H.E. Ahmad bin Shafar, delivers Opening Keynote Speech at ASHRAE Conference and Exhibition - HVACR Nexus 2025

As part of its commitment to supporting innovation and enhancing energy efficiency and sustainability, Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower), the world’s largest district cooling services provider, participated in the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) Conference and Exhibition, HVACR Nexus 2025, held under the theme “Connecting Innovation and Sustainability”, at Lapita Hotel and Resorts in Dubai, from 2 to 5 October. Empower CEO, H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar delivered an opening keynote speech, in which he emphasised the role of district cooling systems as one of the effective solutions for achieving energy efficiency and supporting sustainability, while also highlighting Empower’s two-decade-long journey in developing and expanding district cooling services in the region.

Empower’s participation in this conference comes in line with its strategy aimed at strengthening alliances with international partners and consolidating its role in supporting policies and initiatives related to sustainable development. This participation also reflects the company’s commitment to keeping pace with the latest technologies and future trends in green building design and cooling services, contributing to the conference agenda for this year, which focuses on innovation and sustainability.

“Empower continues to consolidate its global leadership in the district cooling sector through its remarkable achievements. Our total connected capacity has exceeded 1.6 million refrigeration tons, and the total number of buildings benefiting from our services has increased to 1,684 so far. This reflects the growing confidence in the efficiency of our solutions and its vital role in supporting sustainability. In this context, our participation in the ASHRAE HVACR NEXUS 2025 Conference and Exhibition confirms our firm commitment to supporting sustainable development goals and enhancing Dubai’s position as a global destination for innovation. Through our strategy, we are keen to contribute to shaping a more efficient and flexible future for cooling systems, in line with the vision of our wise leadership, and enhancing Empower’s role as a key partner in global efforts to reduce emissions and achieve environmental sustainability, in line with government’s various initiatives including Dubai’s Carbon Neutrality Strategy 2050”, said H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower.

Empower, in cooperation with the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), has succeeded over the past years in publishing two global guidelines for district cooling sector, which have gained wide international recognition and contributed to raising energy efficiency of buildings in line with the requirements of district cooling systems. The company is currently working with the Society on innovating the next generation district cooling systems through advanced scientific research, as part of both parties’ commitment to advancing the district cooling sector to unprecedented levels.

The Society and Empower are also collaborating on drafting and issuing a global Standard for district cooling, applicable to various countries worldwide, based on the agreement signed between them in 2024.