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Country rEPorts: saudi arabia, taiwan
January 2018
news
inside:
Chill
Etisalat in iot drive
Supplement on the District Cooling industry
uaE is driving district Cooling to a completely different level, says dsi
‘Engine for growth’ Jasim Husain Thabet, Chief Executive Officer, Tabreed
Higher electricity tariffs in Ksa usher in consumer behaviour change
‘SE Asian countries need an estimated USD 11 bn in District Cooling by 2020 to meet national targets’ Pierre Cheyron, CEO of ENGIE Services Asia-Pacific
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THE PROGRESS THE GCC REGION HAS MADE TOWARDS ESTABLISHING NZEBS IN THE FIRMAMENT
interviews
14 - 16 January 2018 Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events
‘the GCC region is leapfrogging to new and better solutions’
'no one can maintain a chiller better, as per manufacturer's recommendation, than the manufacturer itself'
Honeywell
UTC Carrier
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events in 2018 6TH T
The inroads of the technology in the Kingdom 19 March 2018 Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
3rd Annual Middle East HVAC Fire Safety Conference 9 April 2018 | Dubai, UAE
The Consultant Contractor Conference (2nd edition) Strengthening the foundations for better building performance 24-25 September 2018 Dubai, UAE
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January 2018
3
VOL. 13 NO. 01
JANUARY 2018
cover story
10 Exploring the feasibility of nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs) and challenges related to their implementation in the context of the GCC region's energy-efficiency initiatives
56
book review
post-event report
LIFT: The New Craft of Coaching
66
'and we have here...' Part 2 of the coverage of The Big 5 Dubai 2017,
By Bruce Robert Dorey, PhD
COUNTRY REPORTS
4
January 2018
48
Saudi Arabia A look at the growth opportunities in the Kingdom's HVACR market against the announcement of the USD 500 billion mega city, Neom.
52
Taiwan Exploring trends driving innovation within the country's energy and HVACR sector.
January 2018
5
find inside VOL. 13 NO. 01
JANUARY 2018
Q&A
A CLIMATE
29
CONTROL
TRACKING THE
MIDDLE EA
DISTRICT COO
SU ST SPECIAL
LING INDUST
PPLEMENT
RY IN THE MID
DLE EAST
:
INSIDE
or at major ts oughout the
tive Chief Execu in Thabet, E Jasim Husa about ENGI ed, speaks what Officer, Tabre holder and major share red becoming a i-headquarte the Abu Dhab any. it means to g utility comp District Coolin es ENGIE Servic ron, CEO of Pierre Chey company’s on how the pines is set Asia-Pacific, t in the Philip t Northgate projecr penetration of Distric ly other dense to trigger greate country and Cooling in the areas in Southeast Asia. populated urban
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George Koutsaftes
ko on Dan Mizes of stops and starts s can spell chiller centrifugal machines. ruin for the
40%, 70% insights on
s Hofor share its for its economic benefof carbon and customers tions. emission reduc
Mohammed Al Qaisi
Your gateway
q&A
.COM
turers and
d manufac
ation-relate
to Refriger
advertising@
32
Julien Soulet
‘SE Asian countries need an estimated USD 11 bn by 2020 to meet national targets’
Amr Elmasry
Pierre Cheyron, CEO of ENGIE Services Asia-Pacific
46 Amir Naqvi
24 ‘The GCC region is leapfrogging to new and better solutions’ Honeywell’s George Koutsaftes, President, Advanced Materials, Performance Materials and Technologies (PMT); Julien Soulet, Managing Director, EMAI, and Amir Naqvi, Regional Marketing Leader, Honeywell Fluorine Products, Middle East, Turkey and Africa.
Mohammed Al Qaisi, General Manager, and Amr Elmasry, Director Marketing (Key Accounts and Strategic Products), Carrier, discuss the impending launch of a new VRF system and watercooled chiller, featuring a new refrigerant.
36
MArket feAture Chillers
Jasim Husain Thabet, Chief Executive Officer, Tabreed
The underlying factors driving the chillers market in the GCC region.
44 42
Licence to cHiLL
A recipe for disaster Dan Mizesko, Managing Partner of US Chiller Services, discusses the hazardous effects of cycling centrifugal chillers.
perspective The building cyber problem
January 2018
30 ‘Engine for growth’
'The new chiller will take efficiency to a higher level'
16
6
31 January 2018
.com cpi-industry
Tom Shircliff and Rob Murchison, Co-Founders, Intelligent Buildings (USA), discuss typical cyber-security challenges in the context of building management systems.
country focus 40%, 70% Insights from Copenhagen-based utility provider, Hofor
REGULARS 08
eDitor's note
A need to look beyond surface authenticity 62 65
regional news Global news
65
Marketplace
January 2018
7
EDITOR’S NOTE
A NEED TO LOOK BEYOND SURFACE AUTHENTICITY
H
Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACR
COUNTRY REPORTS: SAUDI ARABIA, TAIWAN
January 2018
news
inside:
Chill
Etisalat in IoT drive
Supplement on the District Cooling industry
UAE is driving District Cooling to a completely different level, says DSI
‘Engine for growth’ Jasim Husain Thabet, Chief Executive Officer, Tabreed
Higher electricity tariffs in KSA ushers in consumer behaviour change
‘SE Asian countries need an estimated USD 11 bn by 2020 to meet national targets’ Pierre Cheyron, CEO of ENGIE Services Asia-Pacific
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THE PROGRESS THE GCC REGION HAS MADE TOWARDS ESTABLISHING NZEBS IN THE FIRMAMENT
interviews
‘The GCC region is leapfrogging to new and better solutions’
'The new chiller will take efficiency to a higher level'
Honeywell
UTC Carrier
14 - 16 January 2018 Jeddah Centre for Forums & Events
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Visit our website: climatecontrolme.com/digital Also available at
appy New Year, and hearty best wishes that you may have a bright start to 2018 and robust growth in all the four quarters, and much by way of contributing to efforts for a better and safer planet. We concluded 2017 on a high note, with the 7th edition of the Climate Control Awards, in end November, being one of the key highlights, if the enthusiasm with which it was received is anything to go by. A key moment of the ceremony was when one of the winners said that the prospect of winning the CCA trophy serves as a motivation to raise the bar on performance all year through. We were delighted to hear the words, because that was precisely the intention, when we launched the Awards exercise in 2011. Encouraged and emboldened, we are tempted to tighten the evaluation process further in 2018 to foster efforts to raise the bar a notch or two. In a post-Awards ceremony meeting, with the embers of the evening still casting a warm glow, one of the judges said: “We need to see profound innovation. We need the industry to set a goal and look to surpass it. That would make evaluating the entries an interesting exercise, indeed.” He went on to say that it would be intriguing to see if the industry pulled up its socks to come up with unprecedented solutions that promised a holistic experience. “For instance, why not a self-cleaning ducting system?” he asked. Indeed, why isn’t anyone thinking of the possibility. If ducts are called as ‘pathway to pathogens’, thus posing as a major challenge in efforts to improve indoor air quality, why not such a feature, which would ensure they remain free of harmful micro-flora all year through. Add to that the feature of self-sealing ducts, and you have fantastic innovation. In 2015, we ran an elaborate story on the issue of leakage of ducts, and how they were causing energy loss worth billions of dollars the world over. In the Middle East, one industry insider said that energy loss in existing buildings, 15 years and older was 60-70% and in newly constructed ones was 30-40%. Among other reasons, he attributed it to poor quality materials and to installers using only a small percentage of the recommended amount of ducting sealant with an eye on saving costs. While it is important to police poor behaviour and bring miscreants among the ecosystem of installers to task, an easier approach would be to automate and take avarice out of the equation. Self-sealing ducts constitute not at all a bad option to consider in the fight against surface authenticity.
Co-Founder & Commercial Director Frédéric Paillé | fred@cpi-industry.com Assistant Editor Benwen Lopez | ben@cpi-industry.com Features Writer Hannah Jo Uy | hannah@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé: +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com
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January 2018
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THE 6TH ANNUAL MIDDLE EAST
VARIABLE REFRIGERANT FLOW CONFERENCE 19 March 2018 | Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Overview: With increasing pressure to reduce power consumption, energy-related regulations have firmly come to the forefront in the GCC region. Bodies like SASO and ESMA moved into this a few years ago, and Qatar and Bahrain have launched MEPS programmes. How do these developments sit with the VRF industry, which according to manufacturers and suppliers of the technology, is on the road to achieving critical mass sooner than later. Are the regulations specific to the VRF technology? Is there a move to adopt the SEER approach to measuring the performance of VRF systems? Equally, what is the level of sophistication the GCC region has acquired when it comes to the installation of VRF systems? Has there been progress compared to a year ago, in terms of better installation work through the region? Have manufacturers and suppliers escalated efforts to offer better installation support? Is this the case with all manufacturers and suppliers? The above questions form the basis of the 5th Annual Middle East Variable Refrigerant Flow Conference. They have informed the specific topics that need to be discussed for the sustained relevance, growth and wellbeing of the VRF industry.
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9
OVER STORY
Nearly zero-energy building (nZEB)
Towards achieving
nZe
Nearly zero-energy buildings are not just a global reality but rather are being recognised as being the need of the hour to reduce the use of energy, says Benwen Lopez, as he looks into the nZEB framework in the GCC region.
10
January 2018
B
B January 2018
11
OVER STORY
Nearly zero-energy building (nZEB)
N Mario Seneviratne
early zero-energy building (nZEB), as a terminology, has steadily gained ground in the global lexicon. In a nutshell, a nearly zero-energy building is a structure that is equipped with multiple energy-efficiency measures to gradually reduce its reliance on non-renewable energy, over a period of time. Achieving nZEB is a goal, and there are multiple factors that contribute towards reaching the milestone, including a range of technological measures to simple lifestyle practices. The big question, though, is, ‘What progress has the GCC region made towards establishing nZEBs in the firmament?’
DEFINING nZEB
Roger Woodward
Charles Blaschke
The road to achieving nZEB in the GCC region is not an easy path, and indeed there are no shortcuts. As Mario Seneviratne, Director, Green Technologies, puts it: “Achieving nZEBs is a market transformation journey. It is not something that can be achieved from an intensely high-energy utilisation to an extremely low- energy utilisation; it needs to be achieved gradually through the mitigation of the environmental impact of the energy used.” Voicing a similar view, Roger Woodward, Vice President and Managing Director, EMEA region, Tridium, says that the true pathway to an nZEB is the gradual reduction of energy to the single digits and, eventually, to zero. “The goal of achieving nZEBs provides a huge opportunity for every person to join in the energy mitigation movement, and this will happen only over time through a longlasting awareness campaign,” he says.
THE CHALLENGES
Saeed Al Abbar
12
January 2018
Industry insiders contend that three key challenges to achieving an nZEB are a change in the end-user mind-set, with the remaining two being technical and financial in nature. However, of the three, the challenge relating to changing the mindset of the end-user is most formidable. As Charles Blaschke, Managing Director, Taka Solutions, says: “Most people are very shortterm minded. They do not look forward to living an energy-sustainable life. If this attitude is transformed, the pace towards achieving nZEBs in the GCC region will accelerate.” Further explaining his contention, he says, while one may use the latest MEP systems, engineering design and architecture to develop an nZEB, the building operations aspect is most crucial, which is a joint effort by facility managers and occupants, and that
is missing in most buildings in the UAE. “We cannot rely solely on the facility managers,” he says. “The onus also lies on the building occupants to ensure that the goal is achieved. Therefore, you need occupants, who care enough and are made aware of how to live an energy-sustainable life.” Apart from the end-users, an increased awareness of quality engineering would contribute to the change in mind-set, believes Chris Irvin, Vice-President of Sales, EMEA, Distech Controls. He says: “In this part of the world, the culture of contracting and procurement seems to be focused on paying the lowest possible price for a system. And if one installs a cheap system, the long-term costs will be much more than the capital cost, which includes the impact on energy.” Elaborating on the lack of awareness of utilising energy-efficient systems, Saeed Al Abbar, Chairman, Emirates Green Building Council, adds: “There is a misperception that higher investment costs are required for the construction of energy-efficient buildings compared to the conventional ones. While there may be a higher initial capex, it is balanced by a much lower opex of the building. “The energy savings achieved over the lifetime of the building usually exceed the capex within the first few years, and it has been proven that energy-efficient buildings, with up to 90% less primary energy for cooling, can be constructed cost effectively in most parts of the world.” Mirroring Al Abbar’s views, Woodward believes that though the capex is a challenge, there is a return on investment. “I believe that building owners will look at the capital costs as an obstacle, but they also need to realise that it is counterpoised by the operational costs, thus generating the return on investment over the years,” he says.
GRASSROOTS AWARENESS
Considering that achieving nZEB would take a significant period, Kheira Anissa, Professor for the Department of Architectural Engineering, United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), believes that the gap of awareness for nZEBs can be countered at the academic level. She says: “Energy-sustainable lifestyles need to be grounded from the academic level. In my experience, I notice that students are excited and shocked with the impact they make on the environment with their lifestyles. When they get a first-hand experience, they can connect the dots and transform their lives. However, this requires a lot of effort.” Anissa further believes that through
collaboration with industry experts, students will be more equipped to understand the principles of such initiatives and achieve the nZEB target in the region.
AVAILABLE TECHNOLOGIES
It is a given fact that nZEB cannot be achieved without the adoption of technologies. Explaining the types of solutions, Spiros Chirstaras, Business Development, Heliatek, says: “In Dubai, we can see beautiful buildings with glass façades, and these elements of the design contribute immensely to the cooling load. The simple solution would be to install sustainable building façades, which are fitted with a solar film, eventually reducing the load on the cooling and making the façade sustainable.” The solar film-laminated facades, he says, work as thermal insulation and reduce the load on cooling and lighting. Speaking on the use of solar film to reduce energy, Dr Chin-Huai Young, Chief Technical Officer, Taiwan HISG Corp, says, “One of the contributing factors to the nZEB goal is the use of heat insulation solar glass, which can act as an insulation and as a power generator.” Explaining the characteristics, Dr Young says the core of the technology is based on the theory of off-module solar power enhancement, and it increases the heat insulation ability. It consists of see-through multi-junction thin film to generate high solar power, and the reflection feature of the thin film is to reduce the heat penetration. The electricity generated is enough to run the building and also feed it back into the grid. The other technologies available to achieve nZEB are disruptive solutions, believes Hanan Darwish, President (Gulf and Pakistan), Schneider Electric. She says: “One of the main stakeholders is the facilities management, and we are offering the eco-structure model for them [FM personnel] to take advantage of and have a better control of the building, during operation and maintenance procedures.”
THE MOTIVATING FACTORS
Spiros Chirstaras
align with the energy strategies, chartered out by the UAE, say. Explaining the importance of the initiative for the UAE, Al Abbar says, “nZEBs are an essential measure to support the UAE’s pledge to combat global warming at COP21 in 2015 and its ratification of the Paris Agreement in 2016 as well as the sustainable development goals outlined by the UAE Vision 2021, Abu Dhabi Plan 2030 and Dubai Plan 2021.” Sharing a similar opinion, Blaschke says: “nZEB is vitally important, because the resources in the world are limited and it is only a matter of time for those resources to become extinct. Hence, we need to treat nZEB as a priority.”
