Energy

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower) has inaugurated an advanced Command Control Centre (CCC) at its new headquarters in Dubai.

Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation PJSC (Empower) has inaugurated an advanced Command Control Centre (CCC) at its new headquarters in Dubai, revealing that the district cooling provider is leading regional efforts to implement digital transformation initiatives and advanced industrial technologies

The launch represents a key component of the company's technological ecosystem, designed to support round-the-clock operations and ensure an impressive 99.99% network reliability. Findings from the inauguration indicate that Empower is moving beyond traditional management, with a growing focus on deploying digital technologies at scale to improve operational performance across the emirate.

According to the announcement, the new facility reinforces Empower’s pioneering position in adopting smart systems. This commitment is reflected in its operational priorities, heavily utilising advanced predictive capabilities that identify potential malfunctions before they occur, thereby minimising unplanned downtime and enhancing service reliability for customers.

“The new Command Control Centre represents a significant step forward in Empower’s journey towards establishing a smarter, more efficient and flexible operating model that keeps pace with the rapidly increasing demand for district cooling services in Dubai. The centre reflects the company’s commitment to employing the latest digital solutions and smart systems in managing its operations, enhancing real-time monitoring capabilities, improving response efficiency, and supporting service continuity in line with the highest standards of reliability and dependability. This step is an extension of Empower’s approach to strategic investment in digital infrastructure, ensuring network readiness and operational efficiency, while further strengthening its network reliability, which has reached 99.99%.” said H.E. Ahmad Bin Shafar.

AI drives operational transformation

Artificial intelligence continues to play a central role in the company's operational evolution. The centre operates through an integrated platform leveraging advanced artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics, and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies.

Rather than being limited to isolated applications, these technologies are seamlessly integrated into Empower’s various operational technology environments, including energy management systems, SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition) systems, and security and safety networks. Operators are using these systems to provide a comprehensive, real-time view of all processes, monitoring and managing plants across Dubai 24x7 through interactive screens that deliver accurate data and enable faster responses to operational changes.

“The centre provides an integrated operational system that supports proactive, data-driven decision-making, enables the prediction of operational challenges before they occur, reduces unplanned outages, and improves energy efficiency, positively impacting both organisational performance and environmental sustainability. At Empower, we continue to embrace innovation as a fundamental pillar in advancing our operations and enhancing our ability to meet the needs of our customers and major urban development projects in the emirate, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and supporting Dubai’s journey towards greater sustainability and global leadership in district cooling,” added Bin Shafar.

Sustainability and innovation remain priorities

As digital adoption accelerates, Empower is prioritising technologies capable of delivering measurable environmental and business outcomes. Advanced analytical dashboards are actively supporting strategic decision-making, allowing management to monitor key performance indicators and analyse operational trends. Furthermore, the proactive nature of the centre contributes directly to improved energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions, keeping the organisation firmly aligned with the UAE’s sustainability goals.

The Command Control Centre represents a significant addition to the broader portfolio of advanced technologies embedded across Empower's operations. As the sector becomes increasingly advanced, Empower is expanding its use of automated digital systems, smart metering, operational databases, and thermal energy storage (TES) solutions across its 90 plants, highlighting a clear strategic intent to future-proof its industrial infrastructure.

Around US$2.2 trillion is expected to go to grids, storage, low-emissions fuels, nuclear, renewables, efficiency and electrification in 2026. (Image source: Adobe Stock)

Global energy investment is projected to reach US$3.4tn in 2026 as countries continue to strengthen electricity systems, expand clean energy deployment and invest in more resilient energy infrastructure, according to the International Energy Agency's (IEA) World Energy Investment 2026 report

The report forecasts that around US$2.2tn will be directed towards grids, energy storage, low-emissions fuels, nuclear power, renewables, efficiency measures and electrification this year. Investment in oil, natural gas and coal is expected to total approximately US$1.2tn.

Electricity-related spending remains the dominant theme in global energy markets. Investment in electricity supply and infrastructure is set to reach nearly US$1.6tn in 2026, rising to almost US$2tn when end-use electrification is included. Spending on electricity grids is expected to approach US$550bn, while battery storage investment is projected to exceed US$100bn.

Renewable energy continues to attract significant capital, with investment in renewable power projects expected to reach US$665bn, including US$365bn for solar energy alone. Nuclear energy is also gaining momentum, with annual investment exceeding US$80bn and close to 80GW of new nuclear capacity currently under construction across 15 countries.

However, the report notes that energy security has become an increasingly important factor in investment decisions following the latest disruption to global energy markets.

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the effective closure of the Strait of Hormuz have triggered fresh concerns over the reliability of energy supplies and international trade routes. According to the IEA, the resulting supply shock is prompting governments and companies to reassess risk and accelerate diversification strategies.

The impact has been particularly pronounced in Asia and the Middle East, where disruptions to shipping flows through the Strait of Hormuz have affected energy markets and reinforced the need for alternative supply routes and domestically available energy resources.

"We are in the midst of the largest energy security crisis the world has ever faced – and I believe this will reshape investment strategies globally, with parallels to the major changes the energy world witnessed after the oil shocks of the 1970s," said IEA executive director Fatih Birol.

"We are already seeing intensified efforts by both producer and consumer countries to diversify trade routes and energy sources – such as advancing new pipelines and other supply infrastructure, on the one hand, and turning more to domestically available resources, on the other. These range from renewables and nuclear to coal, oil and gas, in some cases – as well as broader measures to strengthen electricity systems, expand electrification and accelerate energy efficiency."

