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August 2025 ASHRAE ANNOUNCES MENA-SPECIFIC HVAC DESIGN TRAINING COURSE JCI FINALISES SALE OF RESIDENTIAL AND L-C HVAC BUSINESS TO BOSCH US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ TECHNICAL INSIGHT ‘It is possible to achieve 0.6 kW/TR’ Salah Nezar, New Murabba PERSPECTIVES Reimagining conservation through buildings Ahmed Mahrous, Johnson Controls District Cooling: At the centre of urban resilience H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, Empower Precise moisture control in low-humidity environments Atul Pahune, Bry-Air NEWS •ALEC receives LEED Platinum, Gold certifications for Dubai offices •China Heat Pump Alliance reports acceleration in adoption of SDCT •Empower reports 7.1% increase in DC use in H1 2025 •Kelvion in data centre initiative •LU-VE Group begins production of ‘Giants’ EHDV dry coolers in China •Ziehl-Abegg launches AI-generated podcast on ventilation What will it take to banish outdated and poorly installed cooling systems? POOR IAQ INFLATED ENERGY BILLS ANDPRESENTS OFFICIAL PUBLICATION ccme.news/ccme-events 2 ND EDITION 11 TH EDITION 12 TH EDITION RADISSON BLU HOTEL & CONVENTION CENTER Riyadh Minhal (Al Jawhara Ballroom), King Abdulaziz Road, Kingdom of Saudi ArabiaVOL. 20 NO. 8 AUGUST 2025 14 24 26 30 12 06 www.ccme.news 3 page COVER STORY The air we breathe Outdated and poorly installed cooling systems continue to do more than just inflate energy bills – they strain HVAC performance, silently erode Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and jeopardise occupant health PERSPECTIVES Why District Cooling is at the centre of urban resilience As global temperatures soar and cities face growing cooling demands, District Cooling emerges at the centre of sustainable urban solutions, offering resilience for the region’s rapidly expanding urban landscape, says H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, CEO, Empower Reimagining conservation through buildings The cities we inhabit are deeply entangled with the health of our planet, says Ahmed Mahrous, Sales Director – HVAC & IREF, Johnson Controls Precise moisture control in low-humidity environments Atul Pahune, Assistant Vice President, Bry-Air, speaks on harnessing the power of desiccant dehumidifiers in revolutionising preservation in the food industry EDITORIAL CAMPAIGN: REFRIGERANTS REVIEW GCC region refrigerant transition report Utpal Joshi, DX Consultant Sales Director, Daikin MEA, elaborates on the technical pathways and strategic priorities The crucialness of Operating Pressure, Critical Temperature These two are vital aspects for consideration when it comes to selecting refrigerants for high-ambient conditions, says Dr-Eng. Jean de BERNARDI, Technical Director, Honeywell Refrigerants ‘Refrigerants are in the mix for smarter cooling’ As manufacturers, it is important to reimagine how cooling systems are designed, manufactured and experienced, says Tugrul Kumal, Deputy Director, MENA, Hisense White Goods Sales – Brand & OEM REGULARS 32 Regional News 38 Global News 04 eDItor'S note 18 TECHNICAL INSIGHT Brain meets chill Salah Nezar, Senior Director – Design Management, New Murabba, speaks on how AI is revolutionising District Cooling efficiency in ways unimaginable ANALYSIS District Cooling versus VRF/DX Farhan Juratli, Associate Director – District Cooling, Dubai Holding, conducts a comparative lifecycle analysis of District Cooling, VRF and DX systems for a 1,000-villa UAE development 08 16August 2025 4 I N a world that often normalises hype and loudness, Farhan Juratli, Associate Director – District Cooling, Dubai Holding, and Judicial Engineering Expert, UAE Ministry of Justice, endears himself through upholding a certain elegance and firmness of conviction in his communication. His words carry the weight of thought and the backing of scientific analysis. He is unsparing but in an understated way. Farhan has written an analytical piece comparing District Cooling with the VRF technology. He has subjected the two to a severe test based on parameters he feels ought not to be ignored or dismissed. And he has pronounced a verdict. Now, it might not go down well with one of the camps, but in his considered opinion, that is what it is. My team and I at Climate Control Middle East have allowed for the article to appear in this issue, in the best traditions of fair and objective gatekeeping. Our permitting it a place is not an indication of any bias; it is, in fact, an invitation for a healthy discussion, and we are happy to allow an equal magazine space in the very next issue for the other camp to respond. Moving