CCME - June 2023

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EDITORIAL CAMPAIGN: COP28

G7 leaders fail to read

‘LeMay leaflets’

Dr Rajendra Shende, Former Director, UNEP

GUEST COLUMN

Securing the cure

Dr. Iyad Al-Attar, independent air filtration consultant

CASE-IN POINT

Nuaire steps into AMAAD Business Park in Saudi Arabia

Q&A MARKET FEATURE

Heat exchangers

POST EVENT REPORT: DC Dialogue (7th Edition)

District Cooling and carbon neutrality

THE CONSENSUS IS THAT WHILE ESCO PROJECTS IN THE UAE HAVE GAINED INDUSTRY RECOGNITION FOR UNIQUE FINANCING, SCALE AND SUCCESSFUL EXECUTION, THERE IS STILL ROOM FOR IMPROVEMENT

Dunli launches EC/ DC X-pro axial fans, B-max plug fans

Tripartite initiative on District Cooling landscape in Saudi Arabia

Takuma Hosaka, Vice President, Marubeni Middle-East & Africa Power Ltd.

‘The opportunity to retrofit existing real estate is vast’

Okan Tutcu, Director, Middle East & North Africa, AC Business AC P/MEDAO, Samsung Electronics

22 page COVER STORY

The ESCO report card

The consensus is that while ESCO projects in the UAE have gained industry recognition for unique financing, scale and successful execution, there is still room for improvement

CASE-IN POINT

NUAIRE STEPS INTO AMAAD BUSINESS PARK IN SAUDI ARABIA

Supplies car park, smoke ventilation and ambient ventilation solutions to three parcels of the project

Q&A

TRIPARTITE INITIATIVE ON DISTRICT COOLING LANDSCAPE IN SAUDI ARABIA

Takuma Hosaka, Vice President, Marubeni Middle-East & Africa Power Ltd., explains the business approach of Diarona District Energy Limited in Saudi Arabia and underscores Marubeni’s contributions to the venture

POST EVENT REPORT

EDITORIAL CAMPAIGN

COP28: G7 LEADERS FAIL TO READ ‘LeMAY LEAFLETS’

The climate atom bomb was simply left to tick on the Hiroshima roadside, says Dr Rajendra Shende, Former Director, UNEP

GUEST COLUMN

SECURING THE CURE

08

Dr. Iyad Al-Attar, independent air filtration consultant, highlights the use of multi-stage filtration and energy-efficient HVAC systems to improve air quality in hospitals, creating a sustainable environment.

DC DIALOGUE: DISTRICT COOLING AND CARBON NEUTRALITY

The 7th Edition of DC Dialogue aims to strengthen the role of District Cooling in supporting carbon neutrality, fostering regulatory discussions, and facilitating the exchange of perspectives among developers, solution providers and contractors.

Q&A

‘THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETROFIT EXISTING REAL ESTATE IS VAST’

24

Okan Tutcu, Director, Middle East & North Africa, AC Business AC P/MEDAO, Samsung Electronics, discusses the company’s portfolio of solutions that are aligned to refurbishing efforts with a low-carbon outcome in mind

MARKET FEATURE

THE Hx GROWTH CURVE

Demand for greater efficiency and better IAQ are among factors behind a vibrant heat exchangers market in the GCC region

Editor

Co-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com

Editor Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com

Assistant Editor (Online & Social Media)

Umika Pidaparthy umika@cpi-industry.com

Features Writer Indu Revikumar indu@cpi-industry.com

Advertising Enquiries

Frédéric Paillé +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com

Sayf Camran Advertising Manager (Europe) sayf@cpi-industry.com

Weconducted two conferences in the first half of June, and though on different subjects, the recommendation that emerged was similar – the need for greater collaboration among multiple stakeholder disciplines.

The first conference, the 7th Edition of DC Dialogue, on the District Cooling industry, on June 6 in Dubai, reiterated the message that centralised chilled water schemes, if executed and managed properly, are essential for achieving the dream of carbon neutrality in modern-day urban habitats.

The operative words were ‘executed’ and ‘managed’. For quite some time now, there has been a growing feeling that District Cooling providers need to do more when it comes to embracing cutting-edge technological innovations that would increase efficiency and optimise the total cost of ownership. This topic received sufficient attention throughout and was the soul in the discussions revolving around regulation and around protecting the interests of developers and specialised District Cooling contractors. Indeed, the premise of the argument presented by developers and contractors was that addressing their needs was central to a more sophisticated expression of the full capability of District Cooling systems – including a framework of collaboration and cooperation in accepting new technologies – eventually leading to the buildings sector contributing more effusively to efforts aimed at carbon neutrality. A detailed account of the conference is featured in this issue of the magazine.

The second event, the 11th Edition of Food Chain (the Middle East Cold Chain Food Safety Conference), on June 15, in Dubai, was an occasion for food establishments to pinpoint the gaps in the cold chain and to highlight how better collaboration – as opposed to working in silos – could lead to far fewer temperature excursions of thermally sensitive food products, leading to better food safety and quality assurance (FSQA), nutrition and food security outcomes. Aspects such as reliability and energy efficiency cannot be wished into place; they need the thorough backing of specialised refrigeration expertise, but not working in isolation but in close coordination with food hygiene managers with a granular understanding of multiple food types and of how they interact with climatic conditions. A detailed account of Food Chain will be a key feature in the July issue of the magazine. Hope you enjoy reading this issue, which offers much, much more besides the discussions on District Cooling.

Climate Control Middle East magazine proudly supports the UAE President’s initiative of declaring 2023 as the ‘Year of Sustainability’.

Co-Founder & Commercial Director Frédéric Paillé fred@cpi-industry.com

Judy Wang

Our representative in Asia (except India) +852 307 80 826 judywang2000@vip.126.com

Deep Karani

Our representative in North America +1 365 885-6849 deep.karani@cpimediagroup.com

Design Analou Balbero analou@cpi-industry.com

Webmaster Chris Lopez chris@cpi-industry.com

Database/Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki purwanti@cpi-industry.com

Founder, CPI Media Group Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015)

Dr Iyad Al-Attar Independent air filtration consultant, writes on specific science and technology issues relating to Indoor Air Quality, including airborne particles

Kandasamy Anbalagan Managing Partner, Proleed Engineering Consultants, writes on the need for upholding time-tested engineering principles, which would only serve to complement advances in technology.

Antonios Dimitracopoulos Partner, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP, writes on legal affairs pertaining to the construction industry.

Omnia Halawani Co-Founder & Co-CEO, GRFN, writes on MEP consultancy-related issues

Krishnan Unni Madathil

Auditor, Bin Khadim, Radha & Co. Chartered Accountants, carrying out an analysis of the market, writes on business opportunities for the HVACR industry

Jeremy McDonald

Principal of Guth DeConzo Consulting Engineers, in New York. He served as the technical consultant to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in development of an IAQ guideline for Higher Education in NY: “Covid-19 Response Guide, State University of New York”.

Dan Mizesko Managing Partner/President, US Chiller Services International, writes on issues relating to chilled water systems, including operation & maintenance

Dalip Singh

Senior Technical Analyst, AHRI MENA, writes on HVACR-specific regulation issues

RIYADH,

SAUDI ARABIA

10 October 2023

Holiday Inn Al Qasr, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Theme:

‘Matching HVAC prowess and innovation with needs of a dynamic and progressive Saudi Arabia’

FOR EDITORIAL-RELATED QUERIES:

Surendar Balakrishnan

Co-Founder & Editorial Director

M: +971 50 509 2457

E: surendar@cpi-industry.com

FOR EVENT AND MARKETING-RELATED QUERIES:

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Strategic Public Affairs Liaison and Events Manager

M: +971 50 5522461

E: namrata@cpi-industry.com

ccme.events/c3

FOR SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES:

Frédéric Paillé

Co-Founder and Commercial Director

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E: fred@cpi-industry.com

IN ASIA (EXCEPT INDIA), CONTACT: Judy Wang

Our representative in Asia

T: 00852-30780826

E: judywang2000@vip.126.com

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MEERAKI MEDIA

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G7 LEADERS FAIL TO READ ‘LeMAY LEAFLETS’

The climate atom bomb was simply left to tick on the Hiroshima roadside, says Dr Rajendra Shende, former Director, UNEP

IN THE 19,000-word communiqué issued by G7 leaders on the last day of the Hiroshima meeting, from May 19 to 21, ‘climate’ comes after perceived priority subjects like the war in Ukraine, security related to nuclear armament, state of economy, supply of food and financing of the quality infrastructure.

The reference to climate and clean energy is habitually sprinkled and spread all over the latter part of the extensive communiqué. However, there is no proof or evidence, whatsoever if the world leaders of G7 had at all heeded the stark warnings issued by WMO just two days before the start of the Hiroshima meeting. That WMO report was based on field observations and came after IPCC’s AR6, issued in Q1 2023. The G7’s cold shoulder to the WMO report was exactly the way the citizens of Hiroshima overlooked the warning in ‘LeMay’ leaflets dropped by American planes before the first ever atom bomb was dropped on their city.

The leaders of G7 left Japan after a lot of self-honouring messages and habitual statements, ensuring that their communiqué encompassed the usual encyclopaedia of global challenges. And the priority of global challenges was, at best, jumbled. In short, it was plainly evident that despite being in Hiroshima for three days, they did not bother to read the ‘LeMay leaflets’ about the ticking climate bomb. Indeed, there was no shade of remorse apparent in the communiqué that it is the historical emissions in G7 countries that have taken the planet to the cliff. Instead of launching a rapid war on their own greenhouse gas emissions, they continued to mouth statements of commitments and promises, which they have never kept in the past, and are not expected to keep in the future. Even

the issues that are at the heart of COP28, like climate justice, fundamental change in lifestyle and super urgency to support the latest positive investment trends for clean energy, were missing.

Before the bombing of Hiroshima, under the orders of American General Curtis LeMay, millions of leaflets were dropped from American military planes, warning the citizens of the grave consequences of weapons of mass destruction. The leaflets informed of urgent precautions like safe shelter or evacuation. That was in August 1945.

The residents of Hiroshima ignored the leaflets, considering them as part of routine alarms during the war period and as enemy’s tactics of scaremongering. There was also complacency that ‘governments are there to take care’. Simply put, the citizens snoozed!

And then Enola Gay happened – and the sky literally came falling. The city was largely flattened by a single bomb that fell on it. And the world for the first time came to know the meaning of ‘razing a city to the ground’.

The G7 Summit at Hiroshima was indeed a unique opportunity for the G7 leaders and eight other invitees to take measures on a war-footing by taking note of the WMO leaflets. Coming just six months before COP28, advance declaration of war against climate crisis would have been the most appropriate way to begin the G7 communiqué.

So, what does the WMO report state?

Released on May 17, the WMO report is similar to the ‘LeMay’ leaflets of 1945. The contents of the report are a dire warning of the ticking climate bomb. The official title of the report is rather banal and neutral –

Global Annual to Decadal Climate Update. It provides a synthesis of the global annual and decadal (5-10 years) predictions, provided by several of the WMO’s centres spread across the world. Sample this:

“There is a 66% likelihood that the annual global average temperature between 2023 and 2027 will be more than 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial levels for at least one year.” The report further states that there exists a 98% likelihood that at least one of the next five years will be the warmest on record in human history. This is, indeed, the first time that any UN organisation has warned humanity with such a definite prediction amidst chaotic atmospheric chemistry.

Other significant observations in the WMO report have to do with El Niño, the impact of which increases global temperatures in the year after it develops. It also warns that the Arctic temperature would be warming in a disproportionately high manner, relative to the 1991-2020 average, and is predicted to be more than three times as large in the next five winters in the northern hemisphere, affecting Europe, Japan and North America. The WMO report also states that the predicted precipitation patterns for 2023, relative to the 1991-2020 average, would be extreme high and extreme low.

Dr Rajendra Shende is Former Director, UNEP; Coordinating Lead Author of IPCC-2007, which won the Nobel Peace Prize; and Founder Director, Green TERRE Foundation. He may be reached at shende. rajendra@gmail.com .

Unfortunately, unlike Hiroshima in 1945, there is no possibility of evacuating citizens to protect them against the ticking climate bomb. The fact is that there is no Planet B, where the climate-affected population from Planet A could be evacuated to. Even within Planet A, our Earth, a number of governments are not willing to accept the current climate evacuees, in spite of the fact that those governments are the most responsible for the climate crisis. And those seeking refuge have contributed the least to the climate change. The perennial inaction till now is predicted to continue.

What should worry everyone after WMO’s latest ‘LeMay’ warning is the sheer observation that global temperatures are likely to enter into ‘uncharted territory’. This will have far-reaching repercussions for health, food security, water management and the planet’s ecosystem. We need to be prepared, as noted by WMO’s Secretary General, Petteri Talas.

The warning is not only coming with unusual certainty, but there is also a clearer message that the world is failing in its pursuit to meet the targets of the Paris Climate Agreement. To refresh the memory, the Paris Agreement called all the countries to nearly halve the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, as compared to pre-industrial level, and to limit the global temperature increase in this century to 2 degrees C while pursuing efforts to limit the increase even further to 1.5 degrees C. If we fail to achieve this, the adverse and catastrophic impacts and related losses and damages would be beyond our wildest imagination.

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has already stated in its special report that climate-related risks for global warming are higher at 1.5 degrees C than at 2 degrees C and are more life threatening, particularly to small island countries and least developing countries.

“WMO is sounding the alarm that we will breach the 1.5 degrees C level on a temporary basis with increasing frequency,” Taalas said while releasing the report. The chance of ‘temporarily exceeding 1.5 degrees C’ has risen steadily since 2015, when that chance was close to zero. For the years between 2017 and 2021, there was a 10% chance of exceedance. “Global mean temperatures are predicted to continue on their rising spree, moving us further and further away from the climate we are used to,” the WMO states in its report.