While oil prices remain elevated, upstream oil investment is expected to decline for a third consecutive year, falling below US$500bn. The report attributes this to uncertainty over the duration of the price spike, long project lead times, supply chain constraints and tighter offshore rig markets.

Natural gas investment, meanwhile, is forecast to reach US$330bn, the highest level in a decade, supported by new LNG export developments, particularly in the United States and Qatar.

The report also points to rising investment in energy efficiency, with approximately US$350bn being invested globally each year. More than 20 countries have already announced new efficiency policies in response to the current crisis.

At the same time, increased market volatility linked to the Middle East conflict is raising financing costs and slowing investment decisions in some regions. The IEA warns that higher financing costs could disproportionately affect capital-intensive energy projects, particularly in emerging and developing economies.

As governments and industry respond to another major energy shock, the report suggests that diversification, electrification and stronger energy security measures will remain central to investment decisions in the years ahead.

Read the full World Energy Investment 2026 report for a comprehensive analysis of global and regional energy investment trends here

Industrial heat pumps are emerging as a cornerstone of the global energy transition, offering manufacturers and utilities a highly efficient alternative to fossil fuel-based heating systems as pressure mounts to cut carbon emissions and improve energy security.

More than 70% of industrial process heat worldwide is still generated using fossil fuels, making industrial heating one of the largest contributors to global energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. However, the growing adoption of electrified heat technologies is beginning to reshape the sector.

Industrial heat pumps can upgrade ambient and waste heat into usable temperatures of up to 150°C, enabling factories and district heating networks to reduce reliance on conventional gas and coal-fired systems. Because heat pumps generate several times more thermal energy than the electricity they consume, they are considered among the most efficient technologies for industrial decarbonisation.

When powered by renewable electricity, the systems can virtually eliminate CO₂ emissions linked to industrial heating operations.

German drive technology specialist Innomotics is expanding its role in the sector by supplying high- and low-voltage motors alongside medium-voltage drives for industrial heat pump compressors. The company says its systems are engineered for continuous operation of up to five years without scheduled shutdowns, while delivering system availability rates of up to 99.9%

The technology is already being deployed in several landmark European energy projects.

In the Netherlands, a major district heating scheme operated by Eneco uses heat recovered from 65 million litres of treated wastewater daily to provide sustainable heating to approximately 20,000 households in Utrecht and Nieuwegein. The system generates 27 MW of thermal energy, covers around 15% of Utrecht’s heating demand and cuts annual CO₂ emissions by roughly 30,000 tonnes.

Meanwhile, at BASF’s Ludwigshafen site in Germany, Innomotics is supplying key drive technology for what is described as the world’s most powerful industrial heat pump. The installation is expected to generate up to 500,000 tonnes of steam annually, helping reduce industrial emissions while supporting large-scale electrification of manufacturing processes.

Further projects include wastewater-powered district heating in Amiens, France, where nearly 26,800 households are supplied with renewable heat, and an industrial paper mill installation in Finland designed to recover and reuse process heat to improve operational efficiency.

Michael Reichle, chief executive officer of Innomotics, said industrial heat pumps were becoming “a key technology for the energy transition”, enabling industries to lower emissions while maintaining cost-effective and reliable operations.

ENOC Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Allied Biofuels Holding to evaluate opportunities for the supply and distribution of Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) and electro-synthetic SAF (e-SAF) across regional and international aviation markets.

The proposed collaboration will focus on fuels expected to be produced at Allied Biofuels’ upcoming integrated production complex in Uzbekistan. Under the agreement, both companies will establish a joint working group to study the commercial and operational viability of creating a long-term supply and distribution framework for the alternative aviation fuels.

The initiative forms part of wider efforts within the aviation sector to reduce carbon emissions through lower-carbon fuel alternatives. SAF is increasingly viewed as one of the most practical short-term options for cutting emissions from air travel, although global supply remains limited compared with rising demand from airlines and regulators.

As part of the assessment process, ENOC and Allied Biofuels will review logistics, certification requirements and distribution channels before determining the potential for a formal long-term supply arrangement once the Uzbekistan facility becomes operational.

Hussain Sultan Lootah, Group CEO of ENOC, said the development of a sustainable aviation fuel ecosystem requires coordination across the entire value chain, including production, transportation, certification and fuel distribution.

He noted that the agreement supports the UAE’s Sustainable Aviation Fuel Roadmap 2030 and the country’s broader Net Zero 2050 ambitions, while also reinforcing efforts to position the UAE as a leading hub for cleaner aviation solutions.

Allied Biofuels’ facility is being designed to manufacture both SAF and e-SAF, reflecting growing industry interest in multiple pathways for aviation decarbonisation. Electro-synthetic fuels are produced using renewable electricity and captured carbon dioxide, and are considered a potential long-term solution for reducing lifecycle emissions from aviation.

Alfred Benedict, Managing Director of Allied Biofuels Holding, said the agreement with ENOC represents an important step towards creating a scalable and commercially viable supply platform for sustainable aviation fuels.

He added that ENOC’s regional fuel distribution capabilities and aviation sector expertise could help accelerate market access for SAF and e-SAF produced at the Uzbekistan project.

The partnership highlights increasing momentum across the Middle East and wider aviation industry to expand sustainable fuel infrastructure as airlines and governments seek practical pathways towards lower-emission air transport.