District cooling emerges as a highly effective solution for urban cooling without exacerbating global warming, achieving up to 50% energy savings over traditional cooling methods. This was emphasized as COP28 concluded in Dubai, as noted by an expert in the field.
The UN Environment Programme highlights the escalating demand for cooling systems, like air conditioners and refrigerators, in response to rising temperatures.
These systems not only consume substantial energy but often employ refrigerants that contribute to global warming. Traditional cooling methods are significant contributors to climate change, accounting for over 7% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.
Ziad Al Bawaliz of Danfoss, a Danish firm specializing in energy-efficient technologies, discussed this at the COP28 sidelines with Khaleej Times. “District cooling is not only more efficient than standard air conditioning units but also aids in the shift to eco-friendlier refrigerants and mitigates urban heat islands in cities like Dubai,” he said.
He lauded the UAE and the region for their pioneering efforts in climate initiatives and mentioned Danfoss’s collaboration with UAE-based Tabreed on various projects. Al Bawaliz stressed the critical nature of cooling, especially in the GCC region, which is warming approximately twice as fast as the global average.
The first-ever Global Cooling Watch Report, unveiled at COP28, forecasts that cooling demand could triple by 2050. “This could double greenhouse gas emissions from cooling by 2050, surpassing the total annual emissions of the US today,” Al Bawaliz pointed out.
At COP28, over 60 countries committed to the Global Cooling Pledge, focusing on reducing emissions from cooling, encompassing cold chain and space cooling.
He highlighted that emissions could be slashed by 97% by 2050 using available technology. “District cooling stands out as one of the most promising and efficient methods to cool and reduce carbon emissions in buildings. It can save up to 50% of energy compared to traditional systems.
“We expect similar energy-saving trends in cold chain and refrigeration as electricity demand increases with the expansion of the cold chain to meet the needs of a growing population for food, medicine, and vaccines.”
Danfoss’s recent study indicates that utilizing energy at optimal times could annually cut 40 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in the UK and EU.
“The deployment of demand-side flexibility technologies can lower demand during expensive peak hours and reduce the amount of fossil fuels in the energy mix. According to our analysis from the EU and UK, using energy at the right time through a roll-out of demand-side flexibility technology can save 40 million tonnes of CO2 emissions each year by 2030 in those countries alone.”
“In fact, the average consumer could save 7% on their electricity bill by 2030 and 10% by 2050. Given the vast investments being made in sustainability and renewable energy by GCC countries, there is no reason why this logic could not apply also to other electricity markets across the world such as the UAE.”