Fortunately for us, there are other leaflets that clearly show how to defuse this ticking time bomb. Those leaflets come from the latest report from the International Energy Agency (IEA), also released in May 2023. Following are the messages from the IEA leaflets:

• Clean energy investment is moving fast – faster than many would realise. Clean technologies are pulling away from fossil fuels. Five years ago, global energy investment was USD 2 trillion, of which USD 1 trillion was for clean energy and USD 1 trillion was for fossil fuels. Today, USD 1 trillion is for fossil fuels and USD 1.7 trillion is for clean energy.

• The rise of clean energy is particularly obvious in solar power investment. For the first time in history, the investment made in solar is higher than that going to oil production. It may be symbolic, but it is very important, because it shows the tide turning.

• Clean energy investment has accelerated well beyond spending

on gas, coal and oil, as governments become increasingly concerned about developing secure, homegrown energy sources.

• Low-emission electricity technologies are expected to account for almost 90% of investment in power generation. Renewables, electric vehicles, nuclear power, grids, storage, low-emission fuels, efficiency improvements and global heat pump sales (entering into double-digit annual growth) are all witnessing a steep rise.

Rapid expansion of renewables has only one constraint: The connection to the power-grid. That constraint may possibly thwart the meteoric rise of investment in clean energy.

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

SECURING THE CURE

The earlier purpose of most hospitals was to house – not cure – the sick in tightly packed rows of beds in dark open wards. Then, in the early 1900s, hospitals started focusing on curing patients and using X-rays and cardiographs, which revolutionised patient care and saved the lives of millions. However, keeping the machines needed for treatment near patients represented a significant challenge for the staff and fundamentally changed how designers approached hospital layouts. Today, staying overnight in a hospital could mean experiencing a shared room poorly lit by flickering fluorescent lamps and with no windows. Furthermore, the persistent odour might keep the patient up all night, if the cacophony of beeping

from various old machines does not. Likewise, research has established that Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs), cross-contamination and Sick Building Syndrome, owing to fluctuating temperatures and poor Indoor Air Quality, can worsen the health condition of patients[1-3]. So today, raising the bar of air quality through multi-stage filtration and energy-efficient HVAC systems that are responsive and adaptive, constitute an innovative way towards a modern and sustainable hospital environment. Additional studies have suggested that balancing natural and artificial lighting through windows and lamps, respectively, can impact the healing process of patients[4,5]. However, avoiding temperature fluctuations from external

sources, through exterior windows, is critical to the indoor environment. Therefore, the appropriateness of HVAC system selection and performance is paramount to controlling the climate, in terms of temperature and moisture. Climate control does not necessarily mean the thermal comfort relevant to human occupants; in a hospital context, it addresses the appropriate temperature and humidity for wounds, so that chemicals and enzymatic processes are optimally engaged in the healing process with the metabolism of cells and tissue[6]. Furthermore, despite efforts to attain the best air quality, the contaminants carried indoors from outdoors represent a risk for infection outbreak, even after the treated patient has left the hospital [7-9]

Raising the bar on air quality through multi-stage filtration and energy-efficient HVAC systems that are responsive and adaptive, constitute an innovative way towards a modern and sustainable hospital environment, writes Dr Iyad Al-Attar, independent air filtration consultant

Dr Iyad Al-Attar, an independent air filtration consultant, writes on specific science and technology issues relating to Indoor Air Quality, including airborne particles. He may be reached at iyadalattar@yahoo.com.

Figure 1: Different designs to project a pleasant dimension to the hospital environment

Perceived and conceived hospital design

Hospitals require more than just a design facelift; therefore, the narrative alters how hospitals are perceived and conceived. Hospitals do not have to be daunting, especially since patients are usually not in the best emotional state, and feel vulnerable due to their health conditions. While a modern and sustainable hospital environment should provide the best medical expertise and a pleasant place for occupants, it is equally important to have such a healing space free of contamination. HVAC and filtration systems can play a greater role in improving air quality while meeting thermal comfort targets. Ultimately, patient satisfaction is attainable if better air quality, filtration systems and operational efficiency are integrated towards sustainable performance.

The evolving nature of hospital design

Healthcare facilities are continually evolving to help revolutionise and redefine how care be delivered in the future. Architects incorporate the planting of trees to bring a calming ambience to hospital facilities, as shown in Figure 1. Architects also consider other parameters to optimise their designs, such as the building’s geographical location, the site’s topography, annual weather and aerosol data. Furthermore, humanity can realise its dream of a utopian hospital that embraces sustainability by generating its power with a minimal environmental footprint and using its waste as a resource.

The visiting pollutants

In a hospital environment, the methods of reducing contaminant concentrations range from source control to dilution with

ventilation and extraction with filtration. The dispersion of various pollutants humans can carry indoors is a significant challenge to the IAQ rendered by filtration-intensive systems. When patients talk, sneeze and cough, they produce many particles light enough to remain suspended in the air and spread infection[10]. In addition, poor visitors’ health conditions can impact the air quality in the hospital environment and the wellbeing of the staff to work and patients to heal and recover[11]. Our respiratory systems are often exposed to multiple pollutants simultaneously. Consequently, it may be difficult to correlate specific symptoms to a given pollutant when they co-exist in solid or in gaseous state, or as bioaerosols. Innovative hospital design must leverage various advanced technologies, not only those relevant to air filtration and HVAC systems. That would enable the hospital environment to engage its facilities to make real-time adjustments to facilitate a sterile therapeutic environment. Ultimately, realising that no engineering measure can single-handedly enhance air quality sustainably is critical to the need for such performance integration. Overlooking the role of ventilation, entertaining modest maintenance plans, and weak approaches to air quality

improvements will hinder any plans to exit the status quo and may result in additional pandemics[13-15]. The solution cannot simply lie in frequent filter replacement to resolve air quality issues. That can easily fall under the sustainability knife, which endorses the circularity concept of extending the lifetime of air filters in operation balanced by sustainable performance. Therefore, further research on sustainable air filters and HVAC systems performance is required to reduce the transmission of airborne contaminants.

Operating theatres in focus

The challenge of managing the hospital built environment lies in engineering and interfacing several parameters in complex building settings. Indoors, healthcare facility design is more complex than other building types, influencing HVAC, air quality and filtration requirements. For example, HVAC requirements for the design of operating rooms range from regulating temperature and moisture to appropriate space pressurisation between adjacent zones. In addition, operating theatres require clean room applications, mandating advanced air filtration systems to yield acceptable air quality. And laminar air diffusion represents the final critical step towards achieving thermal comfort by utilising equal clean air distribution in individual zones.

Air filter performance

The final stage of filter performance is their disposal after usage. Leaving behind loaded filters, such as HEPA types, at the storage of regular waste

Figure 2: Abandoned used air filters in healthcare facilities waiting for appropriate disposal

Figure 3: Scanning electron microscopic image illustrating particle-loaded HEPA filter

FILTER FOCUS

disposal cannot be a sustainable way forward (Figure 2). These filters collect colonies of particles and bioaerosols (Figure 3), so their disposal is an ethical obligation and social responsibility. Therefore, maintenance teams must be aware of the hazardous contamination of the wet and loaded filters (Figure 4) in hospital air-handling units. Furthermore, the build-up of contaminants on the heating/ cooling coils compromises the heat transfer mechanism and creates a potential hazard, as shown in Figure 5. Maintenance staff should be better equipped with personal protection to avoid direct exposure to contamination from any segment of the HVAC systems, including porous duct linings, diffusers and drain pans. Adhering to the procedures necessary to minimise exposure to various contaminants underscores the appropriate health and safety issues confronting maintenance teams, which their managers sometimes neglect.

Air quality monitoring

Continuous air quality monitoring devices are the next best incorporations to the facility management toolbox. The devices reveal the physical and chemical characteristics of the air patients, doctors

and visitors inhale. They also enable facility management to steer towards datadriven decisions by detecting and responding to air quality deviations from the required standards. The availability and affordability of continuous air quality monitoring systems leaves no excuse for those who oppose the expenditure, as saving a single human life is worth the investment.

Business-savvy facility directors can become co-contributors to air quality enhancements by reinvigorating “fit for purpose” maintenance programmes to accommodate air quality and HVAC demands. Decision-makers in healthcare facilities should focus on providing a sustainable healthy environment, not just cutting filter acquisition and maintenance costs. The stream of paying minimum wages and cutting costs ends in the eerily

familiar smudged air diffuser witnessed daily. Chronic and common filter failures accelerate HVAC equipment and hospital ageing faster than planned, leaving the facilities to constantly retrofit and catch up to resolve safety regulations and compliance issues.

Let the sunshine in

Enhancing the healing process in hospital environments requires far more than simple euphemisms about propelling air quality. Instead, authentic engagement involves shared focus and dialogue among urban designers, architects and HVAC filtration experts to avail the integration of technologies to yield sustainable built environments. In addition, advancing air quality considerations to the forefront can shift the hearts, minds and attitudes of decision-makers to make a difference. Initiating healing change from that premise represents learning from the wounds of the pandemic to embarking on a new beginning towards healthy indoor environments. We cannot simultaneously seek cures in hospitals, yet find them contaminated, while decision-makers neglect the danger implicit in the air quality alarms. If providing air quality is a civic right, it must be delivered to eight billion people around the globe, whether they are sick or not. So, as much as we need to open windows to ventilate, we must let the sunshine in and get to the truth about improving hospital air quality.

Figure 4: Wet and loaded filters pose a health hazard in a hospital air-handling unit

Figure 5: Build-up of contaminants on the heating/cooling coils due to inappropriate filtration and leaky installations

CASE-IN POINT:

NUAIRE STEPS INTO AMAAD BUSINESS PARK IN SAUDI ARABIA

Supplies car park, smoke ventilation and ambient ventilation solutions to three parcels of the project

AMAAD Business Park is an energy and engineering hub that has been designed to facilitate sustainable urban growth. Located in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, the ecosystem features residential, hospitality, food and beverage, retail and office buildings. It is situated within walking distance of Saudi Aramco, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM) and Dhahran Techno Valley (DTV), who partnered up to develop the AMAAD Business Park as part of Saudi Vision 2030.

CASE-IN POINT:

Car park and smoke ventilation

AMAAD required bespoke ventilation systems to meet the project’s needs and turned to Nuaire. AMAAD chose Nuaire as the ventilation systems partner for three of its six parcels.

Each of the contracted parcels – 01, 03 and 04, to be specific –feature a large car park, requiring state-of-the-art smoke extraction and ventilation fans. The project also required smoke ventilation systems for the service tunnels running underneath each parcel.

Even today, vehicles produce a surprising amount of harmful pollutants. Without an effective ventilation system in place, the air

quality in enclosed spaces with large traffic volumes, such as car parks, can quickly deteriorate. To combat this, Nuaire installed two-speed induction fans in each car park and service tunnel to contain, channel and remove smoke and toxic gases.

The fans were selected primarily for their power and speed, and were tested and certified to 100N to provide the highest level of thrust available in the market. And although jet fans consume more energy, fewer units are required, overall, due to their 50-metre throw distance. This results in reduced project installation and maintenance costs, as well as significant energy savings.

For fire emergency situations,

Nuaire installed its AXUS Smoke Axial fans. Nuaire’s Axial Configurator software allowed it to select bespoke products to meet the requirements of individual spaces. The fans can withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees C and have been tested to meet ISO 5801:2017 standards for air performance.

For ambient, day-to-day building ventilation, Nuaire implemented SQFA twin fans and NALTM tube fans. These fans are reportedly still the smallest, quietest and most energy-efficient, making them ideal for spaces which require 24/7 ventilation, such as kitchens and toilets. With the twin fans, Nuaire is also able to provide the added benefit of EcoSmart , the UK’s most successful energy control. This simple mechanism provides customers with complete demand control ventilation. Its ‘trickle and boost’ function also reduces power consumption – and therefore operational costs – over time to provide long-term product value.

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

The fans can withstand temperatures up to 400 degrees C and have been tested to meet ISO 5801:2017 standards for air performance”

Tripartite initiative: Q&A with Marubeni Corporation

District Cooling and carbon neutrality: Post Event Report (7th Edition of DC Dialogue)

TRIPARTITE INITIATIVE

In January 2023, Marubeni Corporation, United District Energy International (UDEI) and Ajlan & Bros for Trading signed a JV to launch District Cooling utility, Diarona District Energy Limited, in Saudi Arabia. Here, Takuma Hosaka, Vice President at Marubeni

Middle-East & Africa Power Ltd., tells Surendar Balakrishnan, Editor, Climate Control

Middle East, how the coming together of the three companies is defining the business approach of Diarona, and what Marubeni is bringing to the table…

At the time of signing the JV, you said Marubeni Corporation would leverage its knowhow in infrastructure business development and operation in the Kingdom to contribute to the growth of Diarona. Could you please elaborate?

As Marubeni, we have been active in the infrastructure space for 20-30 years in the Middle East. I come from the Power Division of Marubeni, and within the power business here in the region, we have been active in the IPP space and are a developer of power projects. So, whenever a client comes out with power projects, we participate in those tenders like a developer. In order to win those projects, we negotiate with the EPC contractors, we reach out to lenders, and

once construction is finished, we operate those power projects typically over a 25year lifecycle.

Power projects are similar to District Cooling, but with obviously the major difference in the technology. We have been looking at District Cooling for a while now with the aim of using our expertise to pivot into the business, and so we formed this alliance with Qatar-headquartered United District Energy International (UDEI) and Saudi Arabia-headquartered Ajlan & Bros for Trading.

In Saudi Arabia alone, we, as Marubeni, are handling six assets that are power and/or water projects. Some of them are under construction and some under operation. In the whole of the Middle East, we are handling 15-16 assets, so we will bring that

operational experience and contribute to the partnership.

What would be your exact scope of work as Marubeni? Would you, for instance, be involved in or jointly involved in the laying of the reticulation network?

First of all, Diarona District Energy is a JV formed in the Kingdom. The business model we are pursuing is similar to the power space. We would be preferring the BOOT model, rather than the DBO or EPC model. So, we will work with EPC contractors, and the piping network will be built by such EPC Contractor or whoever we sub-contract to. So, as owner of assets, we will also need to do the O&M. Of course, we definitely have to review the designs and sign off the designs; and for

Takuma Hosaka, Marubeni Corporation

that, we have the expertise of one of our shareholders, Qatar Cool.

