Palm Jumeirah district cooling plant talks under way
27 January 2025
Dubai-based property developer Nakheel is understood to be holding talks with a district cooling plant firm for a contract to develop or build two new district cooling plants on Palm Jumeirah.
According to an industry source, the new district cooling plants will each have a capacity of 25,000 refrigeration tonnes (RT).
Abu Dhabi-based National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) is understood to be engaged in the talks.
Tabreed acquired an 80% stake in Emaar Property's Downtown Dubai district cooling business at a cost of AED2.48bn ($675m) in 2020.
The following year, Dubai-based Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) signed an acquisition agreement with Nakheel Properties for 19 district cooling plants with a capacity of 110,000 refrigeration tons (kTR). The transaction was valued at AED860m ($234m).
It is understood that Empower has eight district cooling plants on Palm Jumeirah.
District cooling is commonly deployed by mixed-use developments in the region. The process involves using a central chiller plant to cool water, which is circulated to multiple buildings to provide cooling.
It is considered more energy-efficient, consuming at least 20% less electricity compared to conventional air-cooled air conditioning systems or individual water-cooled air conditioning systems.
Photo credit: Pixabay, for illustrative purposes only
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Siemens Energy wins $1.6bn Saudi deal
13 March 2025
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Chinese engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor Harbin Electric International has awarded Germany’s Siemens Energy a contract to supply combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) units for the Rumah 2 and Nairiyah 2 independent power projects (IPPs) in Saudi Arabia.
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Chinese builders go global
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Commentary
Colin Foreman
EditorRead the March MEED Business Review
It is difficult to fathom the scale of growth experienced by China’s construction sector over the past 20 years. Since 2004, it has grown by over 800%, with a compound annual growth rate of 11% to reach an estimated value of $4.5tn.
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