TARGET DEADLINE Dr Chin-Huai Young
Hanan Darwish
To achieve any initiative, a deadline must be set. In the drive towards reducing energy use, deadlines have been set. On the same basis, Al Abbar, says, “According to the survey conducted as part of Emirates GBC’s ‘Defining nZEB in the UAE’ report, the majority of the respondents agreed that the UAE market is ready for an nZEB strategy and indicated an implementation timeline of 2020 or 2030. “In fact, the responses were very close to international targets set in the United States, Australia and in particular EU Member States, whereby a general timeline of 2020-2030 has been set for adoption of the nZEB concept.” However, stakeholders like Woodward believe that such deadline targets are debatable. He says: “If we look at Germany, there are many old buildings. I wonder if such deadlines are achievable, unless done in phases.” However, he adds, “The positive attitude of the UAE Government would boost the efforts to achieve nZEB, and such an attitude is required all over the world to achieve such a goal.” Concurring with Woodward, Seneviratne says: “If the UAE can build the largest man-made port in the world or the tallest building in the world, then nZEB is achievable.”
Any initiative requires a motivating factor, but in the case of nZEb, it is an urgent need for the region, and one that would also
January 2018
13
OVER STORY
Nearly zero-energy building (nZEB)
PLETHORA OF OPPORTUNITIES
Stakeholders believe that the nZEB strategy, by itself, presents opportunities for the HVACR industry. From the construction perspective, Blaschke says, the retrofit opportunities are the big game-changer. He adds: “In Dubai alone, we have a significant stock of old buildings, which are craving for an upgrade, and experts can step in and perform retrofit projects. However, it is the mind-set of the owners that have to change; [they have to] be open to pushing the envelope towards achieving nZEB.”
MOVING AHEAD
While achieving nZEBs is critical for the GCC region, Al Abbar says they can be viewed as a stepping stone to reaching net-zero-energy buildings. “For net-zero to be achieved, both newly constructed buildings and existing building stock should also be built to nZEB principles,” he says. In the case of achieving net-zero from nearly zero-energy, it requires a strong determination from building owners. Explaining the results of a strong conviction, Seneviratne says, “Net-zero can be achieved when the property owner is passionate to make it happen." Sharing details of a project his company worked on in Saudi Arabia, Seneviratne adds: “When we were working on the SABIC Home of Innovation in Saudi, the owner of the project was determined to achieve nZEB and made no compromise whatsoever. The best teams were hired, the best materials were used, weekly and monthly inspections were carried out, and today the building records net zero, owing to the strong determination of the owner.”
LIFESTYLE PRACTICES
Lifestyle practices, like implementing energy-saving measures in the office or home, can help achieve the nZEB goal, believes Seneviratne. While sharing his thoughts on nZEB, an alarm goes off, and smilingly he points out
14
January 2018
If we look at Germany, there are many old buildings. I wonder if such deadlines are achievable, unless done in phases
that it is the tabletop CO2 device that indicated the CO2 levels of the office had gone up, and the air conditioning needs to be switched on. He further says that buildings today need to be designed as staircase friendly, and people need to be motivated to climb at least two floors, if possible, as elevators consume vast amounts of energy. He further adds that in his office, the air conditioning system starts to turn off an hour before the shift ends, so that it eventually shuts off. Such practices have helped his company achieve an eco-award from the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority, where his office is located, he says. Seneviratne argues that while it is a general perception that nZEB is only about innovation it is about conservation, and one should be self-disciplined to turn off appliances, when not needed, to conserve energy. He further adds that when chillers and other appliances need to be installed, the energy penalty must always be questioned and, perhaps, introspected, whether an equipment with a lesser penalty can be installed. Agreeing with Seneviratne’s views, Irvin adds that enabling the optimum stop of chillers in a building, especially when all the occupants of the building are about to exit, would significantly contribute towards achieving nZEB. Sharing another technique, he says, night-time purging is another way one can cool the building, using the cold air at night. “It is a simple technique of utilising free cooling from the cold atmosphere during winter and running it through the building so that during the day, you do not have to switch on the chillers early.”
SPRINGING AHEAD
Like other initiatives, nZEB fits into the larger picture of the UAE map towards realising energy self-sufficiency. However, as many stakeholders argue, while nZEB is achievable, it takes a change in mind-set to achieve the target by the deadline. And as Seneviratne says, it is not about innovation but about energy conservation and selfdiscipline. Therefore, the question we need to ask ourselves is whether we are ready and willing to transform our buildings into nZEBs or not?
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
January 2018
15
ERSPECTIVE
The building cyber problem There is a very real life-safety danger from elevators, indoor air, electricity and other critical aspects of safety in a building, say Tom Shircliff and Rob Murchison, as they present a case for a strategic approach to addressing cyber-threats on an urgent basis
W
hile more than 80% of all building automation systems are connected to the Internet, more than three-fourths of real estate organisations don’t have any type of building cyber-security plan. With millions of connected controls systems in every real estate segment, including commercial, corporate, campus and government, it is hard to imagine cyber-security is not a priority for all senior executives. We live in an age, where cyber mischief, crime and even terrorism are in the news every day. Overall, cyber-crime damage will hit USD 6 trillion by 2021, and ransomware alone will cost in excess of USD 6 billion in 2018. Notwithstanding a fair amount of ostrich behaviour, real estate is not immune to these trends. However, in years past, there were dismissive comments, such as “What is the worst that can happen?” as many contemplated the set points being changed or lights flashing on and off. This perspective does not consider the very real life-safety danger from elevators, indoor air, electricity and other critical aspects of safety in a building. While life safety is paramount, there are also other consequential risks, including networkhopping from the building systems into the corporate network or other devices, lost occupant productivity, and capital equipment damage from undetected viruses and malware; and in nearly all cases, there will be brand damage for the building owner, manager and occupant organisations. An article posted on www.engineering. com described a recent ransomware incident perpetrated on a hospital facility. The article stressed, “The hospital attack brings to light just how vulnerable buildings and institutions are to hackers.” It further noted, “… building management system (BMS) can potentially launch a cyber-attack and disable a building’s critical services.”
IT’S NOT THE FAULT OF SMART BUILDINGS
There have been significant changes to even the most basic building controls systems for the past 30 years. While the Smart Buildings’ movement is arguably 15 years old, at best, the building systems cyber-security problem started when direct digital controls (DDC) came along. Simply put, with the emergence of DDC, appliances, computer servers and local area networks are a part of building controls
16
January 2018
January 2018
17
ERSPECTIVE
systems. Whether building automation, lighting controls, parking, elevators, daylight harvesting, water reclamation or dozens of other controls systems, they all work on Internet-connectable computers and networks. To many, this doesn’t sound much like news or even that complicated of a situation. Unfortunately, millions – yes, millions – of them have been designed, installed and maintained by nonIT architects, engineers, contractors and facility managers. In short, the systems changed, but the vendor community did not. Many technological advancements are dependent on innovation from leading companies, coordination from industry standards bodies, ecosystem development and even regulatory and legal changes. However, building-cyber-protection is not dependent on, or waiting for, any of these things. It's merely a matter of building owners becoming aware and taking action.
WHY IS CHANGE NOT HAPPENING FASTER?
There is a palpable increase in concern and increased activity and sense of urgency in boardrooms, committee hearings and manager meetings. Why is there hesitation or timidity on the part of otherwise accomplished real estate professionals, then? Three reasons emerge: Tech is complex: This is not only information technology (IT) but a specialised subset of IT with cyber-security. Additionally, it is not even traditional IT cyber-security but, specifically, building controls cyber-security – not what most IT experts are familiar with. It is literally a different type of technology, called operational technology (OT), which utilises different communication protocols, different equipment and different vendor types. The facilities team doesn’t know IT, and the IT staff doesn’t know OT, so it becomes a hot potato, leading to the second reason. It’s nobody’s responsibility: This specific technology is not in the traditional strategic or tactical domain of real estate executives, and it has never been a subject that was clearly assigned to any department, budget, staff person, executive or vendor. We have seen building systems enter the digital age, and nearly all now utilise computer servers, software, protocols, local networking and Internet
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access; that alone has created confusion about who is responsible for high tech, connected building systems between facility management and IT. Thus, it has been stuck in a ‘no-man’s land’.
Real estate design, construction and management constitute perhaps one of the most fragmented and siloed features of any industry
The ecosystem is fragmented: Real estate design, construction and management constitute perhaps one of the most fragmented and siloed features of any industry. Architects may subcontract the controls design to engineers, and the engineers sub-contract to an IT network designer, who then hands off to a general contractor (GC). The GC has nothing to do with ongoing operation of the building, and they then do a hard hand off to the facility managers (FM) and property managers (PM). The FM or PM would sub-contract to a controls contractor who, again, may utilise some IT resource or just make do themselves. There are many different and often misaligned incentives and levels of liability.
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE?
Add to these headwinds the fact that historically speaking, building controls technology has been a ‘bottom up’ issue, meaning that the OEM, contractors, engineers and service companies bubble up technological advances and suggestions to owners. However, with the Smart Buildings movement, there has been a shift to more owner driven or ‘top down’ strategy and decision making. ‘Top down’ is the key to addressing the risks associated with building controls cyber-security. Building owners must take control of the strategy and management of critical components in building cybersecurity. This is a sea change and opens up a new area of execution, which can be designated into three steps: Discovery & Assessment: Since building controls system design, implementation, management and connectivity have historically been the responsibility of anyone other than the building owner, there is relative chaos in the inventory accuracy and current state of awareness of most buildings’ cyber facts. Even the largest and most sophisticated real estate organisations are not sure what controls manufacture, version, software revision or type of Internet connection exist. It is also quite common for us as consultants to hear, “While we don’t know the inventory details, we are sure that our (system type – for example, elevator) is not connected to
the Internet”, only to find it is, along with several other phantom-connected systems. Thus, the first step is a comprehensive discovery and cyber-risk assessment. The National Institute of Science and Technology (NIST), in the United States, has developed a cyber-assessment framework that has been widely accepted and used across all information technology infrastructure, and hence, we should look at building controls cyber-security through the same lens.
THE
Priorities & Strategy: The discovery and assessment, referenced earlier, will give a much clearer picture of cyber status and allow you to develop priorities and a strategy. Priority development should give you your bearings, much like a compass; an objective ‘compass exercise’, based on the NIST framework can provide direction in the foundational areas of people, buildings and technology. Strategy should include roles and responsibilities, vendor policy and technology architecture. Roles and responsibilities – and
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vendor policies – should reflect that the building owner is now driving the process, because it’s the owner that will be around through many contractor and vendor changes and is also the one with the true liabilities of life safety, financial loss and reputation damage. The technology architecture should address the basics of remote access to the building, individual system configurations and in-building networking. Remote access is simply the way that vendors or even staff connect into the building through
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ERSPECTIVE
the Internet and often includes methods such as virtual private network (VPN), but also requires vendor policy on use of remote access and their internal methods. The system configuration is about what is inside each individual system that creates risk. In other words, even if you had Fort Knox from a remote access perspective, the individual systems could have too many users, administrative permissions, old passwords and a host of other problems. Additionally, each system is connected to either a common network or multiple silo networks; hence, monitoring traffic patterns inside the building can indicate unauthorised connectivity inside the building. This type of monitoring can spot or prevent unauthorised physical connections on site as well as networkhopping. Implantation and management: After assessing, prioritising and developing a manageable strategy, it’s time to start fixing the problem. You are now installing an infrastructure that will stay on with the building, even as systems and contractors come and go. The process is not complex and consists mostly of ‘soft’ components, such as software and services. It will not replace traditional monitoring and control systems and vendors but merely monitoring equipment and work done by those traditional vendors. The phase will also be accompanied by a vendor cyber policy for contracts and service agreements. The final element of managing the plan will include the last two aspects of the NIST framework, which are ‘respond and recover’. A proper remediation plan not only includes people, assets and action but also the subtler issue of insurance. This area is a nearly completely neglected aspect of insurance in general liability, property and casualty, and cyber-insurance riders. After nearly two years of research and interviewing the large carriers, aggregators and consultants in the insurance industry, it has become clear that building controls cyber incidents are not spelt out and that a more thoughtful process is required. Like the overall approach to building cybersecurity, the insurance issue should be driven by and demanded by the building owner. This very ‘doable’ three-step plan does not have to be expensive, because all that’s required is the focus on generally soft solutions, such as consulting services,
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Even the largest and most sophisticated real estate organisations are not sure what controls manufacture, version, software revision or type of Internet connection exist
site services and software. There is generally no need or benefit from ‘rip and replace’ of existing equipment – and building cyber-security can also become part of new design and construction standards that prevent many of the risks right up front. The hardest part of the process is identifying who in the organisation has responsibility and authority to own and carry out a plan for addressing the existing risks. This is a rare topic in real estate development and management that is not a classic return on investment (ROI) financial analysis, but a straight risk calculation, albeit with clear financial consequences for ignoring it. While the facts speak for themselves, it has also been illuminating to see the industry chatter increasing each month as new threats, new examples and the broader cyber news stories alert owners and operators to the size and urgency of the situation. Additionally, the growing wave of effective and ever-increasing ‘big data’ solutions, such as energy-fault analytics, building operations centres, unified user interfaces (UUI) and various smart controls, reinforces raising the question of just how secure the building connections are and how secure the building data storage is. We should all advocate at the very least, that organisations – and not vendors – identify who owns the issue internally and challenge them to take the first step of discovery and assessment of all building controls cyber risk areas.
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.
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Voltas strikes gold at Climate Control Awards 2017 Wins coveted CCA trophy at the 7th edition of the Awards oltas Limited won the ‘MEP Contractor of the Year’ Award for 2017 at a glittering ceremony to mark the culmination of the 7th edition of the Climate Control Awards. The ceremony took place on November 27 in Dubai. Voltas is a premier engineering solutions provider and project specialist. Founded in India in 1954, Voltas is part of the USD 130 billion Tata Group, and offers engineering and project solutions for a wide spectrum of industries. The company is also the undisputed market leader in room air conditioners in India and has recently entered into a joint venture with one of Turkey’s largest industrial and services group to tap the growing consumer durables market in India. The joint venture will launch refrigerators, washing machines, microwaves and other white goods in India.
V
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The International Operations Business Group of Voltas was established in 1978 and, over the past four decades, has been operating in 35 countries across the Middle East, Asia, Africa and the CIS. The business group offers engineering solutions – heating, ventilation, air conditioning, commercial refrigeration, water management & treatment, cold rooms, energy management, building management systems and indoor air quality – across customer segments and industries. Other key offerings include facilities management and retrofit services, which in the past were mainly provided to the oil & gas industry but now are offered more widely across segments such as buildings, malls, hospitals and mixed-use facilities. Voltas’ strengths include engineering skills, and expertise in project management and execution, honed over time, which the company has successfully deployed in several iconic and major projects. The capability and capacity is further enhanced by the company’s in-house Global Engineering Centre, which provides engineering support, including 3D modelling, BIM and other analytical capabilities across all projects. The company has been the recipient of the ‘MEP Contractor of the Year’ award, given by another organisation, on four separate occasions. Voltas also has duct fabrication and pre-fabricated module assembly facilities in the GCC region. The company has an established presence in the UAE, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, with project operations, sales infrastructure and management support in these countries. The presence in the region is both as branches of the Indian company and through joint ventures or partnerships with reputed regional groups.