In District Cooling, we have big players in the market, like Empower, Tabreed and Saudi Tabreed, and our business model is the same as developer, owner and operator. Having said that, for DBO projects, where there is an O&M element, we shall be thinking on a case-by-case basis, because we see a lot of opportunities there, as well. And in some of these projects, through getting into a DBO contract, we could potentially convert to BOOT in the future. So, it does not mean that if a DBO, we won’t participate.

From a competition perspective, what differentiating aspects would you look to offer as a District Cooling utility?

I would rather just focus on what I believe to be our strengths. Obviously, in the Kingdom, Saudi Tabreed is a big player. Now, one of the reasons we decided to enter the market is that Saudi Arabia is booming, such that one player cannot take all the projects. And our strength is that we bring a good mix of expertise from each party. As Marubeni, for instance, our expertise lies in the fact that we compete with other competitors or stakeholders in the power/water space. We think that through leveraging on that expertise in the power and the water space, we can make some noise in the District Cooling space.

Would Diarona choose to lean more heavily on water-cooled systems?

First of all, as Diarona and as a business, we want to be technologically agnostic.

And our clients will have a say on the type of plant they want, so we don’t want to restrict ourselves to either water-cooled or air-cooled systems. As shareholders of Diarona, we also have to contribute to ESG and to choosing the most efficient and environmentally friendly system. And ultimately, the most efficient systems are the most economical, as well, when you look at the total package, the carbon emission and the ability to reduce the total power capacity in the context of the grid.

Saudi Arabia is embarking on creating an interesting energy mix with Green Hydrogen and with solar, which is already in the picture? As Diarona, where do you fit into that ecosystem?

Not to give away too many internal

that these contracts typically run the course of 25-30 years. As Diarona, we have the good fortune of being backed by very financially strong partners. All the parent companies are financially strong, be it UDC, in the case of Qatar Cool, or Ajlan, which is one of the biggest family companies in the Kingdom. So, we have the financial backing of our shareholders to see any kind of project through.

What measures would you take to ensure Diarona offers a consumerfriendly service?

From that perspective, we need to go back to the total package of having a District Cooling scheme. People may say, ‘District Cooling is expensive,’ but when you do a comparison, you cannot forget that power prices in the region are

things, at least from a Marubeni perspective, although we do District Cooling as a standalone business, it would be interesting to see how it fits with our overall capability in the region. As Marubeni, when we look at District Cooling, we see cooling as a utility that is similar to water and power in the Middle East, simply because of the environment in the region. And for us, having the ability to offer power and water and not just cooling is an important element when it comes to talking to clients. It is about being able to offer a one-stop shop.

What is the business model of Diarona?

All the three shareholders have a longterm view in terms of the business. We all recognise that it is a utility business and not a retail business, where you make money from Day One. We understand

subsidised – and that way, you cannot fully capture the benefits of District Cooling. Also, carbon is not being priced yet, and the trend is that it is coming, so we have to look from an overall perspective.

What we offer is going to be case by case. Those real estate developers who want District Cooling may have their own model on how they want to offer District Cooling to their customers, but we have an advantage of the expertise and experience of Qatar Cool, who do District Cooling on a day-to-day basis, and their customer relationship structure is something we will benefit from and use in the Saudi Arabia market.

As Diarona, we have the good fortune of being backed by very financially strong partners. All the parent companies are financially strong, be it UDC, in the case of Qatar Cool, or Ajlan, which is one of the biggest family companies in the Kingdom”

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

Takuma Hosaka

District Cooling and carbon neutrality

The 7th Edition of DC Dialogue provides an opportunity to bolster the case for District Cooling as complementing efforts at achieving carbon neutrality, facilitates the comparing of notes on regulation, and gives a platform for the sharing of developer, technological solution provider and contractor perspectives. Indu Revikumar, Features Writer, Climate Control Middle East, has the story…

Members of the audience

Surendar Balakrishnan, Co-Founder & Editorial Director, CPI Industry, gives the Welcome Address

GEORGE Berbari, CEO, DC PRO Engineering, yet again called for linking District Cooling to efforts aimed at decarbonising our cities. Giving the opening remarks as Conference Chair during the 7th Edition of DC Dialogue, on June 6, in Dubai, Berbari emphasised the crucial role efficient and resilient cooling and heating technologies can play in helping cities achieve carbon neutrality. And the most effective technologies, he said, in this regard are those that are linked to renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind.

Broadly speaking, Berbari highlighted the importance of renewable energy, storage technologies and building retrofitting in attaining carbon neutrality. He spoke of how battery thermal storage systems could enhance operational efficiency, reduce water consumption and help avoid design modifications in renewable energy systems.

Berbari underlined Abu Dhabi’s endeavours in achieving carbon neutrality as a noteworthy example. He spoke of the energy production and demand imbalance in Abu Dhabi, highlighting the importance of retrofitting buildings to improve insulation and glazing. “In Abu Dhabi during the months of May and June,” he said, “the solar energy production is inadequate to meet the cooling demands, which poses a challenge for the government. However, in January, there is an excess of solar energy that could be potentially exported.”

He proposed establishing a public company to tackle the challenges in energy distribution and production. He said that the issue of surplus capacity could be effectively addressed by creating a comprehensive network, capable of efficiently distributing energy throughout the city. “This public company would require significant capital

and could potentially form partnerships with other entities to generate revenue through efficient distribution,” he said. Berbari emphasised the importance of obtaining high-level authority approval and support from government officials to ensure the success of sustainability and energy-efficiency initiatives. He also expressed optimism about the future potential of Abu Dhabi in leading the energy transition.

James Grinnell, Acting Executive Director, Regulatory & Supervisory Bureau for Water & Electricity (RSB Dubai), speaking after Berbari, gave a Dubai perspective on District Cooling. In his Keynote Address on Dubai’s District Cooling-specific regulations, Grinnell echoed Berbari’s perspective on integrating solar capacity with District Cooling.

Grinnell highlighted the achievements of Dubai’s Independent Water and Power Producer (IWPP) programme, which he said has attracted

Dominic McPolin makes a point during his address

George Berbari, Chair of the conference James Grinnell

Panel discussion involving (L-R): Khalid A Al Mulhim, Ibrahim Hassanien, James Grinnell, Dominic McPolin and Omnia Halawani

A need for stability

A Panel Discussion, featuring specialised District Cooling contractors, addresses complex contract conditions and the significant gap in the closeout phase of projects, among other long-standing issues. Excerpts…

Moderator:

George Berbari, CEO, DC PRO Engineering

Panellists:

Sekhar Reddy, Managing Director, Lexzander

Prakasha Rudrappa, Vice President of Engineering, AG Engineering

A R Suresh Kumar, General Manager - Projects & Corporate Business Development, Voltas

(A R Suresh Kumar was unable to attend owing to unavoidable circumstance and so sent a video presentation, which set the stage for the discussion. In his presentation, Kumar outlined the challenges the District Cooling industry faces. He highlighted the struggle of the industry in attracting and retaining highquality MEP contractors, vendors and consultants in the region. His presentation provided an overview of the industry’s challenges, including time constraints, deadlines, negotiation processes, supply chain management, regulatory compliance and adapting to changing specifications.)

Following the presentation, Berbari shared an overview of the current state of the contracts, particularly in the context of MEP projects. He also shared an observation that contracts are biased towards developers and unfair to contractors. Furthermore, he added that there is a lack of a standardised and fair form of contract that addresses the needs of both parties. “The contracting industry needs to develop a more equitable standard form of contract

that considers the requirements of developers and contractors,” Berbari said. “Moreover, the negotiation process for contracts is often lengthy and time-consuming, leading to delays in starting the projects. Additionally, there is a concern about slippage and approval processes, such as in the case of District Cooling projects.”

Commenting on Berbari’s statement regarding the need for a more balanced and efficient approach to contracts in the industry, where the interests of developers and contractors are considered and addressed, Reddy pointed out the difficulties faced by contractors and emphasised the importance of effective collaboration and communication within project teams. He also mentioned the success of District Cooling plants in the market since 2004 but expressed concerns about the downside, including learning curves and overall project delivery. He said, “A project management approach, where all stakeholders, including the project manager, architect, contractor and key vendors, collaborate and align their efforts, is crucial for a project’s success.” Reddy also shared a positive experience with a project that exceeded expectations due to thorough planning and coordination. However, he acknowledged that such flexibility may not be available for all projects and reiterated the need for a project management approach.

Weighing in, Rudrappa discussed the length of the contract period, which currently averages around 13-14 months, and underlined the significance of extending it up to 18 months. He also shared a

similar perspective on the issues surrounding contracts and pointed out the complexities involved.

Rudrappa expressed a preference for a conditional contract or changes in the existing contract structure. Furthermore, he elaborated on the challenges and liabilities associated with delays and noted the lack of contract grading or evaluation to ensure fairness. He highlighted that if the current scenario is not addressed and resolved, only a few contractors will remain in the industry. Berbari jumped in at this juncture to say that he agreed with Rudrappa. He noted that competition is diminishing in the market , particularly in Saudi Arabia, where a District Cooling provider had difficulty finding enough consultants and contractors. “This suggests that the number of players in the industry has reached a critically low level,” he said.

Taking the cue from Rudrappa, Reddy pointed out the importance of risk assessment, hiring accountability metrics, and credit ratings for parties involved in specialised projects. He also highlighted the need to reduce complex and damaging contract conditions, promote trust and transparency, and engage in collaborative discussions among the contractor, project manager and client’s representative. Reddy further pointed out a significant gap in the closeout phase of projects, where the delivered product often falls short of expected standards.

Rudrappa said that contractors also face challenges in reading and understanding extensive specifications within a limited timeframe of 3-4

weeks. He suggested that the ideal timeframe for reviewing specifications should be expanded to a minimum of six weeks to ensure thorough coverage and compliance with project requirements. Adequate time is required to properly review and address the specifications in order to meet the project’s needs, he said. The Panel Discussion concluded with the following messages:

• Proactive measures are necessary to address the challenges faced by MEP contractors in the contracting industry, and to foster a healthier and more efficient environment.

• The issues identified, such as lack of time for design and coordination, lengthy contract negotiation processes, limited availability of skilled contractors, dependence on specialised supply chains and complex contract terms are obstacles to the success of a project.

• To overcome these challenges, the industry should consider several measures, including developing a fair and standardised form of contract, extending contract durations, implementing fair price escalation clauses, clarifying provisions for performance-based bidding and delay liabilities, promoting project partnership and transparency, and streamlining specifications and submission processes

• It is important for all stakeholders to work together towards common goals to drive growth, innovation and sustainability in the MEP contracting industry.

over 14 billion euros of investment and made remarkable advancements in solar power generation. Grinnell also discussed Dubai’s progress in the District Cooling sector over the past five years, emphasising that District Cooling accounted for 24% of the market share in 2022. He said the RSB’s District Cooling regulations aim to enhance the efficiency of District Cooling systems, reduce energy consumption and encourage the utilisation of sustainable power sources, such as solar energy. “The goal is to achieve sustainable and environmentally responsible cooling in Dubai, with a service-centered sector that provides value for money to customers and attractive investment opportunities,” he added.

Grinnell also discussed the various regulatory documents issued in recent times, which cover different aspects of the cooling sector. He noted that these regulations have provided clarity for customers and improved investor confidence. However, he acknowledged that there have been challenges, such as complaints regarding late payment charges.

While the regulations have demonstrated positive outcomes, including significant improvements in the energy performance of the sector, Grinnell highlighted that they have also identified areas that require further improvement and potential modifications to the regulations. He added that excess capacity in Dubai’s cooling infrastructure would be addressed, and penalties and fines would be implemented to ensure market integrity. “The goal is to maintain a growing and efficient cooling market that offers environmentally responsible cooling options for customers,” he said.

For his part, Dominic McPolin,

Advisor, Office of The Minister, Bahrain Ministry of Works, provided an overview of the District Cooling sector in Bahrain, highlighting the recent changes and developments in the sustainability and energy sector. He mentioned that the government of Bahrain has taken several initiatives in this regard. McPolin said: “The government has established the Ministry of Sustainability, which oversees and promotes sustainable practices across all industries. The Sustainable Energy Authority has been disbanded and integrated into the Electricity and Water Authority, specifically within the Minister’s office. Furthermore, a new Directorate of District Cooling has been created, and there has been a rebranding of the oil & gas industry, focusing on renewable energy and other related areas.”

Expanding on the changes and developments in Bahrain, McPolin highlighted the efforts of the Ministry of Oil and Environment to reconcile the realities of the oil-based economy with the need to address environmental concerns and to transition towards a post-oil economy. He said, “The government recognises the significance of District Cooling and its integration into the national energy strategy.”

McPolin further explained the different approaches to implementing District Cooling in Bahrain. “One is a top-down approach involving government regulations and financial interventions to promote and support District Cooling projects,” he said. “A bottom-up approach focuses on engaging businesses and consumers to encourage their participation and adoption of District Cooling systems.”

McPolin also provided insights into

A panel discussion in progress

Khalid A Al Mulhim

Frederic Paille, Co-Founder & Commercial Director, CPI Industry, with Imran Sheikh of Ramboll

Voices

Insights and observations heard during the Conference…

“Mostly, the calculation of cooling loads in the GCC region, even if a Building Assembly Model is available, is still done manually using old software. This is the case for approximately 99% of the market. Designers and engineering consultants continue to use these traditional methods, despite having access to BAMs. When we perform manual calculations without utilising any BAMs, we compromise accuracy, and there is no built-in functionality to ensure the correctness of input data.”

