Empower buys Dubai International Airport’s district cooling systems for $299m

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower), a joint venture of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and TECOM Group, has acquired the district cooling systems of Dubai International Airport for AED 1.1 billion ($299.5 million).

The total cooling capacity of the airport’s district cooling systems is 110,000 refrigeration tons (RT), which covers the equivalent of 11 times the consumption of the world’s tallest tower — Burj Khalifa.

Under the terms of the deal, Empower will own and operate all the existing district cooling infrastructure of Dubai International Airport, including all its facilities and complexes.

The infrastructure being sold comprises five units.

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation acquires Dubai International Airport’s district cooling systems for $299m. Photo courtesy of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.

Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum — President of Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said: “The deal is a part of the AED 25 billion Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project portfolio announced by the Government of Dubai’s Department of Finance (DOF) at the Dubai International PPP Conference which was held last month at the Expo 2020.

“With this acquisition, the Dubai Aviation City Corporation has made a big leap through its partnership with Empower, the global leader of the environmentally friendly district cooling industry and in adopting innovative technologies.”