January 2018
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George Koutsaftes, Julien Soulet & Amir Naqvi, Honeywell
The GCC region is leapfrogging to new and better solutions George Koutsaftes, President, Advanced Materials, Performance Materials and Technologies, Honeywell, speaks alongside Julien Soulet, Managing Director, EMAI, and Amir Naqvi, Regional Marketing Leader, Honeywell Fluorine Products, Middle East, Turkey and Africa, on how national targets in the GCC region are driving greater penetration of energy-efficient solutions, on the region’s shift from HCFCs to HFOs and on how the GCC region, unhampered by previous commitments, is in a better position to embrace new-generation solutions. Excerpts from the interview by Hannah Jo Uy...
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January 2018
S
ustainability and energy efficiency are common themes in the GCC region, with respective national targets driving the phasedown of high global-warming hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Could you provide readers of Climate Control Middle East with an overview of what Honeywell is doing to help the region meet its objectives? George Koutsaftes: Our portfolio is focused on existing-generation HFC solutions but, more importantly, on next-generation HFO solutions. More than half of our revenue comes from HFO-based solutions. Honeywell has the broadest portfolio of HFO molecule solutions today. That provides us with the unique opportunity to develop multiple applications into multiple uses to meet the varying needs of countries around the world. With the HFO solutions we are bringing into application, the next [step] is the use of mildly flammable refrigerants, and with that comes the responsibility of having solutions that are designed safely and offer energy efficiency and sustainability. We are positioned uniquely, having these three molecules: 1234yf, 1233zd and 1234ze. Nobody else in the world has these three molecules in their portfolio together. That allows us to design and customise blend solutions to meet the various needs of regions around the world. [To provide an example], we developed a solution called Solstice L20, which is designed as a drop-in replacement for R22. Now, R22 is a widely used HCFC solution, especially here in the Middle East, for stationary air conditioning applications. With the high-ambient temperatures we have here in the region, it’s important that OEM providers have a solution that provides the same or better energy-efficiency performance as R22, as well as similar pressure designs, because it will help them save money on redesign cost. That's an example of the solutions we are able to design with the unique molecule set we have. In terms of meeting the energyefficiency needs of the region, we have solutions designed for chiller applications, using our 1234ze molecule. We have a great case study with a local producer here, SKM, where they’re starting to see energyefficiency benefits, much like companies like
George Koutsaftes
Carrier and Trane in Europe, who have already experienced the energy-efficiency benefits of using 1234ze. [The same goes] for cold rooms and cold chain here in the Middle East, which is different in style than other parts of the world, as they use large cold rooms to keep refrigerated food, whereas in the US or Europe, it’s more of big box retailer store set-ups. Here, R-404A is a widely used refrigerant in these cold room applications. We have great replacement solutions, Solstice N40 and Genetron Performax LT, to replace R-404A; they can provide an energy efficiency of 10-15%, or more, in these applications. We have great case studies demonstrating that, not only here but also in other parts of the world. And with the UAE trying to reduce energy subsidies for the region, we think this is an important tool to help the region achieve its goals and reduce energy subsidies, without increasing the cost of the consumer.
What is the company’s strategy to drive greater penetration of its products in the region? And do you see manufacturers, aside from SKM, considering these solutions?
Julien Soulet
Amir Naqvi
Koutsaftes: Absolutely. There's more to do here in terms of promoting our solutions to the various OEM producers or end-users in the market place, but Solstice LBA, our liquid blowing agent, which is our zd molecule, is a great molecule that provides increased energy-efficiency gains. It's used as a blowing agent in spray foam applications. We have a building application that Amir can talk about. Amir Naqvi: Yes. In the region, 70% of energy consumed by any building is from air conditioning. One way to cut down [on energy consumption] is having good quality insulation. So, the region is driving it [forward]. In Saudi Arabia, we see SASO pushing for stricter and lower U-values. [There are also] Estidama Green Building regulations. All these drivers are basically looking for better properties of insulation and the blowing agent, which is the key technology we offer, is called Solstice LBA polyurethane foam. It is the best performer in energy efficiency compared to contemporary insulation technology or any other blowing agent. We have done a lot of work. Masdar, as you know, is a zero-carbon city. They
January 2018
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George Koutsaftes, Julien Soulet & Amir Naqvi, Honeywell
installed a building with the roof sprayed with Solstice LBA, offering significant amount of energy reduction and consumption. Prior to that, [we worked with] one of the big Emirati housing projects in Al Ain. More than 2,000 villas were sprayed with LBA, as part of the spray foam technology, and now, as we are moving forward, we see the region moving out of HCFCs and spray foam. Talking about Saudi, they have proposed to phase out HCFCs in foam insulation, effective 2018. Most of the industry is looking for the opportunity to leapfrog directly from HCFCs to HFOs, skipping HFCs, because it’s a long-term solution and helps them meet energy standards. It’s a lot of savings, because they can use thinner foam compared to if they use HFC or water-based insulation that will [need] almost 20-30% thicker foam to meet the same standards. Koutsaftes: Basically, when you think about a building, we can provide two key solutions – the refrigerant, which will have a direct impact on reducing energy consumption because of its energy efficiency characteristics, and the foam blowing, which will help insulate the building and keep it at a temperature longer and better than other insulation-bases solutions.
Integrating such products requires an approach that places an emphasis on lifecycle cost. In the region, we see many developments that are later handed over to be sold or rented out. In such cases, there is no motivation to increase capex in favour of energy efficiency. Could you share your thoughts on this? Koutsaftes: The good news about this point is that the dynamic in the marketplace with the contractors here in the UAE is no different than other markets we compete in, and we have a lot of experience and understanding on how to manage the channel. So, we've been successful in other markets and we intend to apply the same approach here. We go to the end-user, and we sell the end-user on benefits, because they're the ones paying the bill, whether it's the building owner or cold chain owner. The second thing we do to get the contractor incentivised to want to work with us is we educate them. We provide them with a pathway for continued business by educating them, because then, this will become retrofit and new-building
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January 2018
opportunities for them. We’re working through this channel in this market right now to help them understand the benefits this will bring their customer and how they can also benefit.
You mentioned retrofit? Has there been an uptake of such projects?
It’s a lot of savings, because they can use thinner foam compared to if they use HFC or water-based insulation that will [need] almost 2030% thicker foam to meet the same standards
Koutsaftes: I wouldn't say we have anything to unveil, but it’s certainly something we're quite focused on, because we know the importance of it here, as well as in other parts of the world. It's a tough balance one has to strike. When you do retrofit, you're solving for a lot of things at the same time. You’re solving for energy-efficiency performance, but that can’t come at the cost of capacity; you have to make sure it meets capacity requirements, or else you’ll take a hit. The last thing you want is a solution that requires a larger heat exchanger or compressor. Thirdly, you’re solving for GWP, you want to give it the lowest GWP measure possible, right? I think, extensively speaking, the market has spoken in this regard – for retrofits, they’re more willing to accommodate a GWP of 750 or lower. Lastly, because you have to solve for each of these things at the same time, you may be bringing building into the equation, so then you have to look at whatever additional cost that may be incurred for additional ventilation, or sensors, for large building applications. What’s unique here, though, is that you have many more District Cooling solutions, which makes it a little easier to address than other markets, like Europe and the US. So, I feel hopeful we will be able to find a solution for this region more easily, frankly, than we will be able to find for other parts of the world. Julien Soulet: Also, there is a real opportunity for the whole region to learn from what has been done in Europe and USA. You’re currently going for the phase-down of HCFCs, and you really have an opportunity to look at what’s the best solution by application. In many cases, based on experience from European and US customers, HFOs will bring better performance than HFCs, as an alternative to HCFCs. So, there's a real opportunity for customers to take best practises from US and Europe and leapfrog from HCFCs to HFOs. We’re here to help local players learn from the experience from US and Europe by organising seminars and roadshows to help make this transition to a long-term solution, which will give them
better performance and help them achieve the energy-efficiency goals of the region. Koutsaftes: Our role is to be a holistic solutions provider to this region in each of the applications and markets that we serve.
What is the company doing to address the knowledge gap related to proper handling of new and critical refrigerants? While there may be willingness at the management level to integrate such solutions, is proper attention being given to installers down the value chain? Also, there seems to be a lack of newcomers in the industry as a whole. Can you comment on this? Koutsaftes: Absolutely. When we talk about contractors and consultants, it covers the range from the managers to
the installers themselves. We have been involved in various training programmes and seminars around the world to reach down all the way to the installer level, and educate them about the alternative solutions and how they can easily be handled, sometimes easier than the stuff they’re working on today. It's a long effort, though – there are a lot of people to train. To your other point, there is a trend globally, [where there is a] growing [number] of retiring contractors, and there are fewer new contractors coming in to replace them. Some of the things we have been doing are going to universities to train young aspiring students to attract them to becoming HVAC contractors. Julien can talk a bit more about that. Soulet: The perfect example is a seminar we have done in Saudi, in cooperation with ASHRAE, where we invited local customers’ contractors to share their experience within their association on
how easy it is to convert. There are a lot of different solutions for low- global warming refrigerants, not only HFOs. Ammonia is also a solution, but there are also safety concerns and toxicity concerns that are different from other offerings out there. It is, indeed, important for people making those choices to consider all factors, [such as] what is the total environmental impact from an energy consumption point of view, global warming [potential] and the cost for them to convert. Also what about safety and toxicity? Is it a safe solution for the installation [and] for their people? All these criteria have to be taken into consideration. As George said, we see it as our role to share our experience and make it available to the whole industry.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
January 2018
27
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January 2018
A CLIMATE CONTROL MIDDLE EAST SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT
TRACKING THE DISTRICT COOLING INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
INSIDE: Jasim Husain Thabet, CEO,Tabreed, speaks about what ENGIE becoming a major shareholder means to the Abu Dhabi-based District Cooling company.
Pierre Cheyron, CEO, ENGIE Services Asia-Pacific, on how the company’s Northgate project in the Philippines is set to trigger greater penetration of District Cooling in the country.
Market Feature An examination of the underlying factors driving the chillers market in the GCC region.
Also inside:
licence to chill A recipe for disaster Dan Mizesko on frequent stops and starts of centrifugal chillers can spell ruin for the machines.
40%, 70% Denmark-based Hofor shares insights on economic benefits for its customers and of carbon emission reductions.
January 2018
29
Jasim Husain Thabet, Tabreed
Engine for growth In Q3 2017, ENGIE became a major shareholder in the National Central Cooling Company (Tabreed) with a reported investment of AED 2.8 billion. Jasim Husain Thabet, Chief Executive Officer, Tabreed, in conversation with Surendar Balakrishnan on the deal, and what it means to the Abu Dhabi-headquartered District Cooling utility company, among other topics. Excerpts...
W
point of view?
hat does the ENGIE deal mean for Tabreed from a capitalisation
The investment by ENGIE will support Tabreed’s overall growth and delivering on our strategy. From a capitalisation perspective, it required the conversion of Mandatory Convertible Bonds held by Mubadala. The conversion greatly simplifies the Tabreed balance sheet and saves Tabreed approximately AED 160 million in interest payments over the next two years. Mubadala have retained 42% of Tabreed's equity, and Engie now holds 40%.
What benefits does the ENGIE deal offer Tabreed, in terms of business expansion and R&D?
ENGIE is the largest independent electricity producer in the world, with excellent business capabilities. ENGIE may open doors to new opportunities, which we will consider, as and when they arise. This transaction will broaden the range of opportunities for Tabreed, and these will be evaluated on their merits. Ultimately, investments are a matter for the Tabreed Board to decide.
In terms of growth, are you seeing the anticipated uptake, or are fewer-than-expected buildings getting connected to receive chilled water in Abu Dhabi?
In the UAE, and across the region, District Cooling is aligned with the national energy efficiency strategy. Cooling of buildings, which accounts for about 70% of the peak electricity load in the GCC region, puts a
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TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
large burden on resources. Compared with traditional cooling, District Cooling is highly efficient, as it reduces energy consumption as well as emissions. It is also cost-effective, providing cost savings from building operations and maintenance to reduced energy consumption, with a lifecycle typically spanning 20 years and more. In other words, it is a long-term investment and a key part of the foundation of sustainable, economic and urban development.
What are you doing towards plant optimisation?
As a pioneer in District Cooling in the GCC region, Tabreed has established the standards for the industry. However, with the understanding that standards need to continually evolve, the company is committed to ongoing innovation as both a business and sustainability practice. Tabreed partners with forward-thinking organisations
Jasim Husain Thabet
on breakthrough initiatives that harness innovation in operations, technology, processes and products to deliver progress and set new standards in performance, energy and operational efficiency. As part of the commitment, Tabreed partnered with Masdar on a joint project to enhance operational performance and reduce energy consumption in District Cooling plants. The project created a ‘smart controller’ capable of managing the plant to improve operational performance and decrease energy consumption, with minimal human interference. The project was implemented at one of Tabreed’s plants in Mohammed bin Zayed City, Abu Dhabi, with plans to scale it across other plants.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
January 2018
31
Pierre Cheyron, ENGIE
‘SE Asian countries need an estimated USD 11bn by 2020 to meet national targets’ Pierre Cheyron, CEO of ENGIE Services Asia-Pacific, speaks exclusively with Hannah Jo Uy on how the company’s Northgate project in the Philippines is set to trigger greater penetration of District Cooling in the country and other densely populated urban areas in countries across Southeast Asia. Excerpts...
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TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
C
ould you comment on the feasibility of District Cooling for dense urban areas across Southeast Asia?
In tropical Southeast Asia, cities are looking for alternative innovative ways to meet growing energy demands, due to rapid urbanisation. While District Cooling has been around for more than 50 years, it is more recent that cities in the region are deploying such sustainable technologies, as a means of heating and cooling buildings to reduce energy use and to cut cost and carbon emissions. District Cooling systems allows electricity and power to be effectively managed, promoting a way to address the ever-increasing demand for energy and to counterbalance the impact of global warming. In the long run, District Cooling systems pave the way for the most cost-efficient cooling option due to the demand for cool air in dense urban areas.
a preferred option in residential and commercial buildings, perhaps even across village and housing projects?
ENGIE’s goal is to be a forerunner in the energy transition, based on a 3D strategy – decarbonise the energy mix, decentralise energy production and digitalise energy solutions. As the Group is now more than halfway through the three-year transition, the capital generated by the decarbonisation programme is re-invested in priority countries with high-growth potential, like the Philippines. It is estimated that USD 11 billion of investment in enduse efficiency is needed by Southeast Asian countries by 2020 to meet their national targets for energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emission reductions. District Energy systems will be a key solution for smart cities and for highend and mission-critical assets, such as airports, shopping complexes and industrial parks. We believe that this first project in the Philippines will trigger a much greater deployment of District Cooling systems in the nation, primarily in dense areas with high cooling needs, such as airports, business parks, commercial buildings, and shopping and entertainment complexes.