Viktor Osokin, CEO, TEVMO

“The raw material for any kind of artificial intelligence, and its associated advantages, is data. There is a concept that is not often discussed nowadays, called digitization. In the past, digitisation simply meant taking a piece of paper, scanning it and storing it on a hard drive. However, in today’s world, digitisation is no longer a concern, because we generate data on a daily basis. As individuals and companies, our ERPs and scales, among other sources, collect and store this information. What truly matters is how we manage and store this data, as well as its quality. Inadequate information or poor data quality can significantly impact the effectiveness of any AI system.

Jai Masand, Projects and Solution Sales Manager, Drives MENA, Danfoss

Regulation is key, because we have discussed both top-down approaches. In Europe, we have seen that the only way we have heavily developed renewable energy sources and these technology networks is through external regulation.

Steve Lemione, CEO Middle East, Dalkia EDF Group

The Dalkia EDF Group is operating around 330 District E nergy networks worldwide, including in countries

such as China, the US, France and others. We have recently entered this market , which is why you (referring to George Berbari, the Chairperson of DC Dialogue) mentioned us as newcomers, and we are pleased to be recognised as such. Additionally, you are correct that we have recently signed several projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Currently, we are in the process of completing the construction of the District Cooling plant in Misk City, which happens to be the world’s first non-profit city.

Steve Lemione, CEO Middle East, Dalkia EDF Group

Actually, artificial intelligence is not new. It may seem new due to advancements like ChatGPT, which has gained significant popularity. However, we have been working on artificial intelligence for a considerable amount of time, aiming to predict breakdowns and movements. Drawing upon our extensive expertise, we have developed models that enable us to anticipate red flags on equipment, and this is what artificial intelligence entails. The goal of digitalisation, now and in the future, is to achieve full automation in all plants.

Steve Lemione, CEO Middle East, Dalkia EDF Group

Lately, in Egypt, the government and the new cities have been moving towards District Cooling, specifically in industrial cities and the new administrative capital. Over the past five years, as the work in the city streets began, the concept of District Cooling has been implemented in the infrastructure and across various districts. It has been employed to create environmentally friendly solutions in all districts, ranging from the financial district to business districts, and even in towers and residential areas.

Ibrahim Hassanien, Lead Projects Engineer, Allied Consultants

When discussing recent developments in Saudi Arabia, their focus lies on the protection of energy resources. They prioritise the wellbeing of the state, particularly regarding energy. Currently, they are emphasising the adoption of renewable energy and exploring various alternative sources, such as hydrogen and sulphur.

Khalid A Al Mulhim, Business Development Director, Suhaimi Design –Protecooling

We’re dealing with an industry that is a monopoly—a private company providing services to the citizens. Psychologically, there is no sheriff in town, leading to resistance during simple psychological phases. So, it is important to provide comfort and psychological reassurance as soon as possible, along with addressing technical aspects such as energy efficiency and other related issues, including reputation. This is a complex business that revolves around driving business objectives, and it is crucial not to overlook the significance of this cycle, which is indeed very real.

Dominic McPolin, Advisor at the Office of the Minister, Bahrain Ministry of Works

Research from the World Bank and other sources highlights the extent of cooling penetration in buildings in Egypt. For non-residential buildings, the penetration rate reaches as high as 70-75%. However, there is a sector with potential that remains as low as 25%, and this applies not only to major cities. Currently, cooling accounts for approximately 20% of the country’s overall energy consumption. However, the historical trajectory suggests that the demand for cooling, both in residential and non-residential sectors, is increasing. As it continues to rise, reaching higher levels, the energy consumption for cooling is expected to reach 40%. And I think this increase in cooling demand should drive a stronger push for more efficient cooling solutions.

Omnia Halawani, Co-Founder & CoCEO, GRFN Global

the challenges faced by the District Cooling industry in Bahrain, particularly in finding a balance between protecting the interests of providers and ensuring that cost savings are passed on to customers. He emphasised the need for governments, developers and investors to contribute financially to drive change and ensure that the savings achieved are reflected in reduced tariffs for consumers. Furthermore, McPolin discussed various measures Bahrain has taken to create a more sustainable and customer-centric District Cooling industry. These measures, he said, include sharing electrical savings with developers, reducing electricity tariffs for District Cooling companies, eliminating government land lease costs, and promoting flexibility in capacity charges. He also noted that the government is actively engaged in discussions with District Cooling companies and stakeholders to address these challenges and work towards a more sustainable and efficient District Cooling system.

Whilst McPolin shared an overview of the initiatives in one of the countries in the GCC region, Larbi Behloul, Head of Facilities Management, Dubai Developments, presented a developer’s perspective of District Cooling, with an emphasis on several fiscal issues and challenges associated with District Cooling. Behloul emphasised that the decision to build a plant room or utilise an existing District Cooling provider depends on space availability and design considerations. He also highlighted that energy efficiency is a significant concern, and proper facility management and

maintenance are crucial for ensuring operational efficiency. Behloul further said contracts should include Key Performance Indicators and Service Level Agreements, to hold District Cooling providers accountable for their performance. He stressed the importance of establishing effective communication channels between developers and providers. Additionally, he said, implementing smart metering could provide real-time consumption data, which is valuable for monitoring and optimising energy usage in District Cooling systems.

Elaborating on the fiscal issues and challenges, Behloul highlighted that Low Delta T Syndrome and improper heat-loss calculations are challenges that require specialised consultants and proper equipment sizing. He added that various MEP innovations have been incorporated to address these issues. “Talent development, including hiring of qualified mechanical engineers to enhance internal expertise, and the integration of technology, such as building management systems and custom systems, has resulted in significant cost savings for the projects I have been involved in,” he said.

Behloul emphasised the need to focus on comfort, proper design, operation, maintenance, accurate studies and compliance with government regulations. “By prioritising these factors, the overall success and sustainability of District Cooling initiatives can be ensured,” he said.

Rami Mahamdeh, Technical Manager, GRFN Global, contributed to the discussion by delivering a presentation on energy simulation in

District Cooling plants. He highlighted how energy simulation can be used to optimise energy performance and work towards achieving an efficiency of 0.842 kW/TR by 2030.

Mahamdeh’s presentation covered several important topics, including building geometry and plant-only modelling. He emphasised the significance of considering cooling-load profiles and the role of energy modelling in optimising the performance of existing cooling plants, retrofitting equipment, and designing new District Cooling plants. He said, “We can enhance performance, feasibility, and costeffectiveness by utilising simulation and modelling techniques for existing plants, retrofitting equipment and designing new cooling systems.

Further, Mahamdeh discussed the implementation of a digital twin in District Cooling plants. He said: “A digital twin is a realistic digital representation of assets, processes or systems in the built or natural environment. Moreover, it could be used to describe how data from physical assets can be compared with simulated data to identify performance gaps and optimise operations.” He added that predictive maintenance and energysaving opportunities were mentioned as potential benefits of live simulation and modelling. In a nutshell, his presentation explored the use of energy simulation and optimisation techniques in District Cooling plants, emphasising the importance of accurate 3D modelling, data analysis, and performance improvement across various stages of implementation and operation in District Cooling plants.

Steve Lemoine (centre) interacts with delegates

Larbi Behloul makes a presentation

A member of the audience during a Q&A

Rami Mahamdeh makes a presentation

‘THE OPPORTUNITY TO RETROFIT EXISTING REAL ESTATE IS VAST’

Okan Tutcu, Director, Middle East & North Africa, AC Business AC P/MEDAO, Samsung Electronics, speaks to Indu Revikumar of Climate Control Middle East about the South Korean company’s portfolio of solutions that are aligned to refurbishing efforts with a low-carbon outcome in mind

How has Samsung Electronics progressed since the easing of the pandemic?

The supply chain of electronic parts in the industry has been disrupted by the pandemic, affecting production and logistics. However, as Samsung, we have a highly diversified manufacturing footprint, which reduces dependency on other suppliers, resulting in no major disruptions during global supply chain congestion. Despite the pandemic easing, other factors, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict, global monetary tightening and economic slowdown are still causing strong headwinds in the global economy.

What innovations are you able to report? And how have they impacted South Korea’s HVACR sector?

We have raised standards for air

conditioners every year, including the world’s first WindFree air conditioner, in 2016. Last year, we introduced a new version of WindFree. The 2022 BESPOKE WindFree Air Conditioner upgraded its cooling, eco-conscious and hygiene functions and, in particular, applied the R32 refrigerant to lower environmental impact and increase energy efficiency.

If we talk about the impact on South Korea’s HVACR Sector, we received a 1st Grade Energy Efficiency Rating from the Korean government. We applied the R32 refrigerant with low GWP, becoming the first household air conditioner in Korea to do so. We developed Solar Cell Remote, which is a low-power remote controller with a self-charging function and solar- and light-charging functions.

Another global trending topic is The Internet of Things. The future of IoT will

present new technologies and bring ecofriendly solutions we may not previously have thought possible. We offer turnkey solutions for all IoT fields, from smart homes to B2B and industrial. Samsung SmartThings is an umbrella control and automation platform for a range of first- and third-party devices, not just Samsung. SmartThings can control ACs, washers, ovens, TVs, dishwashers, fridges, etc. You can easily monitor your devices’ energy consumption, and an AI-based energy-saving mode can help you save energy.

What percentage of projects in South Korea is buildingretrofitting? What technologies have you contributed to the retrofit projects?

Replacing the HVAC equipment will make a building’s HVAC system more

efficient. Two-thirds of the buildings that exist today will still be standing in 2050, and since buildings account for as much as 70% of a city’s carbon emissions, the opportunity to retrofit existing real estate is vast. In line with that, day-by-day, the retrofitting projects’ share in our total business is increasing.

Technology is evolving. The mainstream popularity of smartphone devices took off after 2010, approximately 15 years ago. HVAC products have evolved and become more efficient in the last 15 years, as well.

The HVAC paradigm has shifted from a central managing system to a system that can satisfy end users. VRF is an individualised HVAC system, but it can be managed centrally. VRF system is considered the first option for remodelling buildings. DVM S2 is the latest generation of Samsung’s VRF

systems. Its new AI technology allows the equipment to operate at exact target pressures and temperatures, based on application to save energy.

Our DVM Chiller provides a chilled water solution for replacement and new design solutions while maintaining the benefits of DVM S. It connects multiple third-party fan-coil units via water piping to provide cooling and heating to individual zones. Like VRF outdoor units, the DVM Chiller can modulate its capacity depending on the requirements of the various zones, which saves energy and improves occupant comfort. It is great for retrofit projects – it provides superior manageability when combined with our optional Fan Coil Unit (FCU) Control Kit and Fan Coil Interface Module to control and integrate thirdparty fan-coil units to Samsung central and local controls. And it is easy to

combine and fit multiple units even when space is limited.

What is your perspective on the business environment in the GCC region? What are your accomplishments in the last six months in terms of orders booked and business growth? In the postpandemic phase, is there a shift in focus in the GCC region, with more attention given to Saudi Arabia?

With inflation accelerating and resulting monetary policy tightening, the world is experiencing challenging times that increase recessionary fears. However, the Gulf region’s situation remains brighter than most, according to updates from the International Monetary Fund and other respected forecasters.

This optimism appears to be supporting a generally favourable backdrop for real estate and construction sectors across much of the region.

Saudi Arabia leads the way with significant developments, such as Neom, The Red Sea Project and Riyadh Metro, the country’s first transport system. Riyadh Metro is important for us, because we have supplied 3,500 units of our ‘360 Cassette’ to this project.

Meanwhile, the UAE construction sector continues to grow and prioritise carbon neutrality. That is why I can say that the new projects in the UAE are eco-conscious. Recently, Dubaibased Nakheel chose the DVM S2 for its Murooj Al Furjan project. Thanks to its Active AI technologies, which learn usage patterns, the DVM S2 intelligently optimises comfort and reduces wasted energy.

Another project we were newly awarded is from PDO. The project is one of the major luxury villa projects in highambient conditions in Muscat. While deciding on the indoor units, the investor focused on our WindFree. The WindFree 1-Way Cassette uses thousands of micro holes to distribute air throughout the space without blowing directly on the occupants. The unit can deliver an

air current that is under 0.15 m/s while in WindFree mode. Air velocity that is below 0.15 m/s is considered “still air”, as defined by ASHRAE. Comfort was an important factor in the project.

I think the HVAC sector outlook across the GCC region is promising, much like its construction industry, although potential risks associated with pandemics, supply-chain disruption, and changing costs must also be considered.

How is Samsung Electronics helping the region overcome the challenges it faces to lower emissions and total cost of ownership and improve resilience and IAQ?

The countries in the GCC region support clean energy transitions. There is a plan to increase the use of energy-efficient products here, particularly in the case of high electricity consumers, such as air conditioners. If we talk about energy efficiency for an AC, the first detail to look for is the SEER rating – it is a way of rating the efficiency of an air conditioning unit. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the AC is. As a company, we offer high SEER values for all our HVAC solutions. Our comprehensive environmental strategy includes enterprise-wide net-zero and 100% renewable energy goals. We are raising the industry bar even higher on energy efficiency.

The key to minimising the carbon footprint is to focus firstly on greater energy efficiency within buildings, followed by the usage of low carbon/net-zero energy. Through smart building technologies, building managers can manage demand and optimise technical infrastructure to drive savings in energy usage.

We lately introduced in the GCC region our smart building solution, b.IoT (Building Internet of Things). It offers a single interface to easily monitor and manage multiple buildings at the same time via a secure network. Users can check energy usage parameters, air quality levels or cumulative hours of filter usage from a remote location. I believe that the use of b.IoT will spread rapidly in the region.

How keenly are Samsung Electronics and South Korea eyeing the rapidly evolving clean energy market – especially Green Hydrogen, and its possible use in powering HVACR systems? What initiatives are you taking to align yourself with the impending shift to Green Hydrogen and its possible impact on building-related emissions?

To preemptively respond to changes in the global industry and take the lead in solving global warming, we have been presenting diverse green solutions based on our technological competence and expertise. To provide optimal solutions tailored to the client’s needs and circumstances, our HVAC products offer key green technologies. The environmental performance of our released products is certified through various certification programmes, which assess a product’s environmental aspects. In particular, we analyse the impact of global warming in each stage and strive to develop products with minimal GHG emissions based on the results.