on, this issue is home to yet another set of articles on refrigerants, under the campaign ‘Refrigerants Review’. We have not one but three manufacturers holding court on topics they feel so strongly about, and we ask you to read through and share your views. That way, we progress towards what ought to be an acceptable and climate- friendly ecosystem. The September issue will be home to the inaugural edition of another editorial campaign, called ‘IEQ and Fertility’. It is as emotive a topic as refrigerants and involves the coming together of multiple disciplines in the fields of healthcare and engineering. The campaign, to run for at least six months, will be an opportunity to probe the multiple aspects of the topic and to share granular insights – all leading to a set of outcomes, which we hope will benefit humanity in ways unimaginable. In the coming months, we ask each and every one of you to give us the luxury of time and attention and to set cynicism aside as we endeavour to present the vast science of specialised knowledge for you to make informed decisions at the time of planning any built environment, for fertility as a goal cannot be achieved only in the sterile spaces of healthcare facilities. Jeremy McDonald Principal of Guth DeConzo Consulting Engineers, in New York, writes on IAQ and building tracing. He served as the technical consultant to the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority in development of an IAQ guideline for Higher Education in NY: “Covid-19 Response Guide, State University of New York”. Dan Mizesko Managing Partner/President, US Chiller Services International, writes on issues relating to chilled water systems, including operation & maintenance. Nabil Shahin Managing Director, AHRI MENA, writes on HVACR- specific regulation issues. Dr Iyad Al-Attar Independent air filtration consultant, writes on specific science and technology issues relating to Indoor Air Quality, including airborne particles. Omnia Halawani Co-Founder & Co-CEO, GRFN Global, writes on MEP consultancy- related issues. Krishnan Unni Madathil Auditor, Bin Khadim, Radha & Co. Chartered Accountants, carrying out an analysis of the market, writes on business opportunities for the HVACR industry. Editor Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Online & Social Media Nivedita Vijayan marketing@cpi-industry.com Editorial Assistant Arushi Menon features@cpi-industry.com Advertising Enquiries Frédéric Paillé +971 50 7147204 fred@cpi-industry.com Judy Wang Our representative in Asia (except India) +852 307 80 826 judywang2000@vip.126.com Deep Karani Our representative in North America +1 365 885-6849 deep.karani@cpimediagroup.com Design Head Ulysses Galgo uly@cpi-industry.com Webmaster Chris Lopez chris@cpi-industry.com Database/Subscriptions Manager Purwanti Srirejeki purwanti@cpi-industry.com Published by Founder, CPI Media Group Dominic De Sousa (1959-2015) Co-Founder & Commercial Director Frédéric Paillé fred@cpi-industry.com EMPANELLED COLUMNISTSCo-Founder & Editorial Director Surendar Balakrishnan surendar@cpi-industry.com Head Office PO Box 13700, Dubai, UAE Web: www.cpi-industry.com Printed by: Jaguar Printing Press L.L.C © Copyright 2025 CPI Industry. All rights reserved. While the publishers have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of all information in this magazine, they will not be held responsible for any errors therein. Two approaches, two campaigns Visit our website: climatecontrolme.com/digital Also available at August 2025 ASHRAE ANNOUNCES MENA-SPECIFIC HVAC DESIGN TRAINING COURSE JCI FINALISES SALE OF RESIDENTIAL AND L-C HVAC BUSINESS TO BOSCH PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ US$ PUBLICATION LICENSED BY IMPZ TECHNICAL INSIGHT ‘It is possible to achieve 0.6 kW/TR’ Salah Nezar, New Murabba PERSPECTIVES Reimagining conservation through buildings Ahmed Mahrous, Johnson Controls District Cooling: At the centre of urban resilience H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar, Empower Precise moisture control in low-humidity environments Atul Pahune, Bry-Air NEWS • ALEC receives LEED Platinum, Gold certifications for Dubai offices • China Heat Pump Alliance reports acceleration in adoption of SDCT • Empower reports 7.1% increase in DC use in H1 2025 • Kelvion in data centre initiative • LU-VE Group begins production of ‘Giants’ EHDV dry coolers in China • Ziehl-Abegg launches AI-generated podcast on ventilation What will it take to banish outdated and poorly installed cooling systems? POOR IAQ INFLATED ENERGY BILLS AND Get the next issue of Climate Control Middle Eastearly! Surendar Balakrishnan