Could you comment on the decision to partner with Filinvest land in the Northgate District Cooling System project? Why does the company believe that the time is ripe to introduce District Cooling at such a massive scale in the Philippines?
ENGIE is committed to the Philippines’ sustainable economic growth through contributing its expertise in clean and renewable energy to reduce the country’s dependence on fossil fuel, reduce energy-related environmental impact and save energy through energy-efficiency projects. Through its partnership with Filinvest in building the Northgate District Cooling System (DCS), ENGIE is supporting the nation’s economic growth through clean and renewable energy solutions. As such, District Cooling systems are a major component of the decarbonisation strategy. ENGIE aims to replicate its global industry leadership position in the Philippines through the Northgate DCS by contributing to the nation’s clean energy transition through developing energy efficiency and District Cooling solutions to help commercial and industrial customers reduce energy demand and optimise energy-efficiency levels; reducing electricity cost and pollution by providing affordable, renewable and clean electricity-generating facilities through technologies such as solar, wind, geothermal and waste-to-energy and through providing access to energy for all by developing Distributed Energy solutions in rural communities and islands not connected to the national grid.
Do you believe that the Northgate project will signal a move towards greater penetration of District Cooling across the country? If so, for what sectors, in particular? Will this be
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Pierre Cheyron, ENGIE
▶ Makati Skyline, Manila, Philippines
TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
Pierre Cheyron
What are the unique factors you take into consideration when it comes to designing a District Cooling system suitable for the country’s ambient temperatures? When designing District Cooling systems, we examine the building in its initial stages to map out dimensions, cooling load estimates and the function of the building. For a District Cooling system to be successful, all components must function cohesively. All these play a part in the mapping out of the overall design of the system to understand the functioning of the entire system before going into further plans. In tropical climates, designing a District Cooling system requires specific precautions and parameters, which we have experience with, based on our existing networks in Malaysia and the Middle East, where ENGIE co-owns Tabreed, the largest District Cooling systems operator in the world.
Does the project signal a more proactive move on the part of ENGIE to penetrate Southeast Asia?
At ENGIE, our ambition for Northgate DCS is to be a model for dense urban areas in Southeast Asia and showcase how District Energy solutions can help cities optimise energy supply, reduce electricity consumption, support economic development and lower environment impact. We also aim to build on the existing District Cooling projects across Asia Pacific, namely in Malaysia and New Zealand.
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In tropical climates, designing a District Cooling system requires specific precautions and parameters, which we have experience with, based on our existing networks in Malaysia and the Middle East
Malaysia has several District Cooling systems, including its largest one in Cyberjaya, a town with a science park in the western coastal state of Selangor. The Megajana District Cooling System was built by ENGIE and Malaysia’s Pendinginan Megajana Sdn Bhd, a subsidiary of tech hub enabler, Cyberview Sdn Bhd. The system’s second District Cooling plant was completed in 2012 and has helped the town to reap the equivalent of 8.2 gigawatt hours in electricity savings and eliminate 4,100 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions. In March 2017, an expansion of CyberJaya’s District Cooling system was announced, with an expectation of additional five per cent energy-efficiency gain, which equates to a reduction of 2.3 GW hours equivalent of power consumption or 1,160 tonnes of CO2 per year. In New Zealand, ENGIE – formerly Cofely Australia – and Pioneer formed a joint venture company, Christchurch District Energy Company (CDEC) to build, acquire, own and operate assets for the supply of thermal energy. CDEC will provide centralised heating and cooling system, utilising a natural aquifer in a major development in central Christchurch for Ngāi Tahu Property.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
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January 2018
35
FEATURE
Chillers
IoT, Kigali
keep chiller manufacturers interested Benwen Lopez examines the underlying factors driving the chillers market in the GCC region‌
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TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
B S Prashanth
Levent Taşkın
F
or the past decade, buffeted by economic headwinds and a sharp increase in calls for action to address climate change, innovation and energy efficiency have been the primary drivers of the chillers market. To meet market demands, manufacturers has developed an array of chillers that are smart and consume less power. Jointly, the evolution of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the 2016 Kigali Agreement, have been major factors that are mapping out the energy efficiency dimension of the HVAC market. Apart from the Kigali Agreement, energy-related regional vision documents, like the UAE Energy Plan 2050, which aims to reduce CO2 emissions by 70%, have been persuading manufacturers to align themselves to energyefficiency goals.
Lars-Olof Johansson
Burhan Jaber
Therefore, he adds, “using ammonia as a refrigerant can save up to two-thirds of the energy consumption and reduce the global warming effect.” With the industry becoming more sensitive towards global warming, other stakeholders, like Tobias Wolf, Product Manager, STULZ, a UK-based company, says: “As a company, we have stopped using HCFC refrigerants many years ago. The HFC refrigerants that are in use have an ozone-depleting potential of zero.”
THE GREEN AGENDA
Ever since global warming came into sharp focus, nearly two decades ago, energy efficiency has been a focal point, and almost every sector has been focussing on jumping on the ‘green wagon’. For the chillers segment, a green agenda is an integral part of all planning and implementation policies. The underlying principle to determine a chiller’s efficiency is the full-load kW/tonne and the integrated part-load value (IPLV). As B S Prashanth, Associate Vice- President, ACBG, Eros Group, says, “Chillers are categorised based on full-load and part-load efficiency.” But which of the categorisations is the most preferred? Speaking on this, Burhan Jaber, Engineering and R&D Director, S.K.M Air Conditioning, says: “Energy Efficiency should not just be considered solely on full-load conditions but also the partload conditions.” Sharing a similar view, Levent Taşkın, President, Danfoss Turkey, Middle East and Africa, adds: “The fundamental criteria for selecting a chiller is the building size, energy intensity and building usage. It is also important to check the price of energy for the building and, if it is appropriate, for high-ambient usage. Regulations differ for each location, but most consider the part-load efficiency.” Apart from the full-load and part-load considerations, stakeholders like Lars-Olof Johansson, Managing Director, Scandinavian Cooling Systems, believe that best practices, like the selection of low- or zero-global warming potential (GWP) refrigerants, such as ammonia, would contribute to the green agenda. “A typical coefficient of performance (COP) value for Freon systems is in the range of 2-2.5, while a typical COP value for ammonia systems ranges from 5-7,” he says.
January 2018
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FEATURE
Speaking on the use of other refrigerants that impacts global warming, Taşkın adds: “We are pleased to see that 40% of the market has now moved from R22/R407C to R410A, and this will continue with the efforts made by the industry. We have observed that Saudi Arabia has already phased out R22 since 2015, in response to the Montreal Protocol.” Explaining how the industry is striving to align itself with the Kigali Agreement, Jaber says that S.K.M. is focusing on more than one type of ozone-friendly and lowGWP refrigerant. “We have heavily invested in research and development of units with HFO and HFO/HFC blends,” he says. “Recently, we have successfully developed and tested the R1234ze chiller, which is designed to meet the high-ambient and harsh conditions of the region.” Raffi Kazazian, Director, Energy Solutions, Taqeef, explains how his company is striving towards the green agenda. He says: “Sustainability in design and building construction continues to drive the development agenda throughout the UAE. Government-driven targets – including those of the Dubai Supreme Council of
Chillers
Tobias Wolf
Raffi Kazazian
Dinesh Gupta
Before the installation, the power consumption was 13,200,000 kWh/year, but after the project was retrofitted, the consumption recorded 4,400,000 kWh/year
Philipose Jacob
CHILLER INNOVATIONS
Zoltan Karpathy
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Energy, to save power consumption by 30% by 2030 are setting out a robust framework for action. It’s against this backdrop that we created the energy solutions division at Taqeef. Our specialist team works with government, commercial and residential clients to develop world-class applications for energy-efficiency improvements, building retrofit and District Cooling projects.” Although the trends are driving towards green chemical refrigerants, another trend that is gaining momentum is the use of water as a refrigerant in adsorption chillers. Explaining the concept behind adsorption chillers, Dinesh Gupta, President, Bry-Air (Asia), says: “Considering the load on the electricity grid is intense, our focus is to use water as a refrigerant, since it is pure green in nature, and in principle, there is no refrigerant that completely fits the framework of the green principles.”
Explaining the dynamics of the adsorption chillers, Gupta explains that the chiller uses water as a refrigerant, and it cuts cooling costs up to 99%. He says: “By using the silica gel-water pair, the product helps harness waste heat generated from boilers, furnaces and exhausts, and green energy from hot water solar collectors to produce chilled water for low-cost process cooling and airconditioning. The chiller has advantages, like ultra-low electricity consumption, negligible
TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
noise and vibration, a low-maintenance profile, and has a life expectancy of more than 25 years.” Elaborating on the indoor chillers manufactured by STULZ, Wolf says: “Our chillers are designed for missioncritical applications, such as data centres and medical equipment facilities. In comparison to comfort cooling, these applications demand high availability and energy efficiency.” Further explaining the benefits of an indoor chiller, Wolf points out to its ability to comply with challenging noise restrictions of the installation site or surrounding areas. While a rooftop chiller includes all components in one outdoor unit, he says, an indoor chiller system is split into two, with the indoor unit emitting noise from its compressors and pumps, and the outdoor unit, which is either the condenser or dry cooler that dissipates the heat.
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January 2018
39
FEATURE
Chillers
TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
IOT BUILD-UP
The penetration of IoT in the overall HVAC industry has changed the chiller market landscape, owing to the availability of enhanced control features and data. Without an iota of doubt, IoT plays a key role in boosting energy efficiency. Speaking on the available IoT solutions for chillers and how they are driving up energy efficiency, Philipose Jacob, General Manager, Middle East, Honeywell Building Solutions, says: “Our chiller optimisation programme allows users to further guarantee savings. Through calibrated sensors, analysing data across critical operating parameters specific to a users’ chiller plant, it’s possible to identify operating issues and actions to improve system efficiency as well as perform fault detection and diagnostics.” Further elaborating on how IoT is being integrated with chillers, Jacob adds that maintenance teams can utilise the building performance data, sourced from the Honeywell Outcome Based Service, to focus on maintenance activities, especially of chillers and use the algorithms to identify anomalies associated with key operating parameters. With the asset health method, he adds, users can identify non-performing components and usage trends, thus preventing faster degradation of other components, such as motors, which may be consuming more energy than required, owing to the overload. Jacob further points out that customers can also be advised on the replacement costs based on the real-time condition of
the assets and make more informed ‘repair’ (opex) vs ‘replace’ (capex) decisions.
CHILLER OPPORTUNITIES
With innovations come opportunities for the chiller market, especially in the retrofit
block. Sharing details of a retrofit project, Johansson explains how his company had retrofitted the GAC Logistics Park by replacing the existing system with a new NH3/ammonia system. Before the installation, the power consumption was
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TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
13,200,000 kWh/year, but after the project was retrofitted, the consumption recorded 4,400,000 kWh/year.
issues like cost, level of awareness and growth of other HVAC segments are hurdles that the industry has to jump over to remain in the fray.
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CHILLER CHALLENGES
Like every other sector, challenges are aplenty for the chiller market, with price being one of them. Different HVAC segments appear to pose a “threat for the chillers sector,” says Zoltan Karpathy, Manager – Intelligent Buildings and Homes, BSRIA. Basing his contention on a study by BSRIA, Karpathy adds that while the value of the chillers market is high, the share of the variable refrigerant flow (VRF) is increasing. “In the UAE, VRF is still a fraction over chillers, but when you take a closer look at the fraction, it is growing more than expected,” he says. From the price point of view, Kazazian points out that amidst a capex bias market, it is the balance between capex and opex that is a crucial driver for his company, with quality as the prime focus. Further elaborating on the capex perspective, Gupta adds: “The biggest market challenge is the capex, and we are trying to seed the market with whatever little margin we have, but the challenge is to bring down the cost and still bring the technology into play.” Mirroring the views of Kazazian and Gupta on the capex issue, Johansson says, “The main challenge is to inform the clients to have patience and look into the longer-term perspective.” However, he believes that even in this situation, the silver lining is if the energy prices are up then clients will be motivated to look at more energyefficient solutions to reduce the opex. The other challenge, Gupta identifies is the awareness level amongst the endusers, who are not fully knowledgeable about the availability of green technologies. “There is no ready market for the adsorption chillers, but we see this as an opportunity to inform endusers about the technology and educate them on the benefits of our available applications,” he says.
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Smart Earthling @smartearthling
MOVING AHEAD
While the primary challenge for the industry is the drive towards energy efficiency, owing to the demands by governments and the Kigali Agreement,
January 2018
41
Dan Mizesko is the Managing Partner of Al Shirawi US Chiller Services. He can be contacted at dan@uschillerservices.com.
LICENCE TO
A recipe for disaster Frequent stops and starts of centrifugal chillers for energy savings can spell ruin for the machines
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I
have been in this industry for over 40 years, 20 of which in the GCC region. Lately, it seems, more and more energy-saving companies are popping up in the region. Now, I believe that no one is as passionate as I am about saving energy. I have dedicated several years of my life to finding these savings in chilled water plants and the HVAC equipment in them. The years I have put in have strengthened my belief that largetonnage chillers are highly specialised equipment and require highly trained specialists to not only service and maintain them but also to implement energy-saving strategies and retrofits involving them. Having said this, energy-saving companies typically have a rather cavalier attitude towards chilled water plants and want to cycle large centrifugal chillers off and on all through the day to save energy. This is the worst idea these people have ever come up with, for it will damage the centrifugal chiller. Cycling a large motor, such as on a centrifugal chiller is the last thing you want to do, as it will, without question, damage the chiller's motor; and the repair cost will far outweigh the savings. Each time an a-c centrifugal chiller motor starts from rest, then accelerates to full speed, the motor is
TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
stressed in three ways. First, the sudden inrush of starting current -- typically 6-8 times the name plate amperes -- causes high electromagnetic forces, tending to tear the winding apart. Second, that current also causes severe thermal expansion in the winding. Third, similar short-time overheating and mechanical stress occur in the rotor. In fact, I have found rotor damage to be a major failure point with frequent start/stop of large motors. By the way, the larger the motor, the more severe are the stresses. The three stresses will eventually lead to fatigue failures of the motor. This is a "wear out" mechanism. When we ask how many starts a motor can handle before breaking down, we're asking the same sort of question as, "How long can an Olympic sprinter keep running that fast?" No one can predict exactly when the end will come. NEMA offers general answers about motor starting frequency – only for standard motors, though. First, NEMA recognises that starting stress depends on the nature of the driven machine – the load-in-load torque during acceleration. For a three-phase motor, from 1 to 250 HP and from 1,200 to 3,600 rpm, NEMA Standard MG10 stipulates the maximum number of starts per hour, and the required cool-down successive starts for loads possessing specific inertia and torque values. A 10 HP motor, for example, may be able to start six times an hour, whereas a 200 HP motor may be able to do so only twice per hour. For larger machines, such as large-tonnage centrifugal chillers, 400 tonnes of refrigeration (TR) and above, NEMA MG1 gives only the number of starts in succession – usually two with the motor initially cold, or one restart, if the motor has been stopped while hot. How many starts per day, isn't stated, but, 3-4 per day is a common limit. Exceeding such numbers will reduce the motor life on the average, just as overwork may reduce human life. Even though a specific individual may survive, most individuals won't; the same holds true for motors. If a single start is not severe, a large motor may be able to sustain 50,000 starts over its lifetime and only 35,000 for a difficult start. Obviously, starting 10 or 20 times a day can erode its lifespan. The decision to start any motor more than a few times daily, over a long period, should be taken only after consulting with the manufacturer. "Reduced-voltage" starting methods, such as the solid-state "soft starter", do not ease the starting burden on the motor. By lowering motor torque output during acceleration, energy-saving companies may actually make it more severe. Allowing the motor to safely start more often is not among the several valid reasons for using such starting methods. No OEM factory recommends frequent start/stops for any reason, including energy savings. The practice of frequently stopping and starting centrifugal chillers for energy savings is totally incorrect and will lead to chiller damage, no question about it. An energy-saving company approached a building we maintain the centrifugal chillers at. They were insistent on implementing the stop-start strategy to save energy and wanted to perform the procedure 8-12 times a day. We informed everyone this was a bad idea and would damage the chillers, but our pleas fell on deaf ears. Well, 12 months
later, some claims are being made of energy savings, and yes, there were some savings; however, what has not been highlighted is that five 2,000 HP centrifugal chiller motors have suffered rotor and winding damages and that the repair cost far outweighs the energy savings. I would encourage end-users, owners, District Cooling companies and energy companies to never implement or allow anyone to implement stop-start on large centrifugal chillers, unless they want to ask for trouble. If they want to save – and save big – they ought to look into installing a variable-frequency drive (VFD) on the centrifugal chiller. That way, they will realise big savings and be able to avert any risk of damaging the motor through the ill-conceived stop-start approach. Really, we are talking centrifugal chillers here – stop-start duty cycling is for fan-coil units and AHUs, not large motors!