We, as Samsung Electronics, assess all suppliers that provide products or components with the company’s EcoPartner Certification system to strictly ensure that products and components do not contain environmentally hazardous substances. Suppliers must submit a product environmental report disclosing the use of all substances of concern, along with data from their suppliers providing raw materials. We then make a thorough assessment by visiting the suppliers’ manufacturing sites to verify the submitted documents. To maintain the Eco-Partner certification,

suppliers are audited every two years, and those that fail to pass the audit are excluded from the supply chain. In these ways, we strive to incorporate our suppliers into our green management initiatives. Rather than a one-time assessment, we provide continuous management and evaluation of all supply partners to ensure sustainable supply chain management.

In order to answer your question about Green Hydrogen, specifically, I need to explain to you a little bit about Samsung. The company was founded by Lee Byung-Chul in 1938 as a trading company. Following Lee’s death in 1987, Samsung was separated into five business groups. Samsung Electronics is one of the world’s largest information technology companies, consumer electronics makers and chipmakers under the Samsung group. Samsung HVAC business unit is a part of Samsung Electronics. There are other companies under the Samsung group, like Samsung Heavy Industries, one of the world’s largest shipbuilders or Samsung Engineering and Samsung C&T Corporation, one of the world’s largest construction companies.

I know that Samsung Engineering is developing green hydrogen projects with our major clients and partners in Korea and globally. I can say that we are taking bold steps in the direction of the use of green energy.

CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here.

To maintain the Eco-Partner certification, suppliers are audited every two years, and those that fail to pass the audit are excluded from the supply chain”

Efficiency. Sustainability. Compliance.

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EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS recognize AHRI certification programs and equipment performance standards as key to achieving energy efficiency, environmental sustainability, and regulatory compliance.

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The consensus is that while ESCO projects in the UAE have gained industry recognition for unique financing, scale and successful execution, there is still room for improvement.

Indu Revikumar, Features Writer, Climate Control Middle East, has the story…

ABOUT a decade ago, the ESCO market in the UAE struggled with inertia, stemming from a lack of awareness and an equal lack of interest. Today, notes Henrique Pereira, it has made the decisive shift towards receptiveness and engagement. Pereira is CEO, Taka Solutions, one of the ESCO players in the UAE. That said, the market still has a long way to go to reach the level necessary to achieve sustainability targets of the UAE, including achieving net-zero goals or tackling carbon emissions, he says. But for now, it is satisfying that a positive shift has taken place – a shift, he says, that can be attributed to the change in perception among end-users of the significance of energy efficiency as well as retrofit projects.

Jason Prince, GM - Sales & Business Development, EFS Facilities Services,

shares a similar perspective as that of Pereira. He says the ESCO market in the UAE has evolved for the better. The upcoming COP28, he says, is bringing much traction to the market along with the changing perspectives of end-users relating to energy-efficiency measures. In addition, Prince says, the government’s proactive approach to ESCO projects, characterised by a high level of organisation, is now evident and is gaining momentum. He says: “Government organisations have implemented a systematic tendering process, allocating companies to carry out the projects. This approach benefits private companies by demonstrating

COVER STORY ESCOs

that the government is fulfilling its responsibilities, paving the way for private companies to contribute. Moreover, the government is committed to guiding and supporting private enterprises, offering project financing assistance, when needed.”

Prince says a significant development in the UAE is the widespread implementation of Energy Conservation Measures (ECMs) in several buildings. In the last few years, he says, there have been many ECM installations, and the projects assisted by ESCOs, when financial challenges led to delays in retrofit projects, were instrumental in yielding significant energy savings. “For instance, in areas like JLT (Jumeirah Lakes Towers) or JBR (Jumeirah Beach Residences), in Dubai, where buildings are around 15-20 years old, the immediate impact of chiller replacement in the buildings, by utilising an ESCO model, is significant energy savings of 30-40%.”

Andrea Di Gregorio, Executive Director, Energy Efficiency and Renewables (Reem) Office,

Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, is another votary of the ESCO model. He believes that the ESCO market in the UAE, which began over two decades ago, is vibrant, with active participation from multiple ESCOs. He says: “Initially, the main contracting model was a guaranteed savings model, where the customer invests, and the ESCO offers a guarantee of minimum savings throughout the contract period. Gradually, more ESCOs with financing capabilities have entered the market, and we observe an increasing share of shared savings contracts, where the ESCO invests and the customer has an obligation to share part of their savings.” He points out that while the majority of CapEx still is in the guaranteed savings model, there has been a noticeable trend towards a more balanced distribution between the guaranteed and shared savings models. Also, while most projects were with government entities or governmentowned companies, a decade ago, the private sector now contributes a significant share of the overall project portfolio, he says.

Di Gregorio, who in his capacity has supported several ESCO projects, says many projects in the UAE have gained industry recognition for unique financing, scale and successful execution. He points out that retrofitting government buildings in Ras Al Khaimah demonstrated new approaches in dealing with contracting by consolidating multiple customers and facilities into a single tender. “This approach allowed for the inclusion of smaller buildings that may not have been individually considered suitable for retrofit projects,” he says.

“By bundling them together, the project achieved economies of scale, benefiting

customer entities and expanding the overall scope beyond what would have been possible with separate retrofit initiatives for each government entity.”

Adding to the discussion, Pereira says the growth of the retrofit market has a significant role in achieving sustainability goals, and it is essential to educate the end-users about why retrofit projects should not be ignored and why they should be undertaken. He says, “People’s mindset should focus on the benefits, importance and the necessity of taking action rather than debating whether or not to pursue energy efficiency measures.” The ultimate goal, Pereira says, is to reach a point where the decision to implement these projects becomes a matter of how and when, rather than if they should be undertaken. “To achieve this, creating awareness through educating about energy efficiency services is vital,” he says.

Pereira also notes that while creating awareness among end-users is crucial, more is needed to bring out a change in mindset immediately. “Creating awareness is a long process, and this is where government regulations come into the picture,” he says, adding that regulations will be crucial in driving action and establishing guidelines for individuals and organisations to adhere to, regardless of their personal beliefs or attitudes. Moreover, he says, regulations will be instrumental in accelerating the adoption of energy efficient practices and ensuring alignment with sustainable measures. “By combining awareness campaigns and regulations, the market can advance more effectively to reach a stage where the decision to prioritise energy efficiency is not a matter of uncertainty but rather a question of strategising the implementation of energy efficiency measures,” he says. And Taka Solutions’ objective behind offering Cooling as a Service (CaaS) is to simplify the end user’s journey to achieve energy efficiency, he says.

“The willingness of all the stakeholders involved in the ESCO projects to collaborate and find solutions to the problems at hand is one of the key factors behind the success of projects that have achieved significant savings

Andrea Di Gregorio

and left a positive impact,” Pereira says. At the same time, he says, it is essential to look at why many projects fail, even though most companies in the industry are knowledgeable and capable. These failures, he says, are often due to delays in contract negotiations, disagreements, resistance to certain aspects of the project, unsigned contracts, lack of capital allocation or incomplete execution. “I strongly believe that many people within companies often hinder progress instead of facilitating it, driven by self-interests, job security, personal gain or differing motivations, and this is where most projects fail,” he says.

Pereira says one of the challenges the stakeholders often face is not the lack of funds but in obtaining funding. “In most cases, stakeholders we (Taka Solutions) collaborate with have significant financial resources, evident in their construction of multimillion-dollar towers,” he says. “However, the problem lies in securing funding for non-revenue generating initiatives. In real estate, for example, the primary objective is to make money; thus, investing in projects like improving the energy efficiency of chillers, which do not generate direct revenue, can be challenging to justify and obtain approval for and obtain approval for, he says..”

Adding to the discussion on funds, Prince says there is a lack of a proper system for raising funds. “For instance, if a client needs to finance a chiller costing one million dirhams, the bank might impose an interest rate of approximately 5-8% directly or via an ESCO, which the client sees as an additional burden,” he says. “This cashflow issue becomes a deterrent for clients.” He notes that unlike some countries with dedicated Green Funds, such incentives are currently not well promoted in the UAE. The absence of Green Funds, as a separate category, he says, hampers the accessibility to funds for energy conservation and sustainability projects, and it is a significant problem faced by anyone seeking financial support for such initiatives in the UAE.

Di Gregorio says that while Green Bonds are a financing option used in various parts of the world, they have yet

to be extensively considered for retrofit projects in the UAE.

“Simplified financing mechanisms have been found effective for ESCO projects,” he says. “However, Green Bonds can be attractive, especially for governments with high credit ratings, and they may be beneficial for funding energy efficiency initiatives.”

He also notes that CaaS is appealing, as it avoids upfront capital expenditure.

“Its natural scope of application are buildings designed for central air conditioning, either new buildings or buildings where the existing chillers needs to be replaced,” he says. “However, CaaS may not be easily applicable for distributed systems with individual air conditioning units, where the traditional ESCO model tends to be more competitive.”

From the perspective of stakeholders, Prince says, one of the challenges is that they have been promised specific savings in the past but have had limited control over the procurement process, since they are not directly funding the projects. He says that as a result, stakeholders often receive unfamiliar systems that they are expected to maintain once the project is completed. “These systems may not be from well-known brands or may not function in as user-friendly a manner as anticipated, and the manufacturer’s support may not meet their expectations,” he says. “This has made stakeholders more cautious regarding installations and upgrades.” He notes that as a result, there is also a shift towards a guaranteed savings model, as it provides assurance to the client and ensures that the project progresses smoothly and delivers the desired outcomes.

Weighing in, Di Gregorio notes that limited market awareness and familiarity with energy performance contracting models and standards still pose some challenges to ESCOs, who suffer from long contracting processes. Furthermore, he says, alignment between technical and legal teams can

“REGULATIONS CAN TAKE VARIOUS FORMS, SUCH AS INCENTIVES, OBLIGATIONS OR PENALTIES, BUT THEY SHOULD BE IMPLEMENTED CONTINUOUSLY TO DRIVE US TOWARDS THE DESIRED OUTCOME WITHIN THE SET TIMEFRAME. “

Henrique Pereira

take time, sometimes leading to delays in decision-making by customers, in the case of retrofit projects. To tackle the unwanted situation, he points to Ras Al Khaimah Municipality’s approach as a possible way forward. “Tender processes have become faster and more efficient by establishing contract standards in 2018 with a dedicated facility,” he says. “Reem, within the Municipality, operating as a superESCO, supports customers and ESCOs along the contracting process.”

Other local governments in the UAE, Di Gregorio points out, have established super-ESCOs, entities that are either governmental organisations or government-owned companies that support energy performance contracting end-to-end, from tendering to execution and to the monitoring of projects. Accreditation schemes, like the ones managed by the RSB Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah Municipality, reduce contracting risks for customers by qualifying ESCOs based on their financial and technical capabilities. In addition, he says, Ras Al Khaimah

– including waivers or discounts on government fees – making entry into the market cost-effective for ESCOs. This has been successful, with 24 ESCOs accredited in Ras Al Khaimah, some of which have established their regional offices in the emirate, he adds.

Pereira says the government should play a more significant role in regulating the market in a timely manner to ensure progress “Regulations can take various forms, such as incentives, obligations or penalties, but they should be implemented continuously to drive us towards the desired outcome within the set timeframe,” he says “Though the long-term vision and objectives established by the government of the UAE set a clear path to achieve the sustainability objectives in a timeframe, there is still a gap between our current status and the methods to reach those objectives.

That being said, although we have – and continue to face – many challenges, over the last 10 years we have observed

the market evolving positively and look forward to the best which is yet to come. Taka Solutions is keen to continue contributing to the Net Zero by 2050 strategic initiative set by the visionary leaders of the UAE.”

Prince says the UAE government has supported developing the ESCO market and has implemented policies and incentives to encourage energy efficiency and reduce carbon footprint. However, he says, there is a need for more robust regulations and guidelines to ensure the accuracy of promised returns on investment and calculations. “Establishing a separate channel or portal, where project calculations and proposals can be submitted to funding agencies or banks for approval, is important,” he says. He adds that countries such as Canada and Saudi Arabia have made significant progress in this area, with certain provinces in Canada offering a portal for low-rate financing of energy efficiency projects via Central Bank. “We have been informed that the regulatory authorities of each emirate are aware of this and are working towards developing a system that will be better than the currently available options,” he says. “Given the UAE’s spirit of excellence in everything they do, soon we will witness the creation of a solution tailored to GCC region conditions, setting a role model for others, as well.”

Jason Prince

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THE Hx GROWTH CURVE

COVID-19 did not spare the heat exchangers market, either. Now that the raging has stopped and even the embers are burning dimly, the heat exchangers market is showing signs of recovery. And this resurgence can be attributed to the increasing demand for energy-efficient solutions and the adoption of renewable sources of energy in the heating and cooling sector. A report published by Strategic Market Research, in April 2023, indicates that the global heat exchangers market is projected to exhibit a robust Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.3%. According to the report, the market was valued at USD 16.01 billion in 2021, which increased to USD 16.86 billion in 2022. This positive trend is expected to continue, leading the market to reach an estimated value of USD 25.5 billion by 2030.

Joe Rappai, Head of Heat Exchangers (Middle East, Turkey and Africa), Danfoss,

says it is hard to put a definite number to the size of the heat exchangers market in the GCC region, though, as there are different types of heat exchangers and several variables, namely investments and regulations. However, he adds, the demand for plate heat exchangers has been growing, particularly in Saudi Arabia, in line with the giga-projects and megaprojects being rolled out as part of Saudi Vision 2030 and Saudi Green initiatives. “The growth of plate heat exchangers markets in other countries in the GCC region can also be attributed to the various initiatives in relation to sustainability and Green Energy, namely UAE Vision 2030, Egypt Vision 2030, Qatar National Vision 2030, Bahrain Economic Vision 2030, Oman Vision 2040 and Kuwait Vision 2045,” Rappai says.

