Dubai, UAE: The Jumeirah Beach Hills (JBH) District Cooling Plant, owned by Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower), the world’s largest district cooling services provider, has been awarded LEED Gold certificationby the U.S. Green Building Council in recognition of its compliance with global standards and requirements for energy efficiency, sustainability and environmental design. The achievement further strengthens the company’s track record in developing and operatingsustainable district cooling infrastructure and supports its ongoing efforts to reduce its carbon footprint.
The plant joins an expanding portfolio of Empower’s district cooling projects that have achieved LEED Gold certification, including Business Bay 5, Business Bay 3, Business Bay 2, Jumeirah Village Circle (JVC), Barsha Heights, Zabeel, and DLRC plants. Thisrecognition reflects the company’s continued commitment to integrating the highest standards of sustainability, energy efficiency, and green building practices across the design, operation, and future expansion of its assets.
The JBH plant is one of Empower’s newest district cooling facilities in Jumeirah, with a total production capacity of 48,000 refrigeration tons (RT). The company commenced operations at the plant in December 2024, following its development in accordance withthe highest international standards and sustainable green building principles. Its design also aligns with Dubai’s urban development while respecting and complementing the area’s distinctive architectural character.
The plant utilises advanced technologies to enhance energy and water efficiency and including thermal energy storage (TES), alongside state-of-the-art chillers that contribute to improved energy efficiency during peak hours. These technologies support Empower’sability to provide highly efficient and reliable district cooling services while minimising the environmental impact of its operations.
The plant serves several of the most prominent tourism and urban developments in the Jumeirah area, including Burj Al Arab, Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Marsa Al Arab, Madinat Jumeirah Living, Jumeirah Al Naseem Hotel, and others. Its services are also planned toexpand in the future to additional projects, including Souk Madinat Jumeirah, Jumeirah Al Qasr Hotel, Jumeirah Mina Al Salam Hotel, and others.
“This achievement reflects the vision and directives of the UAE’s wise leadership, foremost among them the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to further solidify Dubai’sposition as a leading global city in sustainability, innovation and quality of life. At Empower, we view green building standards as an integral part of our infrastructure development methodology, enabling us to keep pace with Dubai’s sustainable urban growth,enhance energy and water efficiency, and preserve resources for future generations. This international recognition also underscores the success of our approach in combining expansion and growth with efficiency, sustainability and environmental responsibility,translating Dubai’s ambitious goals into practical and reliable infrastructure capable of serving the cities of the future,” said H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower.
“We continue to invest in the latest technologies and global best practices to enhance the efficiency of our assets and improve their environmental performance, in support of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the emirate’s journey towards a more sustainableand resource-efficient economy. District cooling systems are a key component of modern urban infrastructure, enabling cities to keep pace with urban growth and rising cooling demand efficiently and reliably. We remain committed to further developing Dubai’spioneering model and enhancing the contribution of the district cooling sector to building a more sustainable and resilient urban environment,” he added.
