
Empower wins three global awards at International District Energy Association Conference and Exhibition in the US
Dubai, UAE: Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower), the world's largest district cooling services provider, has won three global awards at the International District Energy Association (IDEA 2025) Conference and Exhibition held in Minneapolis, USA. Empower won two gold awards in the categories 'Total Number of Buildings Committed' & 'Total Building Area Committed' for district cooling services outside North America. Additionally, Empower received the prestigious 'Innovation Award Honorable Mention for District Cooling Plant Optimisation Using Machine Learning'.
The IDEA recognized Empower's achievement, noting that this is the eleventh time the company is winning these awards, following previous wins in 2005, 2007, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024. Empower has received over 20 awards in various categories since its inception, along with other awards at different international conferences.
On this occasion, His Excellency Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO of Empower, said: "We are proud to have received these prestigious global awards, which are a testament to years of continuous work and innovation. These awards are not just a recognition of our achievements but also a demonstration of the international community's trust in our business model and sustainable vision. Winning two gold awards and an innovation award confirms that we are on the right path towards a more efficient and intelligent future in district cooling."
"We at Empower have adopted a strategy that relies on continuous investment in modern technologies, particularly artificial intelligence and machine learning, to improve the performance of our plants and enhance energy efficiency. This strategy not only contributes to reducing our carbon footprint but also raises the quality of services provided to our customers and ensures continued excellence in operational performance."
"These awards reflect the team spirit that characterizes Empower's teams across all departments, who work tirelessly to achieve the company's goals and reinforce its position as a global leader in district cooling services. I would like to extend my deep gratitude to every individual in the company, as these awards are a fruit of their cooperation and continuous efforts", he added.
"At Empower, we do not consider innovation an option but an integral part of our corporate culture. We will continue to expand and develop to support the environmental sustainability journey and reinforce the UAE's position as a global hub for innovation in infrastructure and clean energy. ", the CEO concluded.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Arabian Business
44 minutes ago
- Arabian Business
Etihad growth continues with 19% passenger uplift to 1.7m in May
Etihad Airways carried 1.7m passengers in May, representing a 19 per cent increase compared to the same month last year. This continued growth reflects the airline's strategic expansion and strong market positioning. Passenger load factor climbed to 87 per cent, up from 84 per cent in May 2024, reinforcing the carrier's ability to optimise capacity while maintaining high demand. Etihad Airways growth The airline's operating fleet now stands at 100 aircraft, supporting its growing network and service enhancements. In the first five months of 2025, 8.4m travellers have flown with Etihad, a 17 per cent rise from the same period in 2024, with the airline maintaining an impressive 87 per cent average passenger load factor. Antonoaldo Neves, Etihad Airways CEO, said: 'We saw a pleasing continued growth in our momentum, with May's passenger numbers growing by 19 per cent year-on-year, underlining our position as the fastest-growing Middle East airline. 'Our year-to-date results show more than 8m customers have flown with us in 2025, and our rolling 12-month figure now stands at almost 20m, a testament to the trust placed in Etihad's service. 'We reached an exciting milestone in May as our fleet number reached the 100 mark. As we continue expanding our route network and growing our fleet in the coming months, our focus remains on delivering a seamless and exceptional customer experience.'


Khaleej Times
an hour ago
- Khaleej Times
Some Dubai chocolate sold in UK may contain banned ingredients, says regulator
Some Dubai style chocolate being sold in the UK retail market may not meet the country's criteria and may contain banned additives or colouring agents, the British regulator Food Standards Agency (FSA) said on Thursday. However, the authority said that 'most Dubai-style chocolate available in the UK are 'safe' to consume for the British consumers. It advised consumers that some products imported under the Dubai chocolate brand from other countries may have banned ingredients, asking consumers to report it to authorities. Dubai chocolate has gone viral globally and companies in some other countries are also producing similar kinds of products. Made popular on TikTok, people have queued for hours to buy chocolate bars in Germany. The chocolate is filled with pistachios and crispy shredded filo pastry, costing around 25 euros in Germany. Earlier this year, a German court asked a supermarket not to sell a product as 'Dubai chocolate', saying the confectionary should be marked with Dubai brand only if it originated from the emirate. Earlier this year, German authorities confiscated 90kg of luxury Dubai chocolate from a woman at Hamburg airport that was subject to hundreds of euros in import duties. 'The vast majority of food in the UK is safe, but some imported Dubai-style chocolate products don't meet our standards and could be a food safety risk, especially for consumers with allergies. If you are looking to buy Dubai-style chocolate, we advise sticking with trusted retailers, like the ones you'd use for your weekly shop, as products are more likely to be made for UK consumers and so are safe to eat,' said Professor Robin May, chief scientific advisor to the FSA. 'As it's difficult for consumers to tell the difference between products made for the UK and those that aren't if you have a food allergy or intolerance, we advise that you do not buy the product unless you're certain it's intended for sale here. UK law requires food labels to highlight any of 14 allergens present in the product, but some imported products may not do this,' he said. The regulator said it is working with local authorities and has identified a number of products that pose a health risk to consumers with allergies. 'Some of these products may also contain additives and colours which aren't allowed on the UK market.' An advisory for consumers in the UK by the regulator said some imported Dubai-style chocolate products may not be intended for sale in the UK and could lack a full ingredients list or allergen labelling. By law, it said, labels must list all ingredients and clearly highlight any of the 14 regulated allergens. 'Products that should not have been imported for sale may not meet the UK's high food safety standards.' The British regulator said it is now studying these products and is working with allergy charities to help raise awareness of the risk with consumers. The FSA pointed out that the food products made to UK standards should have labels in English containing the name of the food (e.g. milk chocolate with pistachio paste filling); a list of ingredients, with allergens emphasised; the weight in grams; expiry date; and the name and address of the UK or EU business. If the food is not from the UK or EU, the name and address of the importer must be included.