Editor @BSurendar_HVACRwww.refrigbuyersguide.com FOR ADVERTISING OPPORTUNITIES EMAIL: advertising@cpi-industry.com THE LARGEST DATABASE OF REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS & SUPPLIERS IN THE MIDDLE EAST Refrigeration BUYERS’ GUIDE 2026 Your reference hub to the refrigeration industry in the Middle East LOOKING FOR REFRIGERATION PRODUCTS? LAUNCHING AT Book an advertising package now for 2026 and get 3 months’ FREE online exposure!August 2025 6 PERSPECTIVE As global temperatures soar and cities face growing cooling demands, District Cooling emerges at the centre of sustainable urban solutions, offering energy efficiency, reduced carbon emissions and resilience for the Middle East’s rapidly expanding urban landscape, says H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar , CEO, Empower The consequences are stark. Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and severity, impacting economies and communities worldwide. According to the Emergency Events Database (EM-DAT), 2024 witnessed 393 major climate-related disasters, resulting in economic losses exceeding USD 242 C LIMATE change stands as the defining challenge of our era, placing the world at a critical crossroads. In 2024, global temperatures hit an all-time high, about 1.55 degrees C above pre-industrial levels, driven by over a century of fossil fuel consumption and unsustainable use of energy and land. billion, claiming more than 16,000 lives and affecting over 167 million people. Recent scientific evidence from The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has confirmed that human activity is entirely responsible for this unprecedented warming trend, while the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) warns of an 80% probability that at least one year between 2025 and 2029 will surpass 2024 as the warmest year on record. The world is in a race to decarbonise. Yet, every year, traditional air conditioning systems add to peak electricity demand, straining power grids and driving carbon emissions higher. The question is not whether we need cooling; the question is: Can we cool without heating the planet further? For the Middle East, these global realities translate into mounting challenges. Rising temperatures and sustained urban growth are driving demand for cooling solutions at an unprecedented pace. In this context, District Cooling has emerged as a strategic response—delivering measurable benefits in energy efficiency, emissions reduction and sustainability alignment. Why District Cooling matters now Cooling is among the largest contributors to electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions globally. Empowerwww.ccme.news 7 7.87% through 2032. This expansion is being driven by increasing demand for sustainable cooling solutions in cities and urban areas, particularly amid the record-breaking heatwaves experienced worldwide in 2024 and 2025. Against this backdrop, Empower has emerged as a key player in advancing the transition to energy-efficient cooling solutions, supporting regional sustainability goals as well as long-term climate resilience. There is an urgent need to adopt efficient cooling systems and reduce reliance on conventional air conditioning. District Cooling provides a strategic solution, particularly in warmer climates, offering a more sustainable alternative for space cooling. It can consume up to 50% less energy than traditional systems while significantly reducing carbon emissions. Its adoption supports national and regional sustainability targets and aligns with the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy. The UAE is positioning itself as a global model for advancing low-carbon, innovative solutions that respond to climate challenges, ensure resilience in meeting future demand and safeguard the environment for generations to come. District Cooling is an innovative, reliable and energy-efficient solution. Unlike conventional air conditioning systems designed for individual buildings, a single District Cooling plant can serve thousands of customers across multiple buildings. These plants also have a considerably longer lifespan, typically 30- 40 years, compared to a maximum of 15 years for traditional systems. In addition to meeting the cooling requirements of all applications, District Cooling delivers greater efficiency while reducing operating and maintenance costs. It also adds value to buildings by freeing up significant space while reducing vibration and noise problems. Globally, the momentum for District Cooling is growing. The market was valued at approximately USD 26.79 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach USD 28.35 billion in 2025, with a compound annual growth rate of CPI Industry accepts no liability for the views or opinions expressed in this column, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided here. The writer is the CEO of Empower. He may be reached through writing to Noura.Jamal@empower.ae. PRODUCED BY OFFICIAL PUBLICATION THEME: Exploring the potential of heat pumps for reducing the strain on the energy grid in the GCC region? 