Bee’ah has signed a partnership agreement with the National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) to explore the development of large-scale district cooling projects in Sharjah. The agreement was signed during the World Future Energy Summit, held in Abu Dhabi and is designed to increase the use of energy-efficient district cooling among some of the largest projects in the emirate.
The partnership was signed by Bee’ah’s group CEO, Khaled Al Huraimel and Tabreed’s CEO Bader Saeed Al Lamki. Under the terms of the agreement, Bee’ah and Tabreed will develop potential district cooling projects that are more environment-friendly and cost-efficient compared to traditional space cooling methods.
According to a statement from Bee’ah, district cooling is highly efficient and cost-effective, while providing cost savings from building operations and maintenance in reducing energy consumption.
Commenting on the partnership, Al Huraimel said that Bee’ah has made significant investments in sustainability and infrastructure in Sharjah and that this agreement with Tabreed is a further illustration of their continued commitment to seek new solutions that are more sustainable and cost-competitive.
“The UAE faces extreme weather conditions, especially during the summer, but through new district cooling projects, we hope to tackle this issue through more energy-efficient measures,” he added.
Al Lamki said: “We are pleased to be partnering with Bee’ah to explore opportunities to bring reliable, sustainable and cost-efficient district cooling solutions to the emirate of Sharjah.”
He added: “Our strong core business, innovative technology, experienced team and structuring capabilities have made Tabreed the partner of choice, and we look forward to contributing to the continued growth and long-term sustainability of the emirate.”
Bee’ah also stated that district cooling relies on a centralised cooling plant that provides cooling to buildings within its grid. The plant supplies chilled water via insulated underground piping networks to a cluster of buildings in a service area or district. Energy transfer stations then utilise the chilled water to force cold air inside the buildings to produce an air-conditioned environment with warm water then returning to the plant to be re-chilled and redistributed, it stated.
Additionally, district cooling plants sometimes use nearby seawater instead of potable water, leading to further environmental benefits and water savings. With 60 to 80 percent less energy consumption than the average conventional cooling systems, centralised district cooling will play a major role in tackling increased electricity consumption during peak times, Bee’ah added.