Abu Dhabi Department of Energy unveils the ‘Water Management in District Cooling Plants’ policy

Abu Dhabi Department of Energy unveils the ‘Water Management in District Cooling Plants’ policy

Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates: In line with its responsibility to regulate and ensure the energy sector’s sustainability in Abu Dhabi, and in accordance with international best practices and standards, the Department of Energy (DoE) has announced its new ‘Water Management in District Cooling Plants’ policy. This new policy supports and continues the DC Regulatory Framework that it issued in 2019.

The new policy aims to regulate the mechanism of identifying potential sources of water that can be used by district cooling providers, such as recycled water, desalinated water, and sea water. This would allow for the usage of low-cost sources that have been deemed to be of acceptable quality after evaluating their capital and operational economic feasibility. and It will also pave the way for evaluation of its compatibility with water discharge standards and environmental regulations to ensure their suitability for use in district cooling systems.

Under the new policy, Water sources can be used in district cooling systems if it proves to be the most feasible and cost-effective source. This requires prior planning in accordance with relevant water codes as well as ensuring availability of installations needed to meet the demand. The policy allows for a blend of water sources,