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.
January 2018
43
Focus
Denmark
These are the numbers Copenhagen-based utility, Hofor says it is able to post in terms of economic benefits for its customers, and of carbon emission reductions. A profile...
Amount of energy delivered
â–ś HOFOR District Cooling: The production allocation
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Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Seawater (free cooling)
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January 2018
Jun
Jul
Absorption cooling
Aug
Sep
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Electrical driven compressors
Nov
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TRACKING THE DC INDUSTRY IN THE MIDDLE EAST
T
he Hofor District Cooling utility company in Copenhagen has the potential to supply in excess of 200 MW of District Cooling in the city. It has over 60 delivery agreements and a contracted supply profile of over 50 MW. According to Henrik Lorentsen Bøgeskov, who heads operations, the company has a commitment to save as much CO2 as possible and, to that effect, reinvests in new areas in order to expand the CO2-saving potential. In 2015, the company posted a profit after tax of USD 1.4 million. The company’s application profile includes air conditioning, server cooling and process cooling. It serves its customers on the basis of an agreement,
Henrik Lorentsen Bøgeskov where it installs and tests an exchanger and measures and bills consumption. When it comes to the production of chilled water, the temperature decides the production allocation, which includes seawater, electrically driven and absorption technologies. The seawater cooling involves the use of titanium heat exchanger technology and is the predominant production allocation (see chart). As a further measure to optimise environmental performance, Bøgeskov says Hofor shifts District Cooling
production to off-peak night hours, when electricity price is low. Bøgeskov says the total reduction of economic costs for the customer reaches up to 40%, in the form of lower energy costs, lower cost of capital and O&M. The Hofor process, he says, involves remote reading of consumption on the basis of minutes, hours and days, and easy billing, which the company said, promotes transparency of costs. Bøgeskov says the company’s efforts yield up to 70% reduction of CO2 emissions, adding that it is able to achieve this, because the District Cooling plant uses carbon dioxide-friendly energy sources. Also, it uses no refrigerants that legally need to be phased out.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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January 2018
45
Mohammed Al Qaisi & Amr Elmasry, UTC Carrier
The new chiller will to a higher level Mohammed Al Qaisi, General Manager, and Amr Elmasry, Director Marketing (Key Accounts and Strategic Products), Carrier, in a free-wheeling interview with Surendar Balakrishnan, discuss the impending launch of a new VRF system and water-cooled chiller, featuring a new refrigerant. Excerpts…
W
ith regulation emerging in relation to thermal energy storage and the use of potable water in large chilled water plants - case-in point, Dubai’s RSB’s efforts in this direction - District Cooling as an approach seems to be finding its feet in the region. In Saudi Arabia, the government has mandated the use of District Cooling for projects that require 10,000 TR, or more, of cooling. As an equipment supplier, how are you responding to the concerted push to increase the penetration of District Cooling in the market? Amr Elmasry: Many countries in the Middle East have steadily improved and implemented minimum energy-efficiency standards by adopting the latest technology trends in response to growing demand for energy efficiency. New regulations and standards have, in turn, led to an increased demand for higher efficiency air conditioning solutions from end-users, consultants and contractors in the region. At Carrier, we have sustainability at the core of our engineering philosophy, and we pride ourselves on providing
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energy-efficient products at competitive prices. We are aware that HVAC customers are starting to look at the total cost of ownership, rather than the transactional product price, which will eventually drive increased demand for innovation and more energy-efficient products. Our AquaEdge centrifugal chillers, with a capacity of up to 3,000 tonnes, are ideal for District Cooling plants, large commercial applications and mega-sites needing chlorine-free refrigerant, high efficiency and quiet operation. The 19XR6 and 19XR7 centrifugal chillers offer a single semi-hermetic design compressor. Carrier chillers offer savings to District Cooling providers through superior real-world operating performance. The chillers also have a compact footprint and ultra-low sound level. The motors are refrigerantcooled, which eliminates water heat rejection into the plant room. Additional cooling equipment for cooling the motor in the mechanical room can be reduced. Additionally, the maintenance cost for realigning shafts and shaft seals can be eliminated. And the chillers can be offered with a fixed or variable frequency drive. Carrier also recognises that the use of TSE is increasing in District Cooling plants. Carrier offers numerous condenser tubing options as one of the potential solutions for TSE applications. With regard to thermal energy storage, Carrier offers thermal energy storage systems, with latent heat technology
and encapsulated sphere technology. The solution is ideal when space is at a premium and reliable stable temperatures are required.
Consultants typically are of the opinion that what is tested in the factory varies from what comes through as performance on site. In that context, what is the efficiency of your chillers on site? Mohammed Al Qaisi: The keys here are installation and having qualified contractors trained and professional enough to be able to do the installation. We simulate exactly what’s happening on site and consider all the test measures. On site, we are seeing a lot of issues due to improper installation. Now, I don’t want to say that it’s all due to the contractors, but if a chiller passes a test on the test bench, it probably is performing properly. It’s very critical that clients look into this matter. They may need to spend a little bit more to have professional companies on board.
When you say professional companies, would you say specialised MEP contractors? Al Qaisi: Yes, specialised contractors, who are qualified and trained and have a proven track record in the market for delivering high-quality sites and installation.
take efficiency And that's missing, largely speaking? Al Qaisi: We are seeing recently a lot of newcomers without a proven track record, because the clients are looking at cost more than at quality. From our side, as Carrier, we do a pre-commissioning test, once the units are installed. In the case of chillers, we provide installation, operation and maintenance manuals during the submittal stage. We urge contractors to read it! It is a proper guideline on how to install. I know it looks big and people are afraid and say, ‘I don’t want to read such a big book.’ I get that, but it’s important to go through it. In the case of our top customers and our dealers, we do continuous training sessions. So, once we finish the installation and the chiller is started up we do training on operation and safety. For us, it’s important to ensure the operator’s safety.
Do you also periodically visit the site to ensure the chillers are working properly? Al Qaisi: Once we start up, and the client decides to go to another company, we don’t have access to the site. You will only be under warranty period and we have to only comply with the obligations of the warranty. But if the maintenance is with us, it’s a totally different ball game – we will have periodic visits, at least 3-4 times a year.
some companies coming in who say, ‘We can provide you with what manufacturers are providing.’ It is best to maintain it as per the manufacturer’s recommendation. No one can maintain it better as per the manufacturer’s recommendation than the manufacturer itself. We build these chillers with a lot of ground-breaking technologies and innovations, so these need to be treated the right way.
Could you please share with readers the progress you have been able to make on your VRF technology?
We are launching our latest VRF unit, and it’s a very exciting time for us. The VRF market is very interesting, with many developers opting for it versus conventional systems, because they see it as having a smaller footprint and a high efficiency. They are also happy about the ability to connect controls to the VRF system to monitor energy efficiency. So we are talking of a host of benefits. Our latest unit comes with the ability to perform in high-ambient conditions, up to 54 degrees C. The compressor has a power consumption of 0.1 Hertz, which will give a huge benefit to our customers in terms of energy efficiency. Also, we comply with local regulations, such as ESMA and QCC. The indoor units will have a host of types that will cater to the needs of customers.
I presume it runs on R410A? Al Qaisi: Yes, it does.
Is it something you are encouraging them to undertake? Al Qaisi: Yes.
How do they view it? Do they look at it as UTC perhaps creating one more revenue stream to do this? The underlying word is trust. Al Qaisi: That I agree. This is driven mainly by cost. In the past, trust was available; we are seeing that this trust has weakened in the last couple of years, because we have
Mohammed Al Qaisi
Have you considered any other refrigerant at all, because R410A has a GWP of close to 3,000? Is there a product on the anvil that will run on a different refrigerant? Al Qaisi: Yes, there is. Elmasry: A low-GWP refrigerant is on United Technologies’ agenda, and we are developing a new refrigerant that will be applied to our chiller. I will not talk about it now; I will leave it to the coming months, but I can say so much – it will be a top-efficient chiller
Amr Elmasry in the market. When it’s related to direct expansion products, like VRFs, 410A, till today, is a single –component refrigerant, unlike the previous refrigerant, R-407C which consists of two refrigerants. So R410A is stable. And do keep in mind that it is a closed circuit, so once the installation is properly executed, the risk is minimal, and the maintenance on the mechanical refrigerant circuit is minimal; the normal maintenance is on the filtration part of the system. So there is no risk involved, and that’s why in Europe all the systems run on 410A.
You spoke of a new refrigerant. Does it have any flammabilityrelated issues? Elmasry: We will keep this for the launching. In the coming months, Carrier will be launching a new chiller, and it will take the efficiency to a higher level or a new dimension for chilled water applications.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
January 2018
47
COUNTRY REPORT
Saudi Arabia
Wheels in With ambitious new projects seemingly underway and previously set targets to be accountable for, Saudi Arabia appears to be on the move. How is the HVACR industry coping with the Kingdom’s proactive approach to diversifying its economy? Hannah Jo Uy has the story…
I
n November 2017, Saudi Arabia announced plans for Neom, a new city in the north-western coast of the country, to be built at an estimated cost of USD 500 billion and, once fully completed, expected to be more than 30 times the size of New York City. The news had HVACR stakeholders buzzing. Mohamed Ashok, Regional Product Manager – MEA, VTS, was one of them. He describes the announcement as a “big boost”, given that at least 40% of the investment will go into HVAC. “Traditionally Saudi Arabia has been a slow-paced market, unlike the UAE,” he says. “But recent events surely point to a potential boom in the construction sector, and specifically for HVAC, as every building needs it.” Neom, he says, has the potential for causing a ripple effect, and VTS is anticipating more project announcements in other parts of the country. Lamis Jawhari, Operations In-Charge, Safid Engineered Air Solutions, echoes Ashok. “Saudi right now is booming,” she says. “The new initiatives are really pushing Riyadh forward.” Roni El Haddad, Event Director – HVACR Expo Saudi 2018, also echoes Ashok. Neom, he says, is just one of several projects
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emerging in line with Saudi Vision 2030, all of which are spurring interest in HVACR and new technologies related to the sector in the development of smart and advanced cities. Already, he says, stakeholders are moving to invest in the industry. He makes a case for this in the context of HVACR Expo Saudi 2018, to be held in mid-January, which he says, has had an “18% increase in total exhibitors and over 33% increase in the number of pre-registered professional visitors from different Saudi cities”.
ON THE SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT FRONT
Prior to Neom, Saudi Vision 2030 and resulting initiatives had already set the wheels towards economic diversification in motion. Dr Anwar Hassan, Vice President, Field Sales & Operations, Johnson Controls, summarises three notable trends in the systems and equipment front within the HVACR industry that have been enhanced and accelerated by Saudi Vision 2030. The first, he says, is the drive for higher energy performance through adopting classes of design that inherently lead to superior energy performance. As an example, he points to District Cooling systems
versus individual plants, and water-cooled heat rejection versus air-cooled systems. “The second is the adoption of higher energy performance units and components in a progressive manner, in order to meet the minimum energy performance standards created by SASO/SEEK,” he says. “The third trend is a strong anticipation of growth in residential units’ sales due to activation of housing programmes.” In view of the energy-efficiency drive influencing the sector, Dr Hassan shares insights on the penetration of District Cooling in Saudi Arabia. The cooling approach, he says, has gained wide acceptance among consultants and owners as a favourable concept and practice, though adoption remains “elusive”. Dr Hassan says the royal
motion Mohamed Ashok
Roni El Haddad
Dr Anwar Hassan
decree mandating District Cooling for projects above 10,000 TR “has ignited multiple debates on multiple fronts”. “Many existing chiller plants are being investigated for potentially spinning them off as commercial District Cooling plants, with the original owner being a primary offtaker.” Dr Hassan says that many private developments, especially in the Makkah and Riyadh areas, are large enough to make District Cooling attractive. “Concerns and lack of clarity on infrastructural utilities (TSE), mandating participation by tenants and developers as well as getting potential customers to feel comfortable with charge rates for services now, and in the future, are concerns that are impeding adoption,” he adds. Speaking on the uptake of VRF technology in the country in the same context, Dr Hassan says that while there is growth, it is not exceptional. “It has to compete with many options in the market,” he says, “and, as such, it will be in direct competition with other inverterdriven unitary products as well as the lower tier of chilled water systems”. He adds that cost and installation of the technology are also issues of concern among local stakeholders. The concerted drive towards energy-efficient
Khalid Al Mulhim
Dr Floris Hendrikus Schulze
solutions has also urged stakeholders in Saudi Arabia to utilise smart systems to optimise consumption. Dr Hassan says that Johnson Controls is seeing good success with smart systems in the mid-market; he believes it is a trend that will continue. “The demographics of Saudi Arabia make such systems very appealing in the mid-market,” he says. “In larger systems, there is a lot of talk, but only very little is translated to actual business in the market.” Dr Hassan adds that he believes all parties are trying to solve the puzzle of how to contract a desired performance outcome “in an environment and purchasing tradition that is almost entirely Bill of Materials focused”. Overall, El Haddad says he has seen interest from new and mid-range companies for exploring and entering the Saudi market by aligning themselves with the trends. Additionally, he says, after the success and development of local
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COUNTRY REPORT
manufacturers, the Saudi government is offering its full support to help businesses move forward and enhance market strength. Providing a local manufacturer’s perspective, Jawhari says that with every new project, there are also new standards and safety procedures being implemented. She adds that in view of increasing standards, there is a steady move among manufacturers to invest in quality certifications, putting them at an advantage even against international players. “For the huge projects, there might be some competition in terms of internationalising their suppliers,” she says, “but mainly local projects always prefer to go to local suppliers, which is in our favour.” She says this is owing to faster delivery time, familiarity and compliance with certifications.
