The local Emirates Central Cooling Systems Corporation (Empower) is planning to invest AED15m ($4m) to expand the capacity of a district cooling plant in the Business Bay area.

The expansion will increase the capacity of the Business Bay Executive Towers district cooling project to 45,000 refrigeration tonnes, a 14 per cent increase. The expansion is scheduled for completion in 2014.

Empower was established as a joint venture between Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) and Dubai Technology and Media Free Zone (Tecom) in 2003 to provide district cooling services in Dubai.

In February 2013, Empower awarded the local Al-Habtoor Soil Group a contract for carrying out shoring and enabling works on a new 45,000RT district cooling plant in Business Bay.