic goals and initiatives for sustainable development through efficient and smart district cooling systems.

His Excellency Ahmad bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, Board Member Emeritus of IDEA and Chairman of the Association of District Cooling Operators Dubai, said, "Empower, as the leading player in the global district cooling industry, considers its Diamond sponsorship for the IDEA 2023 conference as a crucial opportunity to showcase the initiatives and efforts of the UAE in general and Dubai in particular towards tackling energy and climate change challenges. This sponsorship is the first of its kind for a company in the Middle East, and also underscores the commitment of the country's visionary leaders to encourage the transition towards sustainability and to promote Empower's global objectives and strategies.

For his part, Rob Thornton, President and CEO of IDEA said, “At IDEA, we are proud to continue our cooperation with Empower as we learn from their experiences in building state-of-the art district cooling networks.  As a recognized leader in the global district cooling industry, Empower has demonstrated time and again their commitment to investing in more sustainable solutions and sharing their expertise with IDEA members from around the globe.  District cooling is of vital importance for cities, communities and campuses to achieve a lower-carbon future.”  

District cooling is an environmentally-friendly air conditioning option that caters to multiple buildings in the same vicinity by utilizing a centralized cooling production and distribution system. This system employs insulated underground pipes to provide cooling services to residential, commercial, and mixed-use buildings in densely populated areas. Compared to conventional cooling systems, district cooling minimizes energy consumption by up to 50%, which leads to a reduction in carbon emissions.