ON THE ROAD TO RENEWABLES
Beyond mitigating energy consumption through more efficient equipment and solutions, Saudi Arabia is briskly moving towards renewable energy, which will have its own set of implications for the sector, in terms of design requirements and operational practices. Khalid Al Mulhim, Business Development Director, Suhaimi Design – Protecooling, says that Saudi Arabia has been primarily focusing on diverting its dependence from hydrocarbon to solar, biomass and wind energy. “These are the three areas Saudi is looking at new opportunities for technology to be adopted,” he says, largely owing to consumption and demand for power increasing year after year. Dr Floris Hendrikus Schulze, Managing Director, CESI, agrees: “Saudi Arabia has embarked on a fast track mode for Renewable Energy Systems (RES) and interconnection developments, also supported and boosted by low oil pricing to find alternative sources of income, new business opportunities and reduce dependency on oil and gas.” As such, he says the country has emerged as an attractive market for renewables. Dr Schulze believes that the country’s strategic location amidst Africa, Asia and Europe will further boost the development of RES, since once properly interconnected it will allow energy trading between countries and regions. “Saudi Arabia can become a regional powerhouse and energy marketplace, owning one of the world’s largest reserves in gas and oil but also benefiting from ample space and high
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SAUDI ARABIA: NUMBERS AT A GLANCE... HVjY^ 6gVW^V¼h =K68G bVg`Zi Zm]^W^iZY V 86<G d[ &%#%( Yjg^c\ '%&'"'%&+! VcY ^h [dgZXVhi id \gdl Vi V 86<G d[ &(#&& WZilZZc '%&, VcY '%''# I]Z idiVa =K68G bVg`Zi ^c HVjY^ 6gVW^V gZegZhZcih XadhZ id ild eZg XZci d[ i]Z \adWVa =K68G bVg`Zi# I]Z bVg`Zi [dg =K68G hnhiZbh ^c HVjY^ 6gVW^V ^h Zhi^bViZY id gZVX] JH9 (#(( W^aa^dc ^c '%&,# HVjY^ 6gVW^V¼h =K68G bVg`Zi ^h hZi id YdjWaZ [gdb JH9 (#(( W^aa^dc ^c '%&, id JH9 +#(+ W^aa^dc Wn '%''# I]Z XdaY hidgV\Z bVg`Zi d[ HVjY^ 6gVW^V ^h Ydb^cViZY Wn [ddY hidgV\Z! l]^X] VXXdjciZY [dg V kVajZ h]VgZ d[ .)#&& ^c '%&+! l]^aZ i]Z gZbV^c^c\ h]VgZ d[ *#-. lVh Xdchi^ijiZY Wn pharmaceutical cold storage. Source: Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning & Refrigeration Market in Saudi Arabia 2018
quality of solar radiation for a vast amount of RES energy generation,” he says. Recently, Dr Schulze shares, CESI finalised a joint venture with GCC Electrical Testing Laboratory (GCCETL) to design, establish and operate a state-of-the-art testing laboratory in the Eastern province “confirming the importance of new interconnection and RES developments”. “The objective is to support the development of the electric power sector,” he says. Dr Schulze highlights the advantages of exploiting the abundant solar renewable resource beyond simply reducing dependence on fossil fuels. From political and environmental perspectives, he says, it will help the country meet its goals and put it on a global stage in terms of sustainability and the battle against climate change. From a business perspective, Dr Schulze emphasises that it provides a new source of income. Such programmes, he says, boost the development of new businesses related to PV, such as local manufacturing, suppliers, consultancy and inspection services, all stimulating “knowledge-based development”, in the same trend as in Europe and in the UAE. Dr Hassan believes the uptake of renewable energy in power generation is a necessary first step before HVACR solutions utilising it emerge and it significantly impacts the industry, which, he says, take a naturally longer cycle. “We have seen an admirable effort by K. A. CARE (King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy) [in terms of] promoting and offering financial grants for the development, research and commercialisation of products and solutions supporting the use of renewable energy in HVACR.” Dr Hassan says that the best of sustainable development efforts and renewable energy are energy-saving measures, and there has been an emergence of solid programmes “heralded by the creation of a government super ESCO and several commercial ESCOs”. “We are taking an active part in the discussions as well as taking actions in the field in all those areas, including the creation of an ESCO on the back of the pioneering position our parent company, Johnson Controls has in this area,” he says. Al Mulhim says his interest in renewables is mainly in relation to reducing energy consumption in new and existing projects and in utilising RES, particularly solar, in the HVACR and utilities sector. There are many possibilities, he says, such as a hybrid system of an absorption chiller with solar power. While it would utilise more water, he says, recycled water can be a possible solution. He
also points to potential hybrid systems that can generate heat to operate the chiller and using thermal storage. Al Mulhim also touches on the use of geothermal energy, in light of the country’s increasing move in this direction. Geothermal, he says, is an old source that has been used in Canada and the United States for heating, where essentially the earth below ground level is used as a heat sink. Applications in the region, he says, can tap into below-ground heat sink, which has lower temperature than ambient conditions, to improve the performance of air conditioning systems. Citing benefits of a geothermal-based system, Al Mulhim says that it eliminates the need for an outdoor unit and makes it possible for HVAC equipment to perform more efficiently. The system, he adds, requires less maintenance; is less prone to damages from vandals, as there is no outdoor unit; and could be more reliable than conventional HVAC systems. “Of course, geothermal is new in our area,” he says. “Because of that, the cost for small-scale installation of geothermal is higher than conventional [systems]. For big-scale applications, geothermal could be cheaper, but not cheaper than conventional [systems].” Additionally, he says, geothermal has a host of other requirements, in terms of initial operation and space allotment. “It’s a learning curve,” he says. “I think the government is trying to put some subsidies to encourage new systems through so many initiatives that they can put incentives [for the people] to utilise renewable energy and geothermal energy.”
COMMUNICATION GAPS
Al Mulhim comments that while energyefficient technologies and solutions are widely available, the issue is proper training with regard to their implementation. Dr Hassan echoes this: “Awareness has increased a lot in the last couple of years, and everyone hears the message advocated by Vision 2030 loud and clear. But those hearing the message are the consultants/owners and not the contractors.” Contractors, he says, remain bound by the contracts and cannot be expected to advocate more energy-efficient solutions, unless they are financially incentivised to do so. “What we need to focus on is whether this awareness is leading to adoption of energy-efficient solutions. Adoption of high-efficiency solutions is hampered by higher costs but, more profoundly, by poor understanding of value, which in turn, is
caused by uncertainty over essential cost elements such as water and power.” Asked whether government regulation and initiatives help place greater emphasis on life-cycle cost over initial cost, Dr Hassan says adoption and implementation is impeded by the lack of clarity on a number of practical considerations. “Since utilities are basically monopolies – partial or full – clarity on availability of utilities and their cost is needed for investors to be confident of the correctness of their choices,” he says. “Clear answers are needed to questions from providers of such a utility regarding what assurance they have that future tenants and property developers will sign up to use their utility; and by the same token, tenants and property developers will need assurances on what prices they will be charged by the utility providers.” Arbitration and standards bodies, in addition to mandatory procedures and processes for setting rates and arbitrating differences, are needed to boost the rate of adoption, he adds. “All these are issues where government can take the lead. It has an important role to play in setting up finance rules that get such socially progressive practices off the ground at the initial stages,” he says. Dr Schulze echoes this in relation to solar integration. CESI, he says, provides training
to ensure that in the future, distribution and transmission companies can carry out projects independently, gleaning from the company’s experience across the GCC region. Dr Schulze says that the company is helping define the requirements for those consultants and contractors who want to be certified for the installation of solar PV systems, and provide support for the economic, regulatory and technical frameworks to support a change in management and the mind-set of the public. “Once people start seeing the benefits [of solar PV], it will almost automatically boost such a development,” he says. “This will hopefully result in a positive spiral of increased participation of people, developers, manufacturers and suppliers. The same happened in Europe.” The stage has been set, the agenda determined, the technology and expertise, readily available. Indeed, there is no shortage of determination or imagination among local stakeholders eager to make Saudi Arabia’s vision into a reality.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
January 2018
51
COUNTRY REPORT
Taiwan
InnovatIon pavIng the way for
Independence
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In Taiwan, there is a sense of urgency among stakeholders in the renewable energy sector to develop a more robust energy mix to limit dependence on others. With national targets driving the uptake of solar power, companies are capitalising on expertise in manufacturing to meet the countryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s objectives and to position themselves as international players in the fields of insulation and solar glass. Hannah Jo Uy has the story...
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n Taiwan, innovation is not a luxury but a necessity, driven by a country’s desire to develop a more independent energy mix. Innovation, says Suo-Hang Chuang, Vice-Chairman, TAITRA Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA), is imperative, owing to the country’s lack of natural resources, which makes it dependent on the import of oil for energy. “We’ve got to change that,” he says. “We have an ambition to be more independent and, at the same time, we have to shut down all nuclear power plants by 2025.” According to Taiwan News, President Tsai Ing-wen announced plans of using renewables to provide 20% of the nation’s energy by 2025 and phase out nuclear power plants, the first of which will be shut down by 2019(1). The government’s targeted fuel mix is 20% renewable, 50% natural gas and 30% coal by 2025. For Chuang, with 2025 only a few years away, there is a lot of work to be done, since currently, 16% of total energy generated is from nuclear power plants. Chin-Huai Young, Department of Construction Engineering, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, echoes the sense of urgency that Chuang expresses, emphasising that in Taiwan there is a proactive move to encourage the invention and promotion of products related to renewable energy and energy savings. Chuang describes this as a “major task” that requires engagement from all stakeholders, particularly in universities, where he says, traditionally a culture of innovation is encouraged within research and educational systems. His optimism is palpable in this regard, owing to the history of Taiwan in terms of manufacturing efficiency, which he believes, will be replicated in the solar industry. “The key component is the semiconductor,” he says, “and Taiwan produces the most and best semiconductors in the world.” Chuang adds that with the top 10 semiconductor companies based in Taiwan, he is confident that the local industry can lower cost with mass production and make solar technologies more widely available in the market. Dr Shuo-Yan Chou, Department of Industrial Management Director, Center for Internet of Things Innovation, Taiwan Tech, National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, is of the same opinion. “Taiwan, while not as strong, is like Germany in a
Chin-Huai Young
Insulation solar glass applied to a new building in Taiwan has an ROI of approximately five years in terms of energy saving compared to normal glass
sense that manufacturing excellence is our goal and strength,” he says. Young echoes this, adding that 10 years ago, Taiwan already had a 20% share of the global solar panel market, but most were exported and not applied locally. However, in light of new government policies and incentives, uptake is inevitable. Young says that in 2011, Taiwan announced a policy, where those with solar power could send power to the grid and receive money in return. “[The government] pays USD 0.2 for every 1 kWh,” he says. “If you send back 10 kWh, you can get USD 2.” Young says that such incentives are necessary and that owing to the policy, people in Taiwan readily use solar power on their roofs. He adds that trends are such that many people rent out their roofs for a fee to investors, who install solar panels to generate energy to be sent to the grid, in order to receive a payback from the government at a profit. Speaking as the Technical Chief Officer (TCO) of Taiwan HISG, Young says that the development of the company’s heat insulation glass for zero-energy buildings has been in the works since 2011 and was partially commercialised in 2012. Today, however, there are 20 construction projects that have integrated this technology. In such solutions, which require higher capital price, Young says that insulation solar glass applied to a new building in Taiwan has an ROI of approximately five years in terms of energy saving compared to normal glass, in addition to the government’s payback incentives. The government, Young says, supported Taiwan HISG by granting the company USD 4 million in July 2017 to promote the products all over the world, in the next three years. The first stop, he says, is the Middle East, owing to the commercial viability of solar power generation in the region, owing to ambient conditions. Young says that air conditioning is recognised as one of the biggest culprits in energy consumption, in Taiwan, and especially in the Middle East. This, he says, is why companies are proactive in promoting the products in the region, as the ROI will be faster compared to Taiwan. Young says that according to the company’s economic assessment, the heat insulation solar glass, once applied to a city such as Dubai, can help provide a comfortable indoor environment while providing energy saving. Additionally,
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he says, since the UAE gets six or seven hours of sun a day, there is more opportunity to achieve higher solar power supply to address a building’s energy consumption. Young says that he is optimistic it could even pave the way for nearly zero-energy buildings. Chou adds that for the past 10 years, the Taiwan government has been trying to reach out to Middle Eastern as well as to South East Asian countries, and has been getting support from organisations such as TAITRA. “All the resources have been put in this area, not just in terms of industrial cooperation but also for education,” he says. “We have many students to provide them with a good understanding of how technologies are developed in Taiwan and how things are done.” This, he says, is the strategy the country is adapting.
