Voices

Insights and observations heard during the Conference…

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

Viktor Osokin, CEO, TEVMO

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

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

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

Steve Lemione, CEO Middle East, Dalkia EDF Group

The Dalkia EDF Group is operating around 330 District E nergy networks worldwide, including in countries such as China, the US, France and others. We have recently entered this market , which is why you (referring to George Berbari, the Chairperson of DC Dialogue) mentioned us as newcomers, and we are pleased to be recognised as such. Additionally, you are correct that we have recently signed several projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Currently, we are in the process of completing the construction of the District Cooling plant in Misk City, which happens to be the world’s first non-profit city.

Steve Lemione, CEO Middle East, Dalkia EDF Group

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

Steve Lemione, CEO Middle East, Dalkia EDF Group

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

Ibrahim Hassanien, Lead Projects Engineer, Allied Consultants

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

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

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

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

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

Omnia Halawani, Co-Founder & CoCEO, GRFN Global

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

Whilst McPolin shared an overview of the initiatives in one of the countries in the GCC region, Larbi Behloul, Head of Facilities Management, Dubai Developments, presented a developer’s perspective of District Cooling, with an emphasis on several fiscal issues and challenges associated with District Cooling. Behloul emphasised that the decision to build a plant room or utilise an existing District Cooling provider depends on space availability and design considerations. He also highlighted that energy efficiency is a significant concern, and proper facility management and maintenance are crucial for ensuring operational efficiency. Behloul further said contracts should include Key Performance Indicators and Service Level Agreements, to hold District Cooling providers accountable for their performance. He stressed the importance of establishing effective communication channels between developers and providers. Additionally, he said, implementing smart metering could provide real-time consumption data, which is valuable for monitoring and optimising energy usage in District Cooling systems.

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

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

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

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

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

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