District Cooling (DC) is a Water Cooled air-conditioning solution that consists of a central cooling plant supplying chilled water through underground chilled water piping network.
Compared to conventional cooling methods, which are Air Cooled systems (AC), District Cooling (DC) has the potential to reduce energy consumption and lower maintenance and infrastructure costs. As well as being more economically sustainable, DC has a large number of social and environmental benefits. And it has the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, air pollution and noise.
On a social level, DC allows for an increase in quality of life through widely available energy, more available space, and improved landscapes. DC also has the potential to eliminate the use of potable water for cooling purposes, increasing water security across Qatar.
The implementation of DC will present a wide range of benefits to stakeholders, namely:
- Cooling system cost savings
- Reduced energy consumption
- Reduced peak power capacity
- Upgraded user experience
- Increased real estate value
- Enhanced environmental impact
- Improved reliability and availability,
- Faster adoption of new technologies.
Benefits of District Cooling
- Superior electricity efficiency (kW/TR) performance
- 30 -40 % less power demand compared to conventional cooling technologies
- Reduction in power plant and distribution network capacity and associated infrastructure
- Smoother load profile, particularly when thermal storage employed
- Decreased CO¬2 equivalent emissions due to reduction in electricity usage and refrigerant leakage
- Optimized O&M practices.
- Additional demand-side management opportunities where end‐user consumption is metered
- Security of energy and water supply
- Increased real-estate value and reduced ambient noise
District Cooling Department (CD)
Qatar General Electricity & Water cooperation “KAHRAMAA” has established District Cooling Services department (CD) with the intent to regulate and promote district cooling services in Qatar by utilizing best-in-class operational efficiencies in a more sustainable way. The District Cooling department came into existence in October 2012 with the resolution from council of ministry vide reference 825 dated May 2nd 2012. District cooling plant along with better building designs are playing a vital role in reducing electrical demand & power consumption related to air conditioning system, greenhouse gas emissions and obviously would offer numerous technical, commercial and environmental benefits to the State of Qatar. Essential feature of District cooling system is that it provides a flexible infrastructure that enables to integrate a wide range of renewable energy sources.
Ministerial directive on the prohibition of potable water usage in cooling systems
As per Ministerial Directive 20/2013, the use of desalinated water for cooling purposes was prohibited and replaced with the use of Treated Sewage Effluent (TSE) or sea water. Replacing the use of fresh water for cooling purposes with recycled water has economic and environmental benefits, while contributing to an increased water security of the country .