SHOW, DON’T TELL
To help encourage wider acceptance and penetration of new technologies, Chou says Taiwan is taking a “show, don’t tell” approach by providing a value proposition beyond the conceptual. As such, he says, “demo sites” constitute a typical approach of companies. The goal, he says, is to show the assumptions based on factors such as weather conditions and the consumption of air conditioning; and based on the framework, the aim is to show the results. “We are spending a lot of money installing meters and sensors and monitoring our operation in the long run, so we can provide numbers to developers,” he says. Young says that Taiwan HISG is looking to replicate the approach in Dubai, with plans to build a demo house with heat insulation solar glass panels. The project, expected to be completed before 2020, he adds, would remotely monitor energy consumption and efficiency. In terms of international project references, Young says Taiwan HISG set up a demo house in Nottingham University, in the United Kingdom, to demonstrate energy efficiency, and has recently signed an MoU with a Manchester-based installation company active in promoting nearly zeroenergy buildings. Adding to this, Jason Lin, Assistant Vice President, Business Centre, Nexpower, points out to the example of a house in Switzerland, developed in 2015, which he says offers a strong demonstration of the energy and power such a solution provides. In 2016, the demo house reportedly generated more electricity than the house needed. Nexpower, he says, provided the façade material. “[The occupants would] store the surplus energy
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We are spending a lot of money installing meters and sensors and monitoring our operation in the long run, so we can provide numbers to developers
in batteries, and use the surplus energy for winter, when they need heat,” he says. “The cost was only 10% higher [once the solar features were added] .” As to whether such an approach could accommodate the high load required for cooling buildings in countries such as the UAE, Lin says that the overall design of the whole building is also an important factor, and urges strong engagement among all stakeholders within a project. Everything, he says, is dependent on how and which part [of the] insulated solar glass solutions are used within the design. “One certain thing,” he says, “is the power you generate and the heat you insulate will be very helpful.” Initially, Young says, companies were hesitant to enter the UAE market, owing to electricity traditionally being available at a lower cost. However, he says, the government’s aggressive policy related to energy savings and nearly zero-energy buildings proves that it is an interesting market. Beyond the environmental ethos driving the UAE, Lin says, Nexpower’s decision to explore the local market is driven by demand, owing to the increase in the cost of electricity. “In the beginning of 2017,” he says, “we got more and more enquiries not only in the UAE but also other parts in the Middle East.” Chuang says that for its part, TAITRA has a “brigade” to introduce innovation and “the best minds Taiwan has to offer” to countries such as the UAE, which exhibit a move towards a sustainable energy future. Though there is a strong focus on Dubai, being an international, hub, Chuang says that the association has met with people from Kuwait, and has observed a similar move in the country when it comes to codes and regulations; those, he adds, will make a strong case for renewable energy solutions. Chuang adds that stakeholders are looking to invest in a factory in the UAE to produce solar-related products in the region and are active in looking for local partners and distributors. Though at an early stage, it would seem that the mood for future trade relations between Taiwan and the GCC region remains buoyant, with both sides eager to look at potential areas of cooperation.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
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The Big 5 Dubai 2017
And we have here…
By Hannah Jo Uy, Features Writer and Benwen Lopez, Assistant Editor
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January 2018
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In this, the second part of our coverage of The Big 5 Dubai 2017, we present to you more profiles of companies that participated in the mega exhibition…
COMISA GROUP
SFA GROUP
Comisa Group presented its pipe and press fittings during its participation in The Big 5 Dubai. The company showcased its standard range of products to the Middle East market, and leveraged the manufacturing quality associated with Italy-based companies, which Alessandra Varlese, Export Manager, said are in compliance with high standards specified in Europe.
The French company made use of The Big 5 to shine a light on its air conditioning pumps and boiler pumps. “Air conditioning pumps have been produced, manufactured and sold in Europe for 20-30 years,” said Ella Klubnichkina, Sales Director. “But for the Middle East, it’s quite a unique solution. So far, very few know what a pump air conditioning stands for, what it should be used for, where and so on. So that’s our main target right now – to create awareness and that there is a solution.”
DMC
Saudi-based DMC highlighted its thermal insulation systems at the Big 5. Arun Kuppathil, Sales Director, said that though the company was known for manufacturing premix materials, such as plaster, the decision to focus on thermal insulation was owing to new standards related to energy conservation across the GCC region, especially in Saudi Arabia, as part of Saudi Vision 2030. The Vision document, he said, has led to an increase in demand for buildings with insulation. DMC, Kuppathil said, has a strong portfolio in Saudi and is looking to branch out to other parts of the region through partners.
GENERAL GAS
Dustin Haddock
S-5!
S-5!’s participation was timely, owing to The Big 5’s emphasis on solar energy. Dustin Haddock, Vice President of Research and Development, said the show provided a platform for the company to exhibit its ability to install and attach solar panels to metal roofs, with no holes or penetration. “We always say that racking components are the backbone of the solar industry,” he said. “The backbone holds the body together, the racking components hold the solar industry together, and it’s often overlooked in terms of cost labour savings. What we do is we marry all those things together, so we have a system that will last as long as the roof will last.”
COOLEX
Kuwait-based Coolex introduced its airhandling units, packaged units and complete range of air conditioning equipment to the UAE market as part of its participation in The Big 5. Edmundo Gabriel, R&D Manager, said that despite the fact that Coolex has cultivated local distributors that are working with consultants, it is looking to strengthen its position locally. Gabriel emphasised that GCC region-based manufacturers have a deeper understanding of T3 conditions and, as such, are able to efficiently design units to serve the regional market, giving then an advantage over European manufacturers.
Ilaria Rachele Di Luca, Export Sales Assistant, General Gas, said that 2017 was a great year for the company in terms of global sales, owing to high refrigerant demand all over the world, in response to increasingly stringent regulations. This, she said, drove the company to innovate while striking a balance between managing demand and complying with regulation. Based in Italy, the company, Di Luca said, is looking to penetrate the Middle East market and, in that context, characterised The Big 5 as a vital link to the Arab world.
GFORCE
Jeevan Prakash
During its participation at The Big 5, GForce introduced its air filtration system, with a special focus on its GRD separator for building ventilation, specially designed to counter the infiltration of sand and dust. Jackie Chen, Sales Manager, said that despite the fact that the Shanghai, China-based company has a wide range of products in HVACR, the decision to present the separator was taken keeping in mind the ambient conditions and the frequent occurrence of sand storms in the region.
RAPID COOL GROUP OF COMPANIES
Jeevan Prakash, Senior Sales Engineer, Ventilation, Rapid Cool Group of Companies, spoke about the Sodeca range of new firerated basement extract fans and its new design for roof-mounted fans. Rapid Cool distributes Sodeca’s products, which are manufactured in Spain. Touching on the product features, Prakash said, the fans come with built-in damper. When the fan is running, the air goes out, but no water droplets or dust particles will go inside, ensuring there is protection, he added. The fans, he further added, have approval from Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah Civil Defence. Despite the presence of
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The Big 5 Dubai 2017
competitors, Prakash said, the company is not concerned about the price, as its main objective, he added, is to ensure quality. As such, the company, he further added, is prepared to give a lengthier warranty period.
SAFID ENGINEERED AIR SOLUTIONS
SAFID highlighted its range of accessories at The Big 5. Lamis Jawhari, Operations In-Charge, said that though the company is known for its range of spiral and rectangular ducts, the company chose to focus on its VAVs, VCDs, louvres, and combination fire and smoke dampers to address increasingly stringent legislation related to fire and life safety in the regional market. “In Dubai, they take their precautions for fire very seriously,” she said. “Now, you feel there is a huge focus on fire prevention, so we have highlighted a lot of fire and smoke dampers and louvres, our outlets and our accessories. We even have a VCD panel to demonstrate how it operates.”
HAIER
Haier showcased its commercial air conditioning equipment, including split air conditioners, MRV technology, chillers, and solar water heaters at the show. Lu Haitao, Commercial AC Product Director, Middle East and Africa, speaking on the MRV, said it has a long history and strong market share in China. Haier relatively recently introduced the new-generation MRV5, which has wireless communication, among other features. Elaborating on the zonecontrol feature of the MRV system, Haitao said it provides energy-efficiency benefits, when compared to chillers, though in some applications, particularly for developments that require a large capacity in one space, chillers do have advantages. Haitao said the MRV market in the UAE has scope for improvement, considering that chillers still have more than half of the market share, owing to the long history of American brands in the region. Haitao said he believed the success of the MRV technology in China could be replicated in the UAE. In recognition of the possibility of replicating the China showing, Haitao said, Haier is looking to develop products suitable for the region’s high-ambient conditions.
MAKRO TEKNIK
Makro Teknik showcased its long history in the development of HVACR flanges,
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Lu Haitao
ducts and accessories at The Big 5. Nurettin Ozdemir, General Manager, said the company enjoys a large market share in Turkey and is distributing its products across Europe and Africa. Approximately 50% of the company’s sales turn over, Ozdemir said, comes from the international market, while the other 50% comes from Turkey. In the Gulf region, Ozdemir added, there is a misuse of products and instances of over-specifying. As such, he urged manufacturers to apply expertise in providing suitable solutions for the specific needs of projects. The strategic location of Turkey, Ozdemir said, provides a competitive advantage in terms of logistics, as the company aims to further reinforce its presence in the UAE. He added there is expectation that the upcoming Expo 2020, in Dubai, is set to increase demand.
BASI CONTROL
China-based Basi Control showcased its BTU meters in the UAE market through its participation in The Big 5. Sara Huang, Sales Manager, said the company has a long history in China, and is looking to replicate its success in the Arab market.
Nurettin Ozdemir
Zeidan Al Jamal
TECHSERVE
Techserve placed the spotlight on its Prokilma air-handling units during The Big 5. Shreehari Narayanan, Product Manager, spoke about the AHUs as well as the company’s other range of products, which he said, carry American as well as European certifications. For the AHUs, Narayanan said, the company is focussing on energy-efficient solutions, in terms of fans, and on optimising the unit to reduce consumption. “Even the coil manufactures have come a long way in terms of reducing the cooling requirement,” he said. “They are able to achieve more with smaller coils, thereby reducing cost and amount of water required to cool.”
MUNTERS
Anna Rita Caruso
Munters spotlighted its desiccant dehumidifiers and introduced its EC fan-upgrade for retrofit jobs during its participation in The Big 5. Zeidan Al Jamal, Sales Manager, said the need to rationalise energy use is of increasing concern among regional stakeholders. Munters, he said, is looking to address the need. Providing an example of Munters’ contribution to energy savings, Al Jamal spoke of how the company participated in the upgrade of AHUs at Heathrow in the United Kingdom. “The nice thing is that we are saving 30-50% energy,” he said. “And the ROI is less than two years.”
BRY-AIR (INDIA)
Varun Pahwa
At the show, Bry-Air (Asia), highlighted the company’s range of energy-recovery wheels and desiccant humidifiers. Varun Pahwa, Director, said the products are built with a simple plug-and-play approach in mind, and have a starting capacity of 15-100 cubic feet per minute. The company also showcased its gas-phased filtration system, which Pahwa said, cleans the air from different gases, like nitrogen dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Further, Bry-Air displayed its range of adsorption chillers, which work on low-grade waste heat.
INSTAD PRE FABRICATION
K H Chan
Singapore-based Instad Pre Fabrication showcased its prefabricated ducts at The Big 5. K H Chan, Chairman and Managing Director, said that the ducts are built under the E3 banner, which stands for eco-friendly, efficient and easy to install. The product, he said, has received a green certification from the Government of Singapore, owing to its non-toxic nature, fire-resistant quality and adherence to the use of environmentally friendly materials during the manufacturing process. He added that 80% of the product is manufactured at the factory and 20% is finalised at the job site, which includes the installation.
WEIGUANG
China-based manufacturer, Weiguang showcased its axial fans for air conditioning and its shaded pull motors. The company’s representative, Yang said that Weiguang endeavours to meet the demand for energy-saving products. He pointed to the company’s EC motors and fans, as examples. The products, he said, have gained a strong market share in Europe, Asia and North America. The Middle East, he said, is also a good market, which the company sees as having strong potential.
SIRE
Sire came to The Big 5 on the back of its 30-year history in manufacturing industrial chillers in Portugal. The company showcased the chillers at the show, with its Manager, Fernando Esteves emphasising that the main competitive advantages of the products are their durability and low energy consumption. The HVACR market in Portugal, he said, while comprehensive, is saturated; this trend, Esteves added, has prompted the company to explore potential business opportunities in Dubai and, by extension, the Middle East, which he said is an attractive market.
NICCONS
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Niccons’ decision to participate in The Big 5 was largely driven by a desire to look for local partners to promote its products. The Italy-based manufacturer, said Anna Rita Caruso from the company’s Export Sales Department, is seeking to position its HVAC accessories for the local market. The company showcased its piping solution for refrigerant gases, which Caruso said, serves as an alternative to copper-based solutions in the market. The product, she said, is innovative and has generated interest, as it offers the advantages of being easier to install, greater flexible, longer life-span and flat price. The stability in price, she added, stands out, because, in comparison, the price of copper is prone to frequent changes. The product, she said, is a result of a two-year project, in cooperation with other Italian companies.
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The Big 5 Dubai 2017
LEEL ELECTRICALS
Alexander Banz
For India-based LEEL Electricals, The Big 5 presented an opportunity to showcase its split air conditioner units, manufactured with T3 conditions in mind, said Brinder Singh Chadha, DGM – International Business Development. The products showcased at the show, he said, are designed to meet temperature requirements as high as 60 degrees C.
Sara Mokhtari
DUCTSOX
Ravi Wadhwani
DuctSox showcased its ductwork products made from partially recycled fabric materials. Marwa K Alyan, Marketing Manager, DuctSox (MENA), said the product is 100% anti-microbial, fire retardant, lightweight, easy to clean, durable and can save up to 24% of power. Alyan added that the benefit of the fabric material ducts is that the air can be equally distributed to areas that would not be possible to reach with conventional metal ducts.
Sri Ram C M P
FINPOWER (MAXELL GROUP)
Sanjiv Sachdeva
Rajesh Shenoy, Managing Director, said the company used the show to spotlight its new range of ecology units, specifically designed for the hospitality industry and built with a robust filtration system. The company also spotlighted its fresh airhandling units, energy-recovery units, and air-handling units built with EC motors and certified by AMCA (Air Movement and Control Association).
Brinder Singh Chadha
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OXYCOM
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The Netherlands-based Oxycom displayed its two-stage evaporative cooling system, Intercool. Sharing details of the product, Alexander Banz, Chairman, Oxycom’s Advisory Board, said its main characteristic was to evaporate water and cool the air. With such a technology, he added, temperatures as high as 46 degrees C could be brought down to 26 degrees C. The technology, he further added, could be used in open and semi-open spaces, especially in industrial areas, thus enabling workers to carry out their tasks in a comfortable environment. Banz claimed that compared to conventional air conditioning systems, Intercool saves up to 90% of energy in a building.
HIRA INDUSTRIES
For Hira Industries, The Big 5 was about showcasing products with innovation as their hallmark, said Ravi Wadhwani,
General Manager, Hira Walraven AC Industry. Showing a model car built using most of the company’s products, he pointed out to each part of the vehicle. “A heavy-duty channel was used for the base,” Wadhwani said. “Ventilation fans were used as the wheels, and the tyres were made of our rubber products. The front and rear bumpers were made of our wall guards, and the spring hangers give a very good show for the suspension. The bonnet and boot are fitted with insulation covers, and the side doors and engine are made of insulation material.”
PLANGRID
Muzamil Shaikhani
BETEC CAD
Sri Ram C M P, Director, said his company used The Big 5 to exhibit its ability to respond to market demands through launching a series of products, such as low-noise fan-coil units, which he added, have a highly efficient filtration profile. The company also displayed its insulation materials, duct systems and fire-rated doors.
Jari K Varghese
GULF ENGINEERING SYSTEM SOLUTIONS (GESS)
At the show, GESS showcased, in particular, its energy-recovery ventilator and heatrecovery wheel solutions. “Indoor air quality is our focus,” said Sanjiv Sachdeva, Managing Director. “Our products not only boost energy efficiency but also provide fresh air into the systems.” The company also spotlighted its direct and indirect evaporative cooling solutions.
Robert Presser
GLOBEOWL
GlobeOwl displayed an environmental monitoring solution, which combines gas detection and the Internet of Things. Robert Presser, who represented the company at the show, said multiple gases like CO2 could be detected with the device. The solution, he said, includes a monitoring wireless unit that is connected to a cloud-based platform and provides data on a smart device or computer to address issues effectively.