For his part, Matteo Zanesco - Group Head of Sales & Marketing - Heat

Exchangers and Mechanics division, CAREL, says among several types of heat exchangers suitable for different applications being used in the HVAC market in the GCC region, air-to-air heat exchangers, namely, rotary wheel and crossflow heat exchangers, are becoming common for every HVAC unit design, to bring fresh air in the buildings. He adds that companies that manufacture these units in the UAE and Saudi Arabia, drive market sales in the GCC region. “Moreover, the importance of ensuring a better quality of air inside the buildings, one of the most discussed topics in the post-pandemic era, also contributes to the rise in demand for energy-efficient heat exchangers and accessories,” he says.

Zanesco highlights that there is a significant focus on improving Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in buildings in the postpandemic era. He says, “We have been

Demand for greater efficiency and better IAQ are among factors behind a vibrant heat exchangers market in the GCC region, says Indu Revikumar, Features Writer, Climate Control Middle East

dedicated to achieving maximum energy efficiency while enabling this objective to improve IAQ and actively expanding its market presence in heat exchangers and related accessories through mergers and acquisitions under the Recuperator and Klingenburg brands.

The shift in customer preference is not only in terms of type of heat exchangers but also capability or objective. Rappai says there has been a shift in customer preferences, as many prefer plate heat exchangers within the range of 60-80 bar operating pressure and temperatures starting from 350 degrees C to 400 degrees C, primarily due to their energy efficiency. Expanding on preferred choices in the heat exchangers market, Rappai says, “Energy efficiency is a great topic of concern among the industries, and the

high demand for plate heat exchangers could be attributed to its high thermal efficiency.” He adds that plate heat exchangers are the most common type in HVAC and District Cooling applications and that several of the projects in the region are now going for AHRI-certified plate heat exchangers.

Adding to the discussion on market preference, Fred Penhall, Managing Director, CAREL ME, says, “While crossflow plate heat exchangers are more prevalent in specific applications, like hospitals, due to their ability to provide improved airflow separation, the rotary heat exchanger remains the most commonly used type of air-to-air heat exchanger.”

Additionally, Rappai says there is an increasing demand for advanced heat exchangers in retrofit projects that aim to attain energy efficiency and sustainability objectives. “In the GCC region,” he says, “retrofitting existing infrastructure is crucial to reduce energy consumption, and as a result, industries are now on the lookout to achieve operational excellence, to improve productivity and profitability.” He adds that heat exchangers could play a crucial role in retrofitting, as they offer a smaller carbon footprint, high thermal efficiency, corrosion resistance and reduced fouling.

Further, Rappai points out that manufacturers in the region are making substantial investments in research and development to enhance the efficiency of heat exchangers. Danfoss, he says, has introduced a thinner and more energy efficient ‘D-plate’ series, which is a simple, user-friendly solution with the potential to improve building performance and energy efficiency, which is particularly important for countries in the region that are focused on sustainability and energy efficiency goals.

Elaborating on the market demands, Rappai says, “COP27 and the upcoming COP28 serve as crucial factors in the GCC region’s orientation towards sustainable solutions and energy-efficient products.” He underlines that the region’s various green initiatives clearly indicate this shift and, therefore, companies are expected to offer solutions that align with the region’s decarbonisation goals. He says, “Though cost is a crucial factor, customers are leaning towards long-term energy-efficient and reliable solutions, making products that offer high energy efficiency and reliability more popular among consumers and businesses.”

Zanesco notes that while the cost of

heat exchangers and overall solutions remains a primary consideration in decision-making processes, the weightage for energy-efficiency of the product has been increasing. “There is a shift towards evaluating operational costs, rather than solely focusing on initial investment costs, and this signifies a recognition that longterm operational efficiency and savings play a significant role in decision-making, alongside upfront expenses,” he says.

Weighing in on the discussion, Penhall says the efficiency of rotary and crosscounterflow plate heat exchangers can be enhanced by utilising new materials that enable heat transfer and humidity transfer. “New materials, which are suitable to transfer not only heat but also humidity, can outperform the standard aluminium material commonly used and offer improvements over the traditional shape of crossflow heat exchangers,” he says.

Efficiency is as much an outcome of proper maintenance as is proper selection of equipment. Touching on the maintenance issues concerning heat exchangers, Rappai says that implementing predictive maintenance and effectively using data allow manufacturers to easily predict and prevent potential issues and react on time seamlessly. He says, “Such maintenance strategies use sensor data to determine the condition of the equipment in service (condition-based maintenance) or predict future failures (predictive maintenance). He adds that a lot needs to be done to utilise data for condition-based maintenance and remote service equipment in a more effective manner. Meanwhile, Penhall says that even though maintenance is undoubtedly essential, the key to enhancing product lifespan and performance also lies in designing products that align with reliable working conditions.

Overall, the heat exchangers market is poised for growth, driven by increasing demand for energy-efficient and sustainable solutions, while the cost remains a consideration. In the GCC region, there is a rise in demand for plate heat exchangers among several types of heat exchangers available in the market, mainly due to the significant investments made in sustainability initiatives. Moreover, manufacturers in the GCC region are also investing in research and development to enhance the operational efficiency of heat exchangers and meet the demand for advanced heat exchangers.

Fred Penhall

Joe Rappai

Matteo Zanesco

Empower reports AED 494 million Q1 2023 revenues

District Cooling provider reports a first quarter EBITDA of AED 284 million (up by 8.2%)

By CCME Content Team

forma Net Profit grew by 5.7% to AED 191.6 million. This pro forma Net Profit comparison adjusts for pre-IPO leverage to show comparable quarterly performance, Empower said. On an absolute net-profit basis, Empower reported a net profit of AED 167.4 million, Empower said.

EMIRATES Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) reported its first quarter 2023 consolidated financial results, recording quarterly revenue of AED 494 million and EBITDA of AED 284 million.

Making the announcement through a Press release, Empower said that for the last 12 months, its consolidated revenue was AED 2.82 billion (April 2022 - March 2023) compared to AED 2.53 billion (April 2021 - March 2022), showing a growth of 11.5%. The EBITDA for the similar periods was AED 1.40 billion (April 2022 - March 2023) compared to AED 1.26 billion (April 2021 - March 2022), with a growth of 11.1%.

Empower said its first quarter 2023 revenue and EBITDA grew by six per cent and 8.2%, respectively. For the same period, Empower said, its pro

Empower said its growth during the first quarter of 2023 is attributed to a significant rise in demand for its services across various regions of Dubai, particularly from newly added mixed-use projects to its portfolio, and a noteworthy surge in production and operational capacity during the first quarter of the year.

According to Empower, the growth of 2023 is primarily fuelled by the rise in recurring and sustainable revenues, resulting from the boom in various economic sectors and markets in Dubai, notably the real estate sector, which is the mainstay of the company’s business.

Empower said that during the first quarter of 2023, it entered into several exclusivity agreements, including concessions agreements with major real estate development projects. In February 2023, the company signed an agreement with the Dubai Maritime City (DMC) to provide its projects District Cooling services with a capacity exceeding 63,000 refrigeration tons (RT). And in March 2023, it signed an agreement with Sobha Real Estate to provide 17,000 RT District Cooling

services for the Sobha Hartland project. Moreover, the company said, it signed agreements for several other buildings in various parts of Dubai, including Business Bay, Jumeirah Village Circle, Dubailand, Dubai Studio City, DIFC, Jumeirah Lake Towers and Barsha Heights, the total cooling capacity of these agreements reaching 24,000 RT. Furthermore, Empower said, it started operating its new District Cooling plant in Dubailand with a total production capacity of 47,000 RT, which will provide cooling services to residents of the Dubai Land Residence Complex (DLRC).

H.E Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower, said: “The results of the first quarter of this year consolidate the company’s position on more than one level, including by confirming its leadership in the global District Cooling markets, and highlighting its superior ability to meet the demand for District Cooling services with standards that exceed its global counterparts, regardless of the size, time or location. The results also reinforce Empower’s strong and effective presence and its capability to attract investors to the Dubai Financial Market, motivated by their confidence in the company’s strong base to continue achieving growth in terms of sustainable revenues and profits.

H.E. Bin Shafar stressed that Empower is determined to continue to grab investment opportunities in the market and to maintain its outstanding performance to ensure rewarding and sustainable returns for shareholders. He said that the company will continue investments in its portfolio of assets and infrastructure to serve the growing demand in the region’s District Cooling market.

H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar

Marubeni, Ajlan, United District Energy International launch District Cooling company in Saudi Arabia

The three organisations sign a JV to launch Diarona District Energy Limited in

By CCME Content Team

the Kingdom

Marubeni said demand for District Cooling in the Kingdom is expected to expand due to factors such as continuous population growth and urbanisation, vigorous real estate development and increased motivation for energy conservation. Marubeni said the three companies aim to meet local demand by combining Marubeni’s knowhow in infrastructure business development and operation in the Kingdom; UDEI’s extensive experience in District Cooling; and Ajlan’s local network, by virtue of its involvement in a wide range of businesses in the Kingdom.

MARUBENI Corporation said it has entered into a joint venture with Saudi Arabiaheadquartered Ajlan & Bros for Trading and with Qatar-headquartered United District Energy International (UDEI) on January 19 to enter into the District

Cooling business in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Making the announcement through a Press release it sent to Climate Control Middle East on May 15, Marubeni said the company formed through the JV has been incorporated as Diarona District Energy Limited.

Honeywell joins Eurovent Middle East Association says company is the latest to join its growing list of industry players

By CCME Content Team

EUROVENT Middle East said that Honeywell has become the latest addition to a growing group of industry players that are coming together to support in the transition to more sustainable technologies in the Middle East. This signifies the growing importance of collaboration among industry organisations to promote progress, Eurovent said, while announcing the coming on board of Honeywell.

Tariq Al Ghussein, President, Eurovent Middle East, welcoming Honeywell, said: “With Honeywell, another big name in the industry is joining our efforts to provide an organised and coordinated approach to the region’s challenges in our sector. Building management is one of the key elements in energy-efficient building operations. Honeywell will be an excellent addition to our joint competence as an organisation in various fields of our industry.”

Marubeni said it formulated its long-term vision for climate change in March 2021 and has positioned a green strategy as one of its basic policies for enhancing corporate value in its midterm management strategy, ‘GC2024’. Through the tripartite initiative, Marubeni said, it will expand its community-based utility service business, accelerate the process of decarbonisation, and contribute to the sustainable economic development of the Kingdom.

Eurovent said that Honeywell has more than 100 years of experience innovating and that the company delivers industry-specific solutions that include aerospace products and services; control technologies for buildings and industry; and performance materials, globally.

George Bou Mitri, Vice President and General Manager, Middle East and North Africa, Honeywell Performance Materials Technologies, said: “As the Middle East places an increased focus on sustainability, Honeywell’s portfolio of energy efficient performance materials and building technologies that help create safe, efficient and productive facilities, are ready now to help. Joining an industry association like Eurovent Middle East allows Honeywell and other organisations to support the region’s environmental transformation.”

Representatives of the three organisations during the ceremony to mark the signing of the JV

AHRI appoints new Development Manager

Hassan Kal joins the organisation

By CCME Content Team

Ventures announces partnership with Saudi Contractors Authority

Signs MoU with SCA for the launch of SCAVO, a construction intelligence platform for the Kingdom

By CCME Content Team

AHRI MENA said Hassan Kal has joined its team as Development Manager. Based in Dubai, Kal will be stepping into the role and taking over from Khalil Issa, who has departed the organisation, AHRI MENA said.

According to AHRI MENA, Kal will play a vital role in supporting the expanding community of AHRI members, certification programme participants, and regional working groups.

SAUDI Contractors Authority (SCA) and Ventures Onsite, a product of Ventures Middle East, have joined forces to launch SCAVO, which Ventures described in a Press release as an innovative and comprehensive construction intelligence platform specific to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

SCA and Ventures solidified the partnership during the Future Projects Forum, held in Riyadh, through signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), Ventures said. Abdulmajeed Alrashoudi, Governor of SCA, signed the MoU, in the company of Ahmad Kabra, CEO, Ventures Middle East, and Mibu John, Partner and Managing Director, Ventures Onsite.

Ventures claimed that SCAVO represents a breakthrough in construction

intelligence, providing industry professionals with unparalleled insights and real-time project data. Leveraging the combined expertise, resources and leadership of both entities, the partnership underscores a shared commitment to driving innovation, excellence and progress within the Saudi construction sector, Ventures said.

Kabra said, “The partnership between Ventures Onsite and SCA signifies our unwavering dedication to the advancing Saudi construction industry.”

John said: “We are excited to embark on this partnership with SCA to introduce SCAVO. Together, Ventures Onsite and SCA will empower the industry, its participants and stakeholders with transformative solutions from SCAVO.”

www.refrigbuyersguide.com

Hassan Kal

W-Tech, IISHAM Tech organise evaporative cooling forum

Massimo Volpini, Owner, W-Tech, claims that the company’s evaporative systems are designed to rapidly reduce temperatures, making them the ideal solution for a wide range of applications and processes

By CCME Content Team

AS A PART of its strategic actions to spread its wings across the Middle East and Africa region, Italy-headquartered W-TECH and its representative for the MEA region, IISHAM TECH organised a forum, titled ‘Energy and Water Conservation solutions with W-Tech condensers’, in Dubai.

Making the announcement through a Press release, IISHAM TECH said W-Tech specialises in the production of evaporative cooling systems and has established itself as one of the most qualified manufacturers of these systems, globally. With installations in over 40 countries worldwide, W-Tech has

demonstrated its expertise and experience in the industry, IISHAM TECH said.

While speaking at the forum, Massimo Volpini, Owner, W-Tech, elaborated on how W-Tech’s evaporative cooling systems are designed to rapidly reduce temperatures, making them the ideal solution for a wide range of applications and processes, where cooling is required, IISHAM Tech said. The systems are versatile and effective, significantly improving production time and performance while promoting sustainability and reducing consumption of natural resources, such as oil, natural gas and water, IISHAM Tech quoted Volpini as saying.