The National
an hour ago
- The National
World watches as national climate goals loom over Cop30
Leading figures have sounded the alarm as they gathered in the UAE ahead of the next major round of UN climate talks at Cop30, in Brazil. Speaking at an event in Abu Dhabi on Thursday, Majid Al Suwaidi, chief of climate investment vehicle, Alterra, warned that the talks are up against 'significant challenges'. 'To date, only 15 updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) have been submitted,' Mr Al Suwaidi said. While the original deadline was February, a revised cut off in September is now the last window to submit updated pledges before Cop30 opens in Belem, Brazil, in November. Both Brazil and the UAE laid out robust NDCs ahead of the initial February deadline. 'Ambition and finance go hand in hand,' Mr Al Suwaidi added. 'The world will be watching closely to see whether these NDCs rise to the level of ambition that we truly need.' Mr Al Suwaidi, a seasoned climate negotiator and Cop28 director general, praised Brazil's leadership skill, noting the country's track record of inclusive dialogue and its symbolic role as steward of the Amazon. 'I have great confidence in the Brazilian residency, their diplomatic skills have been evident throughout the climate negotiations, and was on full display during their successful G20 presidency last year.' EU's NDC's on track to meet new deadline Discussions at Cop30 are expected to focus on whether national climate plans will collectively keep humanity on track to meet the Paris Agreement's goals, as well as on the mobilisation of $1.3 trillion in climate finance hammered in at climate talks at Cop29. At Cop29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, Marina Silva, Brazil's Minister of Environment, described it as the finance Cop but claimed Cop30 would be the Cop of NDCs. Climate activists hope more can be achieved in Brazil than in Baku. EU ambassador to the UAE, Lucie Berger, confirmed to The National that the bloc is on track to submit its updated contribution by September, but noted that all 27 member states must align through democratic processes. Ms Berger pointed to Cop28 in Dubai as a turning point, where global agreement was reached on transitioning away from fossil fuels and tripling renewable energy capacity. 'We've shown that coalition-building around shared causes works,' she said. 'Now we need to bring that same spirit to Cop30.' Ms Berger also highlighted the Amazon as a fitting host for the summit's 30th milestone. 'We need to see measurable, inclusive progress on nature, biodiversity, and deforestation,' she said. On the ground, she added that the EU and the UAE are looking to co-operate on clean energy projects in the Middle East and North Africa, as well as explore co-operation on carbon trading and pricing. 'I think we're currently looking for more strategic partners and the UAE comes naturally to mind,' she said. What is at stake? For Pacific nations on the front lines of climate disruption, firm national and financial commitments cannot come soon enough. Fiji's ambassador to the UAE, Siddiq Koya, warned that time is running out for communities facing rising seas, worsening storms and crop loss. 'This is the last batch of NDCs that matter,' he said. 'For the Pacific, 1.5°C is not a policy preference – it's a red line for survival.' He stressed the need for finance systems that are accessible and tailored to vulnerable nations' needs. 'We are delivering, but we cannot deliver alone,' he said, mentioning loss of coral reefs, forced relocations and unsustainable rebuilding cycles. Christoph Klarmann, Chargé dÁffaires of the German embassy, echoed those concerns. Recounting a recent landslide in the Swill Village of Blatten caused by glacial melt, he warned: 'Climate change is not just a climate emergency. It is actually a human emergency. The consequences affect water, food, health, security and ultimately peace.' Germany, he added, remains committed to its net zero target by 2045, and views the UAE's new climate law and corporate decarbonisation requirements as positive progress.