Qatar Cool to host fifth IDEA conference in Doha

Qatar Cool GM Fayad Khatib.

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The fifth IDEA International District Cooling Conference will be held in Doha in November, hosted by Qatar Cool. This is IDEA’s first event in Qatar and its fifth in the Middle East, with last year’s district cooling conference taking place in Dubai.

“This partnership marks an historic step for Qatar Cool and the region in modernising district cooling services and proving to our stakeholders that district cooling is the way forward for all future cooling needs,” said Qatar Cool GM Fayad Khatib.

“We are thrilled that Qatar Cool has chosen to partner with IDEA for this important and prestigious conference – a first in Qatar, and hopefully setting a precedent for future IDEA conferences,” said IDEA president Rob Thornton.

The theme of the 2010 conference is ‘District Cooling: Greener Buildings, Smarter Grid’, emphasising the advantages of district cooling systems in improving end-use energy efficiency in customer buildings and reducing the economic and environmental strain on the regional power grid.

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This is in line with Qatar’s 2030 National Vision and its environmental development programme, aimed at exploiting the synergy between economic growth, social development and environmental protection.

“We owe it to each other to continue our efforts to garner meaningful consideration for district energy in new climate regulations. We see Qatar Cool as playing an important role in the Middle East with regards to this. Global investment in cleaner energy solutions continues to accelerate.

"As an industry, it is important that we understand and contribute to adoption of energy and climate policies that recognise the importance of and potential for district energy solutions as a near-term climate strategy,” said Thornton.

With over 100 years of continuous operation, IDEA is considered a global authority in the field of district cooling. Each year at its annual conference and trade show, IDEA recognises industry growth and leadership.

Last year, at the 100th annual IDEA conference held in Washington DC, Qatar Cool beat fierce international competition to walk away with two prestigious awards: the Bronze Award for ‘District Energy Space 2008 Beyond North America for Total Square Footage Committed (Worldwide)’ and the Silver Award for ‘District Energy Space 2008 Beyond North America for Most Total Buildings Committed (Worldwide)’.

Since its inception in late 2006, the Middle East IDEA Chapter, under the leadership of executive director Rita Chahoud of Tabreed, has grown from 56 members to over 360 in 2009.

“IDEA has been working closely with its members in the Middle East, assisting them with case studies, providing them with a unique best practice guide, and holding specific and tailored conferences and workshops for the district energy industy, as well as connecting them with industry suppliers, consultants, providers, legislators and more,” said Chahoud.