Unlike traditional cooling methods, evaporative cooling systems offer significant cost savings due to their energy efficiency, IISHAM Tech pointed out. They are a cost-effective choice for many companies, and their reduced environmental impact means lower greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and reduced noise generation, IISHAM Tech added.

According to IISHAM Tech, one of the key advantages of W-Tech’s evaporative cooling systems is their water-conserving design, which allows them to consume less water than other cooling methods, offering an environmentally friendly alternative that promotes sustainable water use. In addition, the systems are equipped with safety features that protect against the proliferation of Legionella, ensuring a safe and healthy working environment for all employees, IISHAM Tech pointed out.

W-tech machines, IISHAM Tech said, are the only ones made of Magnelis, a special alloy that is characterised by the following features:

1. Corrosion resistance: It offers superior resistance to corrosion, compared to other alloys used in the industry, ensuring a longer life and less need for maintenance.

2. High mechanical resistance: Thanks to its composition, it is able to offer high mechanical resistance, guaranteeing greater solidity and strength to the machine structure.

3. Environmentally friendly: The alloy is made up of a combination of environmentally friendly materials, reducing the environmental impact of evaporative machine production.

Dr Karthika Chandramohan, CEO & General Manager, IISHAM TECH, said her company, as the representative of W-Tech in the MEA region, would establish proximity for MEA-based clients through providing local support in the form of aftersales service, spare parts replacement and periodical inspection.

Massimo Volpini

Dr. Karthika Chandramohan

H.E. Bin Shafar participates in the Global Leaders panel discussion at IDEA Conference 2023

The panel discussion witnessed active participation of decision-makers and experts in the District Cooling sector and potential investors from around the world, says Empower

By CCME Content Team

H.E. AHMAD Bin Shafar, CEO, Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower), participated as a keynote speaker in the opening panel discussion of global leaders at the International District Energy Association (IDEA) Conference, Chicago, USA, the District Cooling utility provider announced in a Press release. According to the Press release, the session featured a panel comprising prominent global leaders and decision-makers in the District Energy sector. Further, the company said, the discussions revolved around many crucial topics, primarily focusing on the recent trend in investing in the District Energy sector and increased resilience and acceleration of the transition to a lower-carbon future. The IDEA Conference & Tradeshow 2023 took place from June 5 to 8, 2023, under the theme ‘Empowering the Next Generation’.

Empower said the panel discussion witnessed huge participation of decision-makers and experts of the District Cooling sector and potential investors worldwide. According to the Press release, H.E. Bin Shafar emphasised the remarkable interest displayed by retail and institutional investors in investing in the District Cooling sector and mentioned

Empower’s experience with its Initial Public Offering (IPO), which received a staggering oversubscription rate of 47 times. He also highlighted the investors’ confidence in Empower, citing factors such as the company’s performance, resilient business model, and recent successful acquisitions, and pointed out that this deep investor confidence stems from various economic, climatic, demographic, and social reasons, the release said. Commenting on the government policies to promote District Cooling in the region, H.E. Bin Shafar said, “The UAE Energy Strategy 2050, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy, UAE Net Zero 2050, and the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2030 have collectively established a culture among the real estate development industry, owners and end users to adopt District Cooling systems.”

H.E. Bin Shafar stressed to the participants the importance of expanding the scope of the District Cooling industry worldwide to gain the benefits of District Cooling in a circular economy, protect natural resources, and preserve the environment for generations to come, the company said.

The District Cooling utility provider said, during the panel discussion, which

marked high interaction among the participants, H.E. Bin Shafar highlighted Empower’s position in leading this globally vital industry by adopting the most advanced and unique technologies in the District Cooling operations. H.E. Bin Shafar also underlined the increasing demand for District Cooling services in the Middle East as a preferred alternative to conventional air conditioners and mentioned that the company is currently working on various strategies to enter new markets, including the United States, while reviewing Empower’s plans, the release said.

According to the Press release, the Conference highlighted Dubai’s strengths and pioneering experience in the District Cooling sector while reviewing various effective solutions to increase energy efficiency and to reduce carbon emissions towards netzero. The release said the Conference also discussed energy budgets and operational efficiency through automation and machine learning in the District Cooling industry.

H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar

King Salman Park awards District Cooling services contract to SNC-Lavalin

By CCME Content Team

SNC-LAVALIN said it has been awarded a District Cooling services contract by Green Park Cooling Company, a subsidiary of Saudi Tabreed, for the Riyadh-based King Salman Park project. Making the announcement through a Press release, SNC said the Park is a green destination at the heart of Riyadh.

The Park, SNC said, is one of Riyadh’s four megaprojects, launched by the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman Bin Abdulaziz, in 2019. The Park aims to provide a variety of sports, cultural, artistic and recreational activities to the residents and visitors of Riyadh, SNC said. As part of a 27-month contract, SNC-Lavalin said, it will provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for the Park’s District Cooling plant, with ultimate capacity of 60,000 RT. The

services also cover complete design, installation, automation, and testing and commissioning of the plant, SNC said. The design will allow the DCP to be executed in three phases without interrupting the plant operation, SNC said. The development of detail design will involve the use of Building Information Modelling (BIM) and state-of-the-art data analytics tools to monitor progress and ensure efficiency in project delivery, SNC said.

“SNC-Lavalin has built a successful track record of delivering high performing, technologically advanced and reliable District Cooling services for the past two decades across the Middle East region,” said Mohamed Youssef, Senior Vice President, Projects and O&M, Engineering Services, Middle East and Africa, SNC-Lavalin. “King Salman Park is a significant development that will improve the

Mohamed Youssef

SNC says it will provide EPC services for the Riyadh-based facility’s District Cooling plant with ultimate capacity of 60,000 RT

quality of life in Riyadh, in line with Saudi Vision 2030’s goals of a vibrant and healthy society. We are proud to build on our strong relationship with Saudi Tabreed and deliver this project to the highest quality and safety standards by providing our engineering excellence and digital solutions.”

The Park is built on more than 16 square kilometres to become the world’s largest urban park, SNC said. It will include vast open green spaces covering more than 11.6 square kilometres, one million trees, the Royal Arts Complex, the National Theater, a 7.2-km pedestrian walkway (loop), and

a “valley” area in the middle of the park, surrounded with art and water features, SNC said. The Park, SNC added, will contribute significantly to increasing the vegetation in the city and raising the rate of per capita green spaces, which will have a direct and positive impact on the quality of the environment and climate.

FOUNDED TO LEAD

Allied has grown into one of the leading Engineering and Project Management firms in the Middle East, boasting offices in 3 major Countries in the Middle East (Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia).

Allied offers full range of Engineering and Project Management services provided by nearly 140 dedicated professionals distributed among Egypt, UAE and KSA.

The company is a multidisciplinary consulting firm and has a track record and specialization in Buildings, Industrial Works and District Cooling and Power Generation Plants.

AMCA updates Fan-Air-Performance Rating Publication

211-22

New document prescribes technical procedures for rating fans and axial impellers for air performance to be used in connection with the AMCA Certified Ratings Program

By CCME Content Team

AIR Movement and Control Association (AMCA)

International releases

AMCA Publication 211-22 (Rev. 01-23), Certified Ratings Program Product Rating Manual for Fan Air Performance.

Making the announcement through a Press release, AMCA said that superseding AMCA Publication 211-22, AMCA Publication 211-22 (Rev. 01-23) prescribes technical procedures for rating fans and axial impellers for air performance to be used in connection with the AMCA Certified Ratings Program (CRP).

AMCA Publication 21122 (Rev. 01-23) coordinates the AMCA CRP with the US Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) requirements for large-diameter ceiling fans (LDCF). Changes were made to sections 9.11, ‘Rating method N: Largediameter ceiling fans’, and 22, ‘Product Ratings Requirements for Large-Diameter Ceiling Fans’, AMCA said.

Additionally, the title of Section 20

was changed, AMCA added. According to AMCA, Changes in 211-22 (Rev. 01-23) include:

• The addition of the DOE definition of large-diameter ceiling fan

• The addition to the list of rating requirements the number of available fan speeds, the capability of reverse flow and, if applicable, whether fan-speed controls are separate from lighting controls

• The allowance of conservative standby-power-consumption ratings

• The addition of testing voltage requirements for LDCF regulated by the DOE and having polyphase electricity

AMCA said Publication 21122 (Rev. 01-23) is available in PDF format free of charge.

Eurovent publishes new air curtain recommendation

Organisation says the recommendation 16/3 focuses on air curtain acoustic performance and calculation

By CCME Content Team

THE Eurovent Product Group, ‘Air Curtains and Fan Heaters’ has released a new recommendation on acoustic performance and calculations of air curtains. Making the

announcement through a Press release, Eurovent said participants of Product Group, ‘Air Curtains and Fan Heaters’ (PG-CUR) prepared the recommendation in a joint effort.

Carrier launches digital solutions for data centres

Continual technology advances with higher-powered server processors, present powerconsumption and cooling challenges, requiring specialised solutions, company says

By CCME Content Team

CARRIER said it is providing digital lifecycle solutions to support the unprecedented growth and criticality of data centres. Making the announcement through a Press release, Carrier claimed that more than 300 data centre owners and operators with over one million racks – spanning enterprise, colocation and edge – benefit from Carrier’s optimisation solutions across their portfolios.

“Data center operators have made great strides in power usage effectiveness over the past 15 years,” said Michel Grabon, Director, Data Center Solutions Director, Carrier. “Continual technology advances with higher powered server processors present power-consumption and cooling challenges, requiring specialized solutions that Carrier provides.”

Carrier said its range of smart and connected solutions deliver upstream data from the data centre ecosystem to cool, monitor, maintain, analyse and protect the facility to meet green building standards and sustainability goals and to comply with local greenhouse gas emission regulations. Carrier claimed that its Nlyte DCIM tools share detailed information among the HVAC equipment, power systems and servers/workloads

that run within data centres, providing unprecedented transparency and control of the infrastructure for improved uptime

According to Carrier, its purposebuilt solutions are integrated across its solutions portfolio with efficient and highperforming HVAC equipment, data centre infrastructure management (DCIM) tools and building management system to help data centre operators use less power and improve operating costs and profitability for many years.

Carrier said marquee projects it has executed around the world include:

• OneAsia’s data centre, in Nantong Industrial Park. Carrier said it collaborated with the company to build its first China data centre equipped with a water-cooled chiller system. By optimising the energy efficiency of the entire cooling system, the highefficiency chiller plant can reduce the annual electricity bill by approximately USD 180,000 (RMB 1.27 million), Carrier said.

• China’s Zhejiang Cloud Computing Center, which Carrier said, is an example of how its AquaEdge centrifugal chillers and integrated controls provide the required stability, reliability and efficiency for 200,000

servers. The integrated controls help reduce operating expenses and allow facility managers to monitor performance remotely and manage preventative maintenance to keep the chillers running according to operational needs, Carrier said.

• Iron Mountain’s growing underground data centre, in a former Pennsylvania limestone mine. Carrier said the facility earned the industry’s top rating with the use of its retrofit solution to control environmental heat and humidity.

AquaEdge chillers, with variable-speed drive, respond with efficient cooling, enabling the HVAC units to work under part- or full-load conditions, Carrier said.

Carrier said its Nlyte Asset Lifecycle Management & Capacity Planning software provides automation and efficiency to asset lifecycle management, capacity planning, audit and compliance tracking. It simplifies space and energy planning, easily connecting to an IT service management system and all types of business intelligence applications, including its Abound™ cloud-based digital platform and BluEdge® service platform to track and predict HVAC equipment health, enabling continuous operations, Carrier said.

According to the Press release, the purpose of the new recommendation 16/3 is to provide manufacturers with helpful guidelines on measuring and stating the sound emitted by an air curtain. After a first introduction to acoustics, the document focuses on the sound emitted from an air curtain and provides a template with all the data to be measured and declared by manufacturers to increase customer confidence, the release said.

Michael Hims, Vice-Chairperson,

Eurovent PG-CUR, said: “This Eurovent Recommendation is a longawaited document that will allow the air curtain industry to take a big step forward in educating end-users about acoustics within the context of our units while giving clear direction and expectations on how companies should state technical data. The document serves as a blueprint that manufacturers can aspire to, and it will allow end users to make an informed choice regarding product selection.”

According to Eurovent, the

recommendation is addressed to all HVAC professionals dealing with ventilation systems, particularly designers, facility managers and manufacturers of equipment incorporating air curtains. The document was published by Eurovent and prepared in a joint effort by participants of the PGCUR, which represents a vast majority of manufacturers of these products active on the EMEA market, Eurovent said, adding that it may be downloaded free of charge in the Eurovent Document Library.

Published standard anticipated in July 2023, Society says

By CCME Content Team

ASHRAE completes draft of firstever Pathogen Mitigation Standard Johnson Controls announces increased

quarterly dividend

BoD approves a regular quarterly dividend of USD 0.37 per share of common stock

By CCME Content Team

ASHRAE announced the completion of the first draft of its Standard for maintaining healthy Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), with final approval expected in June and publishing anticipated in July.

ASHRAE Standard 241P, Control of Infectious Aerosols, provides minimum requirements for HVAC-related measures to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, influenza, and other airborne viruses in homes, offices, schools and hospitals during periods of high risk, ASHRAE said through a Press release. The Standard offers guidance for creating healthier environments in the buildings where we work, live, and play, ASHRAE added.

Farooq Mehboob, 2022-23 ASHRAE President, said: “The entire world was touched by the effects of the pandemic, and we learned that an effective way to protect ourselves from the spread of pathogens is to improve the Indoor Air Quality and ventilation in the buildings that we occupy. Nowhere in the world do we have a standard that universally addresses the concept of mitigating pathogen spread and IAQ, and ASHRAE is proud to lead in the development of the guidance.”