12 NOVEMBER 2025 I DUBAI, UAE U nimaginable till a few years ago, heat pumps in high-ambient conditions have climbed up the engineering feasibility charts. Enough to warrant a conference, wherein manufacturers and suppliers of the technology can present region-specific case studies of success to potential clients. And that is what the inaugural edition of the World Heat Pumps Conference is all about. Listen to manufacturers and suppliers present a business case applicable to multiple sectoral end-users, which carries the promise of reduced emissions (more climate-friendly buildings) and lower total cost of ownership (TCO).August 2025 8 TECHNICAL INSIGHT Salah Nezar of New Murabba speaks on how AI is revolutionising District Cooling efficiency in ways unimaginable energy management for large-scale infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East. New Murabba aims to redefine the concept of smart built environments and sustainable urban living on a global scale. More than just the world’s modern downtown, it is founded on cutting- edge natural resource optimisation strategies, integrated from the very inception of its development. New Murabba is leveraging AI- powered predictive modelling, digital twin technologies and integrated energy-efficient solutions to reduce energy demand and carbon emissions, while enhancing real-time resource management based on informative data. These advancements are being delivered through strategic partnerships with leading global technology firms and innovation hubs. At the heart of this transformative vision stands the Mukaab – an iconic, immersive megastructure that masterfully fuses cultural heritage with cutting-edge technological innovation. It serves as a powerful emblem of New Murabba’s commitment to low-carbon design, AI-integrated operations and future- ready infrastructure at every level, in full alignment with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. These groundbreaking initiatives position Saudi Arabia’s giga and mega projects as regional pioneers and influential global contributors to the evolving narrative of sustainability, adaptive design and intelligent building innovation. T HIS paper provides insights from two novel AI-based energy optimisation projects developed under the Sustainability and Innovation function for leading global technology companies across North America. The pioneering initiatives leveraged advanced IoT mapping, granular metering and sophisticated Machine Learning models to significantly improve energy efficiency and provide greater operational visibility for large-scale data centres. The project, in the heart of Silicon Valley, California, achieved a remarkable 40% reduction in energy consumption. In contrast, the pilot, developed in Allin, Texas, is still being refined, with results currently withheld from public disclosure. Building on this global exposure and expertise, this paper also incorporates a valuable perspective from one of the novel testbed projects initiated by Saudi Arabia’s leading District Cooling provider. The pilot use case, conducted on a large District Cooling plant serving one of the mega-developments in Riyadh, further underscores the progress made in leveraging AI solutions for energy optimisation. Led by a well-established international consulting firm specialising in AI and digital solutions, the ongoing study produced a highly accurate predictive model demonstrating an impressive 96% accuracy within two hours. This milestone is considered significant progress in intelligent load demand forecasting and AI and District Cooling Towards livable and sustainable urban environments Amid the climatic challenges and rapid urban expansion shaping major cities in the Middle East, the pursuit of livable, sustainable and energy-efficient urban environments has become a top priority from various perspectives and scales. District Cooling systems represent a transformative approach for modern climate control in this evolving landscape. District Cooling offers scalable, modular configurations that enhance efficacy, sustainability and operational excellence. The District Cooling concept centralises