FOCUS AIR CONDITIONING INDUSTRIES
Focus Air Conditioning Industries displayed its new range of HVAC accessories, including its air outlet and variable aero louvres. The company also showcased its range of pipe hangers, air diffusers, dampers and variable-air-volume terminals. Prathyush Bhasi, Senior Sales Engineer, said the company displayed its Craflex flexible ducts, vibration isolators and duct connectors.
RUBBERWORLD INDUSTRIES
Rubberworld showcased its insulation products, designed for Green Buildings. Muzamil Shaikhani, Managing Director, said the products have a positive effect on the HVAC system, improve energy efficiency and conform to the energy vision of the UAE.
AFPRO FILTERS
The Netherlands-based AFPRO Filters showcased its new range of glass-fibre air filters. Sara Mokhtari, a representative of the company’s Export Sales Division, said the filters are designed to trap particulate matter of one micron and smaller. She added that the products are ISO 16890- and Eurovent-certified.
Robert Elvidge, Regional Sales Director (EMEA), said the company’s focus is on supporting the construction sector by creating a synergy between siteproductivity and site-collaboration with its solution, PlanGrid. The solution, he said, extracts 2D drawings from software packages like BIM and shares them on an app, which can be accessed by contractors and other site personnel. He added that the key purpose of the solution is to ensure that every stakeholder is on the same page of the project. If there are any changes to the drawings, he said, the latest versions could be pushed out quickly through the app. He further said that contractors could use the tool to effectively control issues like variations, owing to the easy access of the drawings.
Robert Elvidge
DURODYNE
Jari K Varghese, Sales & Marketing Manager, CMS Group of Companies (DuroDyne’s Master Distributor for MENA & India), said that, in addition to stickpins, adhesives and damper cards, DuroDyne showcased the recently launched FPP4, an insulation-fastening machine, which enhances the capabilities of a compact pin spotter.
HAVE YOUR SAY! We welcome your views on the article. Write to editor@cpi-industry.com
January 2018
61
NEWS REGIONAL
Expectations need to be managed in using software for building projects, says CCS ‘If you put garbage in, you get modified garbage out,’ says company’s GM By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
onstruction Computer Software (CCS) said that while the market is welcoming of technological solutions for contractors, expectations need to be managed. Ian Hauptfleisch, General Manager, speaking to Climate Control Middle East on the matter, said: “They think, ‘If I install the software on my computer it’s going to solve all my problems’. However, if you put garbage in you’re going to get modified garbage out. It’s a tool. It has all the facilities to do what you need [it] to do, but you need to give it proper information and data.” Hauptfleisch stressed that it is crucial for contractors to look at both sides of the scale. “You have the budget side and you have the cost side,” Hauptfleisch said, “and you’re continuously comparing. [It’s for] a contractor to see [and ask], am I within budget? Overspending? Underspending? Why and where?” CCS, he said, offers Candy with this need in mind, as it is specifically for estimation and project control from a contractors’ point of view, adding that the company also offers a cost and accounting management tool. Hauptfleisch said that the company’s solutions are currently used by 250 small-, medium- and large-scale contractors in the Middle East, while its biggest market is the UAE.
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Etisalat in IoT drive
IoT solutions set to boost the country’s energyefficiency graph, says official
By 7ZclZc AdeZo | Assistant Editor
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January 2018
tisalat has said a range of building and industrial IoT solutions available in the UAE will boost the country’s energy-efficiency graph. David Torre, Director of IoT, Etisalat, revealed to Climate Control Middle East that the solutions were brought to the fore through various strategic partnerships formed between Etisalat and other vendors, and that they would be offered to Etisalat’s customers. Sharing details on some of the products, Torre said: “Currently, we are showcasing some of the IoT solutions like the energy-efficiency platform, asset-monitoring generator and the digital manufacturing platform. These solutions would augment our services to help our customers achieve energy-efficiency goals.” Speaking on the features of the energy-efficiency platform, Torre said that it would be used to focus on monitoring of HVAC equipment, pumps, air-handling units and other mechanical systems, from Etisalat’s IoT command control centre, through a cloud. Dedicated teams would be able to monitor the behaviour of the
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Hisense-Hitachi introduces G+ Series VRF
Company also introduces inverter-based split system By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
Abraham underlined that it is crucial to isense-Hitachi introduced its new G+ Series VRF ensure that units, if removed from shaded technology and the latest addition to its inverterareas and placed outside, can operate under based split product line during its participation such conditions, as temperature can increase at The Big 5 Dubai in November 2017. Moan beyond the registered ambient temperature Abraham, Vice President & GM - Middle East & Africa, due to factors such as wind movement and Hisense-Hitachi, said the release of the products was in lack of circulation. Giving a word of caution, response to growing demand in the market for high-ambient Abraham also pointed to global warming VRFs and inverter splits. “Our VRF comes with a particular BdVc 6WgV]Vb trends, which he said, will further increase heat transfer technology [that can work even] beyond T3 temperatures in the coming years. Iraq, he conditions, up to 61 degrees Centigrade,” he said. The new said, reached between 53 and 58 degrees inverter-based split, he added, has a special microprocessor Celsius, not only for a few hours but for several days. Such board in the outdoor unit designed to withstand high temperatures. “The trends, he said, pose as a challenge for manufacturers, inverter drive needs to be cooled and placed in an environment, where it who must design products for the growing ambient doesn’t accumulate heat and start malfunctioning,” he said. As a result, conditions in the region. Abraham said, Hisense-Hitachi developed a particular design in the coil. The Abraham said that while there is a strong uptake in air that comes into the unit, the condenser and the VRF controller, he added, Europe for the technology, owing to regulations, the always remains at a certain temperature up to 61 degrees C.” same is not the case in the Middle East. “Regulation is still not in place [for inverters], which means there is no official demand,” he said. “We see this as a niche product right now, but it is a right time to launch. It is a future technology, we need to be ready and ahead of the market equipment and provide solutions to the customers on how best they to get more customers to experience inverter technology.” can optimise the equipment and reduce energy usage. Abraham highlighted the power saving advantage of Highlighting the benefits of the asset-monitoring solution, inverter technology in being able to work in part-load AssetMinder, Torre said that the solution would help users reduce conditions, saying that initial additional cost can be their operating costs and downtime of unmanned equipment, such returned in one to two years. “For an average family in as pumps, coolers and boilers. The data collected would offer details Dubai,” he said, “the annual bill would be AED 700-800, of the functioning characteristics of the equipment and alert the of which the electricity is about 60%, something around operator to any maintenance issues. AED 400-500. If you can save 30-40% of that through an Yet another solution, he said, is the digital inverter-based split, that’s a big amount of savings over a manufacturing platform, where IoT is being period of one year.” used to efficiently monitor and design manufacturing processes through horizontal integration, where all the industrial assets are connected to the platform for better monitoring and maintenance. #7 of 2017 The solution, Torre said, Seattle's Amazon HQ can be used to calculate utilizes waste heat productivity, such as hourly from its neighbor's production rate, target rate, data center to heat man-hours and machine-hours, its building, saving the including the energy the machine equivalent of 65million lbs of consumes. With sensors fitted to coal over the next 25 years. the machine, the user would be Learn more about district energy in Course 8 of the intimated about any maintenance AIA+2030 Online Series. issues. http://bit.ly/2CLQPes Citing a case-in point, he added that the solution is being currently used at the Blue Star India air conditioning manufacturing plant, and the results are positive. Architecture 2030 @Arch2030
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January 2018
63
NEWS REGIONAL
FMs must be engaged in the designdevelopment process
Issue rests with developers, contractors and consultants, says industry insider
Saudi Arabia’s HVACR market is expected to double in value to $6.36bn over the next five years https:// tinyurl.com/y92yxdug @HVACR_Expo #KSA #Saudi
Sougata Nandi
By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer TheBig5Hub @TheBig5Hub
acilities Management (FM) stakeholders are underrepresented in most projects. This was the observation shared by Sougata Nandi, Founder & CEO, 3e Advisory, who emphasised that FMs can play a significant role throughout the design-development process, “provided they are engaged to do so”. “This is a developer’s decision,” he said, “As the project resides with him for the entire life-cycle. Thus, the greater issue rests with the developers and, to some extent, with contractors and consultants.” Nandi said that FMs have been raising this issue for a long time. “Unfortunately, the current design-development process is failing them,” he pointed out. Nandi stressed that the focus needs to be more on contractors, consultants and developers and, specifically, how they intend to change this situation.
F
UAE is driving District Cooling to a completely different level, says DSI Drake & Scull official believes cooling solution is a vital cog in achieving energy savings By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
he UAE is driving District Cooling to a completely different level. So said Sameer Daoud, Chief Development Officer and Managing Director (KSA), Drake & Scull. Daoud, in an exclusive interview with Climate Control Middle East, was comparing
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Sameer Daoud
the cooling solution’s penetration in the country compared to other nations in the Middle East. “[The UAE] is driving District Cooling right and left,” he said. Daoud added that this is a positive move, as he believes District Cooling is a key aspect for the country to achieve energy savings and be more efficient with its consumption. “Most of the time, if not all the time, if this is not governed or pushed by the government and local authorities, it might not reach the level that we want it to achieve,” Daoud said. “Thankfully, in the UAE and in Dubai, in particular, this has been a massive issue, and people are looking forward to achieving it.” Daoud said that while there are a large number of District Cooling opportunities coming up, stakeholders must also pay heed to the demands of end-users. “I think the end-user is concerned about two things,” he said. “They are concerned about having the right quality but, at the same time, at the right cost.” Daoud stressed that as long as the industry makes sure that people are getting value for money, the efforts driving District Cooling will be much appreciated. “It [District Cooling] is not an option anymore,” he pointed out. “I think it is a must, and people are driving towards that aspect. It’s a way to go, in my opinion.”
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January 2018
Higher electricity tariffs in KSA usher in consumer behaviour change High tariffs, retrofit opportunities key drivers for energy efficiency in the GCC region By 7ZclZc AdeZo | Assistant Editor
MARKETPLACE This section contains updates on regional and international products.
E Instruments International AQ Comfort
wo of the biggest drivers for energy efficiency in the GCC region are the rise in tariffs of electricity and water and the retrofit market, said Stephane le Gentil, CEO, Clean Energy Business Council. Citing an example on how high tariffs increase energy efficiency, Gentil pointed out that the prices for electricity in Saudi Arabia were meagre and people did not bother to even look at the bills; however, after the government raised the tariffs, people began to reduce theirenergy usage. Gentil said that countries like Oman are now reducing the subsidies on electricity, owing to the burden on the grid, and are harnessing solar power. Other GCC region countries, like Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are already rolling out a series of initiatives to reduce energy efficiency. For instance, he said, Saudi Arabia has issued a royal decree that all the public buildings in the kingdom have to be retrofitted. Gentil said the retrofit movement is a key market driver. The retrofit market in the GCC region, he said, is around USD 45 million, and provides a host of opportunities to take advantage of.
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NEWS GLOBAL
Cyprus’ growing real estate market driving demand for cooling solutions Developer says demand is owing to popularity of government’s citizenship programmes and spike in temperatures By Hannah Jo Uy | Features Writer
yprus, by virtue of being located in the Mediterranean, is known to have a mild weather. Despite temperatures averaging 30-32 degrees C in the morning and 18-20 degrees C in the evening, Sarthak Sharda, Business Development and Sales Manager, Artisto Developers, emphasised that there is still demand for cooling solutions, especially in light of the growing luxury real estate market, which is underlined by the popularity of the country’s ‘citizenship by investment’ and ‘permanent residency by investment’ programmes. “People nowadays want the best of everything,” Sharda said. “[Especially] if you’re buying a villa that’s EUR 3.4 million, you would need the cooling facilities in there [to be the best]. Also, [there is the issue] of global warming. Earlier, there were no air conditioning units, but we see a changing trend – the temperatures are on a bit of a rise. Everywhere, cooling systems are there; they are required now.” Sharda said the real estate market is going well due to the government’s ‘citizenship by investment’ and ‘permanent residency by investment’ programmes. “In the past three and a half years,” he said, “EUR 4.2 billion has been generated from this particular programme. It’s been going great.”
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Instruments International has introduced AQ Comfort, its brand new indoor air quality (IAQ) monitor made for the HVAC Professional. According to the company, the convenient and economical all-in-one instrument provides the latest in IAQ monitoring and real-time data logging for IAQ analysis in homes, schools and offices, among other places. According to E Instrument, the AQ Comfort…
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Is a compact, handheld unit Provides the facility to conduct a “Comfort” Audit Has an optional CO sensor for safety Measures CO2 and CO gases Monitors temperature, % RH, dew point and wet bulb Provides real-time data logging Ensures immediate response time Features a magnetic rubber boot Has an easy-to-use menu system Features PC software, USB, Li-Ion rechargeable battery
#FactFriday Lung cancer caused by #IAQ is responsible for the loss of 30,600 healthy life years in the UK
My Health My Home @MyHealthMyHome
January 2018
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BOOK REVIEW
LIFT: The New Craft of Coaching By Bruce Robert Dorey, PhD Reviewed by HjgZcYVg 7VaV`g^h]cVc
Bruce Robert Dorey
S
aying that most instances of transformation in technology or business process are just changes, leading to mediocre or substandard results in business, Bruce Dorey, in his book, LIFT: The New Craft of Coaching, opens the mind to the rich harvest for the taking if only young professionals were willing to embrace an elaborate and patient approach of apprenticeship under masters of the craft. Such an approach, he argues, would give them tools and hone their mental faculty to undertake even the most complex of tasks and effectively face even the most trying of circumstances. At one level, the book is a nuanced questioning of the intrinsic value of structured, packaged leadership training courses. Dorey argues that such courses are inadequate and that they simply cannot replace the approach of putting in the hard yards under the watchful gaze of a master till young professionals, one day, gain mastery over their craft. Dorey, who for many years, plied his trade as an engineer in the HVACR industry in the Middle East, speaks of the inestimable value of metis, a Latin word that encompasses “the hard-learned competencies of working alone, with groups of people, and, increasingly, with technology”. He says it makes thorough sense to learn from the embedded knowledge and metis of masters by “applying our minds and bodies to the task in an apprentice-journeyman-master model”. He calls for the transfer of metis to the next generation, so that it is not lost with the inevitable retirement of the masters. He says there is a need for a good method to hand over the controls to the next generation and adds that the book offers an effective process. The book perhaps is relevant in the present circumstances in the Middle East, dominated by fluctuating oil prices and their impact on projects in the pipeline. Economic circumstances have also persuaded many developers, architects and general contractors to look for cost-effective options in the MEP consultancy and contracting industries. This has encouraged an influx of young and often inexperienced professionals, who are only too happy to accept assignments for a lower price. Instances abound of new professionals soon discovering the financial non-viability of executing the projects and of eventually abandoning them, which has forced suppliers of equipment to face uncertainty over ever recovering payments due to them. In that context, there is perhaps a role for government policy-makers to tighten the process and mandate a system of apprenticeship in engineering and business matters, as a precursor to awarding licences to new consultants and contractors.
The reviewer is Co-Founder & Editorial Director of CPI Industry. He can be contacted at hjgZcYVg5Xe^"^cYjhign#Xdb
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January 2018
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