According to ASHRAE, the standard will address long-range transmission of infectious aerosols and provide minimum requirements for:

• Equivalent outdoor air (combined effect of ventilation, filtration and air cleaning) for use during Infection Risk Mitigation Mode

• Room air distribution to reduce risk

• Characterisation of filter and air cleaner effectiveness and safety

• Commissioning, including development and implementation of a Building Readiness Plan

• System operation in Infection Risk Mitigation Mode during periods of high risk

• Maintenance tasks and their minimum frequency

• Residences and health care facilities

Dr William Bahnfleth, ASHRAE Presidential Fellow and Standard Project Committee 241P Chair, said: “Standard 241P is built on ASHRAE’s longstanding leadership position as a developer of consensus Indoor Air Quality standards and the guidance developed by the ASHRAE Epidemic Task Force, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This experience, combined with the efforts of a truly world-class international project committee, has allowed us to produce this review draft in only 10 weeks. It is a ground-breaking document that we expect to have significant impact. We look forward to the public’s comments as we work to complete the final version of the standard for publication.”

THE board of directors of Johnson Controls International (JCI) approved a quarterly dividend of USD 0.37 per share of common stock, payable on July 14, 2023, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 20, 2023. Making the announcement through a Press release, JCI said this represents a USD 0.01 increase over the previous quarterly dividend. The company added that it has paid a consecutive dividend since 1887.

ENERGY MANAGEMENT IN REAL ESTATE:

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Dunli launches EC/DC X-pro axial fans, B-max plug fans

Company says the fans are designed to deliver outstanding performance across a wide range of high-demand industries

By CCME Content Team

DUNLI Fans has launched the EC/ DC X-pro axial fans and B-max plug fans, which the company described through a Press release as designed to deliver outstanding performance across a wide range of

high-demand industries.

Dunli said its products are widely used in refrigeration, HVAC, air purification, AHU, power electronics, heat pump, data centre and other sectors. The company said its motor fans

have received CCC, CE, ETL and UL certifications. It further said that they are fully compliant with RoHS standards.

Dunli said the fans have been developed to offer low noise, high air volume, high efficiency and a long service life. Furthermore, the company said, it has applied for numerous patents in structure, fluid, motor, control circuit and more.

To cater to diverse operating environments, Dunli said, it offers blades made from both light plastic and aluminium alloy. Lightweight materials reduce the load on the bearing and the entire rotor power system, further enhancing the reliability and service life of the product, Dunli said, adding that the impellers, motors and controllers have been designed from scratch to provide a superior user experience, meeting the evolving needs of its customers.

eurammon Symposium 2023

Association says the Symposium will feature presentations on current developments, applications, EU regulations and case studies on natural refrigerants

Edited by CCME Content Team

eurammon, an association of companies, institutions, and individuals committed to the promotion and use of natural refrigerants, will hold its annual Symposium, a key event for the refrigeration industry, from June 26 to 30. Making the announcement through a Press release, eurammon said the Symposium will feature informative presentations on current developments, applications, EU regulations and case studies on natural refrigerants. The complete programme of the digital event is now available at https://www. eurammon.com/news/symposia/11symposium/227-symposium-2023

According to the Press release, three keynote speeches will set the scene for the Symposium. They will include a project to measure energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the transport, industrial and commercial refrigeration sectors in the United

Kingdom, a lecture on the development of CO2 refrigeration technology over the last two decades and a speech on a natural refrigeration initiative, in the Middle East. Day Two will focus on what is currently at stake – updates on existing/planned EU regulations and other regulatory frameworks: F-gas regulatory update, PFAS and Eco Design regulations, and a Q&A session, eurammon said. Day Three will focus on applications with sustainable, energy-efficient and natural refrigerants; the fourth day will focus on presentations on current developments, and the final day of the Symposium will focus on recent case studies, eurammon added.

Ákos Murin, Chairman, Steering Committee, eurammon e.V, said: “eurammon is an organisation, which promotes natural refrigerants and their use for the refrigeration and heat pump industry. Don’t miss this year’s Symposium to get full info on these relevant topics and case studies.”

According to eurammon, the programme agenda is as follows… (Symposium language is English)

26 June - Keynote speeches

09:00 Welcome & greeting, Michael Freiherr, Chairman, eurammon e.V.

09:10 Reducing carbon emissions in transport, industrial and commercial refrigeration, Catarina Marques, London South Bank University.

09:55 Evolution of CO2 refrigeration technology from 2000, Bernd Heinbokel, Carrier Kältetechnik Deutschland GmbH

10:40 Break

10:45 Cool Up: The rise of natural refrigerants in future-proof cooling solutions, Dr. Andreas Hermelink, Guidehouse

11:30 Concluding remarks, Michael Freiherr

27 June - Policy and regulations update

09:00 Introduction, Lambert Kuijpers, A/genT Consultancy

09:10 News on the F-Gas regulation, Cornelius Rhein, European Commission, DG Clima

09:40 Break

09:45 The Universal PFAS Restriction proposal under REACH, Thijs de Kort, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (NL)

10:15 Further uptake of flammable refrigerants, especially those of safety class A3, for various applications, Carsten Hoch, TÜV SÜD Industrie Service GmbH

10:45 Break

10:50 Update of Eco design regulation ENTR Lot 1 Professional Refrigeration - focus on condensing units and process chillers, Davide Polverini, European Commission, DG Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs

11:20 Panel discussion with all 4 speakers

11:50 Concluding remarks, Lambert Kuijpers

28 June - Applications with Natural Refrigerants

09:00 Introduction, Michael Rabenstein, Evapco Europe GmbH

09:10 Hydrocarbons - application within chillers and heat pumps, Marco Funes, Secon GmbH

09:40 Break

09:45 Cooling of server rooms with CO2, Christoph Galli, HERMETIC-Pumpen GmbH

10:15 Ultra-low temperature cooling with air as refrigerant, Thomas Frank, Refolution Industriekälte GmbH

10:45 Break

10:50 Transport refrigeration with Propene and Carbon Dioxide, Jürgen Süß, ECOOLTEC Grosskopf GmbH

11:20 Concluding remarks, Michael Rabenstein

29 June - Current Developments with Natural Refrigerants

09:00 Introduction, Monika Witt, TH. Witt refrigerating machine factory

09:10 Current developments in the refrigeration industry - New innovative refrigeration oils for natural refrigerants, Wolfgang Bock, FUCHS LUBRICANTS

GERMANY GmbH

09:40 Break

09:45 Geothermal heat pumps with ammonia highly efficient for concrete core heating and concrete core cooling, Werner Eller, Friotherm Deutschland GmbH

10:15 Efficiency and availability with NH3 compressor packs, Jürgen Filster, BITZER Kühlmaschinenbau GmbH

10:45 Break

10:50

Extreme low charge systems with Ammonia R717, Christian Kempe, Alfa Laval Technologies AB

11:20 Concluding remarks, Monika Witt

30 June - Case Studies with Natural Refrigerants

09:00 Introduction, Thomas Spänich, GEA Refrigeration Germany GmbH

09:10 Benefit of holistic planning, Thomas Lergenmüller, GEA Refrigeration Germany GmbH

09:40 Break

09:45 Semiflooded evaporation for supermarket refrigeration, Esra Wirth, Kaufland Stiftung & Co. KG

10:15 WT: Industrial Heat Pumps with Ammonia, NN, Kreutzträger Kältetechnik GmbH & Co. KG

10:45 Break

10:50 Practical experience with a 3 stage Ammonia DX-plant, Finn Dresen, Kältetechnik Dresen + Bremen GmbH

11:20 Concluding remarks, Thomas Spänich

Frascold invests in Environmental Management System

The company says the move is in line with its efforts to reduce ecological footprint

Edited by CCME Content Team

FRASCOLD, which specialises in developing, producing and marketing semi-hermetic compressors for the refrigeration and air conditioning industry, announced the integration of an Environmental Management System that extends along its entire value chain. Making the announcement through a Press release, Frascold said the investment aims at enhancing its processes and products to reduce its ecological footprint. According to the release, Frascold will employ a systematic and preventive approach based on the definition of specific company guidelines, on the planning of activities and measurement of performance, in compliance with ESG criteria and the territory in which Frascold operates.

Giuseppe Galli, CEO, Frascold, said: “For Frascold, sustainability is a fundamental and strategic asset, and incorporating environmental governance into your quality management system means actively pursuing responsible development at 360 degrees, in a longterm perspective. The company turns its attention to the entire life cycle of solutions, from design and production to marketing and distribution, to benefit the entire supply chain. The continuous investments in research and development have allowed us to create innovative natural refrigerant compressors and to achieve international climate and energy targets. Furthermore, Frascold also supports various initiatives to make the plant more efficient and improve its workers’ well-being.”

According to the Press release, the company promotes the adoption of technological processes that combine superior performance with a lower carbon footprint, such as the optimisation of the production chain, ergonomically correct workstations, and visual management techniques. Further, the release said Frascold Environmental Management System gives greater attention to ordinary preventive maintenance. The new ecocompatible refrigerant chiller, designed for the operation of calorimeters and test benches, with Frascold compressors of the Magnetic series, ATEX certified, characterised by a cooling capacity of 350kW, for energy savings of +20% compared to a traditional model, is an example, the release said.

Frascold added that environmental protection is reflected in the rationalisation of the use of energy resources, pursuing significant savings and the reduction of carbon emissions. The company The company said that in 2022, it built a photovoltaic system made up of a total of 3,500 panel, which after a year, generated significant benefits, such as a reduction of 600 tonnes of CO2, production of clean and renewable electricity equal to 1.5 GWh, an average self-consumption greater than 80% and a coverage of the total annual requirement equal to 30%. Additionally, the release said, Frascold’s new project, a heat pump with natural fluid and Frascold compressors, is intended for heating and cooling the office building.

“At Frascold, the goals we achieve depend on everyone’s commitment, and their value is primarily determined by how we achieve them,” said Franco Bonfiglio, Vice Chairman, Frascold. “A distinctive sign, thanks to which our customers recognise us as a reliable and transparent partner.

He added that Frascold believes in conscious and ethical management, and it is essential to define roles of responsibility at every level of the organisational structure, to guarantee all of the company’s personnel the information necessary to carry out their duties in respect of the ecosystem. He further said promoting a shared vision that can raise awareness and involve employees and suppliers is essential for a sustainable evolution based on shared goals.

Franco Bonfiglio

Giuseppe Galli

Epta launches Eurocryor

Says the system promotes conservation of thermally sensitive foods

Edited by CCME Content Team

regulates the cabinet’s parameters according to the external environmental conditions, in order to keep the temperatures stable and to optimise the balance between the refrigeration management and humidity inside the cabinets. The system, Epta said, is a particularly useful tool for those food items that are subject to dehydration that alters their organoleptic quality performance, as for the dairy products and fresh pasta, in order to enhance their presentation. The Stili family also features a Dynamic System, a patented technology that allows the preservation of meat for several days inside the cabinet, maintaining the characteristics, freshness and the aesthetic impact of

the products intact., Epta claimed. The Dynamic System, Epta further claimed, minimises temperature variation and keeps moisture levels higher than 90% without humidifiers, limiting the average weight loss of the meat to 0.12% compared to the standard 3 per cent of a traditional system.

“A fitting product display, which is able to offer an adequate qualitative and quantitative visibility to the food items, represents a strategic lever for the retailer, affecting the decisionmaking process of users,” said William Pagani, CMO, Epta. “It has, indeed, been demonstrated that when faced with a purchase choice, consumers are mostly influenced by sight (83%), followed by hearing (11%), smell (3.5%) and taste (one per cent). Eurocryor’s solutions are the result of a synergy between the different multidisciplinary teams committed to all-round excellence, where food freshness is always the most attractive quality.”

SAYING that maintaining the adequate temperature and humidity conditions inside the cabinet is imperative to preserve the food’s physical and nutritional properties, resulting in a higher level of safety, commercial refrigeration equipment manufacturer, Epta said its brand, Eurocryor is the ideal ally for food experts.

Making the statement as part of a Press release, Epta said in the wide Eurocryor range, the Stili family – a collection of refrigerated cabinets to furnish flagship and specialised stores – such as butcher shops, delis, fishmongers and patisseries – stands out. Epta said its diversity of solutions results in different configurations, according to the needs of retailer, with the range including serve-over cabinets to self-service, and from the semi-vertical to tower units. Stili’s key strength is its extra-clear glass, whose total transparency makes the furniture invisible, thereby promoting an immediate view of the items on display and their high quality, Epta claimed.

The Stili family furnishings feature an adaptive system, Epta said, which

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{Quoteyard}

We bring you a collection of some of the most interesting quotes, extracted from articles in this issue. In case you missed reading, we recommend you flip back to take full advantage of the insights and remarks, in the context in which they have been presented.

The report further states that there exists a 98% likelihood that at least one of the next five years will be the warmest on record in human history. This is, indeed, the first time that any UN organisation has warned humanity with such a definite prediction amidst chaotic atmospheric chemistry.

The dispersion of various pollutants humans can carry indoors is a significant challenge to the IAQ rendered by filtration-intensive systems. When patients talk, sneeze and cough, they produce many particles light enough to remain suspended in the air and spread infection.

Maintenance staff should be better equipped with personal protection to avoid direct exposure to contamination from any segment of the HVAC systems, including porous duct linings, diffusers and drain pans.

Now, one of the reasons we decided to enter the market is that Saudi Arabia is booming, such that one player cannot take all the projects. And our strength is that we bring a good mix of expertise from each party. p17

Furthermore, a new Directorate of District Cooling has been created, and there has been a rebranding of the oil & gas industry, focusing on renewable energy and other related areas.

We can enhance performance, feasibility, and cost-effectiveness by utilising simulation and modelling techniques for existing plants, retrofitting equipment and designing new cooling systems.

Suppliers must submit a product environmental report disclosing the use of all substances of concern, along with data from their suppliers providing raw materials. We then make a thorough assessment by visiting the suppliers’ manufacturing sites to verify the submitted documents.

Ras Al Khaimah has introduced incentives – including waivers or discounts on government fees – making entry into the market costeffective for ESCOs. This has been successful, with 24 ESCOs accredited in Ras Al Khaimah, some of which have established their regional offices in the emirate

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