the cooling process by chilling water and delivering it through underground piping, producing a cooling effect on a district- wide scale. The approach offers many benefits related to energy efficiency, carbon emission reduction, integration of clean technologies and appealing urban space planning. In a region where cooling demand can represent 65% of the power demand in summer, these benefits become more than enticing; they become essential to meeting short- and long-term economic growth and prosperity goals. To achieve a stable and efficient operational scheme, cooling demand must be predicted accurately and granularly for a meaningful period. AI analytics represent a powerful enablement tool that provides enormous opportunities for energy optimisation, operational excellence and asset performance management across the lifespan. Seamless integration with Computerised Maintenance Management System www.ccme.news 9 District Cooling while reducing energy wastage. By using accurate predictive models, District Cooling operators and end-users can foresee spikes and drops in cooling demand, allocate resources more efficiently and minimise the overall operation costs. This requires an effective pair of statistical models and Machine Learning implementations, as follows: Statistical Models: These provide high-level understanding of consumption patterns and cyclical variations, and can often be considered baselines or components to be used within hybrid models, such as: Linear Regression, which is a traditional method that studies past cooling demand with regard to major predictors, such as ambient air temperature, humidity or occupancy proxies. It is only capable of identifying fundamental consumption trends and would typically use hyperbolic factors for similarly complex, non-linear relationships. Time Series Models (SARIMA): The Seasonal Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average model is beneficial for forecasting cooling loads with deep cyclical characteristics, which is standard with climatic energy demands. This model can capture short-term fluctuations to long-term cycles, making it a handy tool for companies when planning for an optimised cooling supply strategy. Machine Learning Models: AI models significantly elevate predictive accuracy by acquiring complex, non- obvious patterns residing in massive, multi-variate, time-based cooling load granular data. Predictive analytics often identifies and resolves these patterns far better than traditional statistical methods, particularly in quickly changing environments. The models considered are as follows: Ensemble Learning: This includes Random Forest & Gradient Boosting models, like XGBoost and LightGBM). These powerful (CMMS) is critical for optimising operational efficiency and maintaining data integrity. Predictive analytics capabilities can proactively manage fluctuations in cooling demand by varying the outputs and limiting systems’ interdependency inefficiencies during different operational modes. Role of AI in demand predictions and failure diagnostics AI-powered load prediction makes District Cooling plants much more innovative and resilient. By anticipating demand profiles, AI helps operators predict anomalies through alerts and equipment failure diagnosis before they increase in severity. These proactive features are essential in this region, where cooling demands are high and volatile and represent a severe burden on the power grid during the hot season. Key elements monitored by Machine Learning models include the following factors: Weather: Air temperature, humidity, wind speed and solar radiation are all great contributors to cooling usage. AI models can layer on localised microclimate data to provide sufficient coverage of the multiple weather types present in the Kingdom. Occupancy and use: Buildings generate a lot more heat at peak occupancy. AI learns the unique and sometimes rapid changes in usage transition of the diverse building typologies, such as residential tall towers, malls, multi-dimensional commercial buildings and large-scale mixed-use developments. Variations in part loads and peak loads: AI can detect and monitor hourly, daily, weekly and seasonal changes in cooling demand and mitigate the risk of service requests during part-load and peak-load phases. Various techniques are used to integrate the above factors in a single or multiple prediction model to meet the intended goals. Leveraging AI techniques for real-time decisions Utilisation of advanced AI methods for load predictions and consequent operational improvements is paramount to achieving maximum efficiency in Next >