District cooling industry leaders to tackle lagging tech advancement at summit

The Middle East’s largest gathering of district cooling experts are coming together in November to address the potential danger of stagnating technological development in the industry.

The seventh edition of the Middle East District Cooling Summit (MEDCS), organized by Fleming Gulf, is scheduled for November 10 and 11 at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha, Qatar.

District cooling works by delivering chilled water via insulated underground pipelines, which is pumped into buildings to keep them cool.

George Berbari, CEO of DC Pro Engineering UAE and the summit’s co-chair, said it’s worrying that the district cooling industry still applies 10-year-old technology to today’s challenges. Berbari said the only technological advancement in district cooling over the last decade is improved efficiency from chiller manufacturers.

“The district cooling industry faces the danger of stagnation as its technology is advancing at a much slower pace than other heating, ventilation and air-conditioning applications,” Berbari said. “As a result, newer and ultra-efficient systems pose a threat to district cooling in terms of better efficiency.”

Among the summit’s key themes is “The Future of Renewable in the District Cooling Sector – Feasibility and Cost Implications.” The topic will be discussed at a district cooling stakeholders panel scheduled for the first day of the summit.

Other themes for the Middle East District Cooling Summit include regulation standards, using treated sewage water or seawater for cooling, power optimization, and sustainability.