Empower signs contract for Al Sufouh 2 district cooling plant with 23,400 refrigeration tons capacity
Empower awards contract for a 23,400 refrigeration-ton district cooling plant in Al Sufouh 2; construction is underway and completion is targeted for Q3 2027.
Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) has awarded a contract and begun construction of a new Al Sufouh 2 district cooling plant with a production capacity of 23,400 refrigeration tons to support Dubai’s accelerating urban development. The Empower Al Sufouh 2 district cooling plant is designed to supply chilled water to mixed-use developments, hotels, offices and residential complexes in the growing coastal precinct. Empower confirmed the build is progressing under its internal projects team and is on schedule for delivery in the third quarter of 2027.
Contract and project scope
Empower confirmed that the contract covers turnkey construction works for the Al Sufouh 2 district cooling plant, which will have an installed capacity of 23,400 refrigeration tons. The project is part of Empower’s broader investment in expanding district cooling infrastructure across Dubai to meet rising demand from new developments and redevelopment projects.
The plant will serve a mix of commercial towers, hospitality venues, educational institutions and residential complexes in Al Sufouh 2, including the nearby Innovation Centre and several planned development plots. Empower said the facility will be integrated into its existing network to provide continuous chilled-water supply through exchange stations to customer buildings.
Construction timeline and oversight
Works on the site have commenced in line with Empower’s approved schedule, with in-house project managers overseeing delivery and coordination with contractors. Empower stated that major civil and mechanical installation phases are planned to run through the coming months, with finishing works and commissioning scheduled ahead of the Q3 2027 completion target.
Empower’s direct supervision is intended to streamline procurement and reduce interface risks between civil, mechanical and electrical scopes. The company will also coordinate closely with Dubai authorities to ensure compliance with permitting, health and safety, and utility connection requirements during the build phase.
Technical design and energy systems
The Al Sufouh 2 plant will incorporate advanced district cooling equipment and systems to maximize operational efficiency and resilience. Key features include thermal energy storage (TES) systems to shift cooling loads and improve grid flexibility, and heat-exchange-based chilled-water distribution to customer substations.
Empower also plans to use treated sewage effluent (TSE) as a non-potable water source within the cooling process where feasible, reducing potable water demand and improving overall resource efficiency. The plant design focuses on modularity to allow phased commissioning and future capacity scaling as local demand evolves.
Environmental and efficiency aims
Energy and water efficiency are central to the plant’s specification, with design measures aimed at lowering electricity use and cutting CO2 emissions per cooling ton. Empower highlighted that adopting TES and TSE, alongside high-efficiency chillers and optimized controls, will contribute to emission reductions and support Dubai’s climate commitments.
The project aligns with the UAE and Dubai targets on carbon neutrality and the green-building agenda, by enabling customers to meet sustainability certifications more readily through centralized, efficient cooling. Centralised district cooling typically reduces aggregate energy consumption compared with decentralized air-conditioning in high-density urban areas.
Coverage and customer sectors
The new plant is expected to meet the cooling needs of a wide set of customers in Al Sufouh 2, including mixed-use developments, office towers, hotels, residential complexes and institutional buildings. By extending Empower’s network, the facility will provide a reliable, centrally managed service that simplifies owners’ and developers’ building systems.
Empower’s network expansion supports Dubai’s masterplans for coastal districts where demand for high-performance cooling rises with increased hospitality, office and residential activity. Centralised supply also enables easier adoption of future low-carbon sources of energy should such options become available for the network.
Strategic role in Dubai’s infrastructure expansion
The Al Sufouh 2 district cooling project underlines Empower’s strategy to scale capacity in step with Dubai’s urban growth and major development pipelines. The addition of 23,400 refrigeration tons will bolster the operator’s ability to meet peak-season loads and reduce pressure on individual building systems.
Building new district cooling capacity contributes to broader resilience in the city’s utilities landscape, supporting uninterrupted services during extreme weather and peak demand. Empower’s continual investment in network and plant upgrades aims to maintain supply reliability while advancing sustainability objectives.
As construction proceeds, Empower will continue to coordinate with developers and municipal stakeholders to achieve timely commissioning and seamless customer onboarding in Al Sufouh 2. The new plant is positioned to play a central role in delivering efficient, lower-carbon cooling to one of Dubai’s evolving urban corridors.
