A century of excellence

MEP Middle East speaks to Rita Chahoud from Tabreed, executive director of the Middle East chapter of the International District Energy Association (IDEA), about the association’s recent centennial in the US and upcoming conference in Dubai.

Can you give us some background on the US event and its importance to IDEA and the district energy industry as a whole?

Since its founding in 1909 as the National District Heating Association, IDEA (as it is currently known) has held an annual conference and trade show every year except 1918 during World War One. The inaugural conference was held in Toledo, Ohio, which was attended by six district steam companies.

Over the years, the annual conference has attracted end users, equipment providers, consultants, campus energy operations personnel and, increasingly, specialist companies that provide financial, legal and consulting services to the industry. It is a highly efficient means to come together and visit with a wide range of technical solutions under one roof, and even more efficient and cost-effective for the exhibitors to be able to meet with and maintain personal contact with so many customers at one time.

One exhibitor, a large multinational, said they had cancelled all other trade show attendance and exhibition this year due to the recession, except for the IDEA conference. They said it is the most valuable venue for their exhibit investment because of the quality and high calibre of the conference attendees.

It is not a huge trade show with 10 000 attendees, but the ratio of qualified buyers with an interest in their product makes IDEA the best trade show investment on their annual schedule. Other exhibitors echoed the statement that “IDEA provides the highest return on investment” of any of the exhibits they attend regularly.

This year IDEA had 93 exhibitors, our highest number ever, and we still turned away five or six prospective exhibitor companies. Over the past five years we have grown the number of exhibits by about 10% each year, and have sold out all available space each year. However, we want to retain the quality and close-knit community feel, and do not envision growing much bigger too quickly.

As far as the industry goes, the IDEA conference is an annual event for industry participants to come together, compare notes, discuss strategy for legislation and policy priorities and, frankly, to reconnect as friends. For many members, attending IDEA each June is like a family reunion, and many long-time friendships have been formed and renewed each year. This year, the welcome dinner was an evening boat cruise down the Potomac River with entertainment, dancing and plenty of refreshments.

Each year the District Energy Space Awards are a friendly competition to recognise business growth and achievement. As well, the Annual Business Meeting allows the association to report on activities and achievements and to nominate and elect new members to the Board of Directors. Finally, contributions to advancing the industry are recognised through the Chairman’s Awards at the Annual Chairman’s Banquet.

This year, in recognition of the 100-year anniversary, the Centennial Gala was a black-tie dinner at the elegant National Building Museum, where past presidents, former award winners and current industry contributors were heartily recognised and acknowledged.

IDEA was especially pleased to welcome the new US Secretary of Commerce, Gary Locke, to the conference, who presented an award to Evapco. Secretary Locke, as a member of President Obama’s Cabinet, is focused on energising the economy through investment in clean energy technologies such as district energy and combined heat and power (CHP).

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IDEA has been actively promoting this conference for the past year, and was fortunate that so many people from all over the world were interested and able to attend. Certainly, the chosen location of the US’s capital was of interest to most attendees, many of whom brought spouses and family members along. Holding the conference in the capital made it easier for many DC-based energy specialists, organisations and federal agency staff to attend.

Moreover, IDEA has been very active over recent years in advocating for policies and legislation that is more favourable to the district energy industry, and our efforts to inform, connect and advance the interests of the industry have borne fruit in membership growth and greater conference attendance. The district energy industry is ‘gathering steam’ in the US and across the world, and the attendance at this conference is testament to the momentum and excitement building in the industry sector.

Do you think the American Clean Energy & Security (ACES) Act plays a vital role in promoting the benefits of district energy?

As it is currently written, there are some helpful provisions in the ACES Bill that will benefit district energy and stimulate investment in CHP. However, from IDEA’s point of view, there is potential to modify the Bill and strengthen provisions that would be more favorable for both district energy and CHP.

Accelerated depreciation, energy-efficiency portfolio standards and SEED funding are all very favorable for our sector. But the new challenge is with revisions set to occur in the Senate version that might provide more allocation allowances to cleaner district energy/CHP for carbon emissions. More clarity in the rules will also help to unleash investment that is currently waiting for more definable market risks and rules.