TRME_4_2018

42 HVACR
estimated HVAC spend on construction
projects in Dubai is approximately US$1.5bn
and is growing in line with the values of
contracts awarded in the urban construction
sector, according to a BNC Network report.
Among other demand drivers, the Dubai
HVAC Market Outlook report examines the
Dubai government’s building specifications
and smart city initiatives, which promote
efficient energy units, ultimately showing
their impact towards a growth in the local
HVAC market.
In the EU, efficiency
measures have
decreased energy
consumption by half
in buildings since
the 1980s, saving an
average amount of
US$542.5 per
household annually.
“There are several government-driven
targets impacting the HVAC industry. The
rise in energy efficiency trend is a direct
reflection of the governments’ new
regulations to tackle climate change as well
as the increase in electricity bills enforced
Kuwait is among the fastest growing markets
for commercial HVAC equipment in the GCC.
on the end users, particularly after
reduction of utility subsidies in the region,”
Hadi Ismail, senior director, energy solutions
and mega projects at Taqeef told Technical
Review Middle East.
Seeley International’s general manager
Sam Peli feels that apart from costs,
companies are also looking at cleaner,
efficient technologies “because they are
often benchmarked with international
companies especially in Europe and
Americas”. “For example, many companies
aspire to LEED accreditation. Furthermore,
indoor air quality (IAQ) has received
particular attention in the GCC countries
over the past few years,” Peli adds.
Photo Credit : Adobe Stock
Construction activity in Saudi Arabia has
helped boost demand for commercial
HVAC equipment.
What’s new
With rapid developments cropping up in the
HVAC sector, according to Peli, evaporative
cooling is one of the technologies with the
biggest potential in the region.
“Evaporative cooling uses only a small
amount of power and water to run, with no
chemicals to deplete the ozone layer and
substantially impact on running costs.
Moreover, drawing fresh air from the
outside and pushing fumes and germs out
of the building, it can significantly improve
indoor air quality, especially for
manufacturing companies,” Peli states.
According to other industry experts,
customers are keen on adopting latest
technologies such as variable refrigerant
flow (VRF) in their quest for cleaner and
greener solutions.
The most advanced type of VRF system,
which has a single condenser unit, can
provide heating and cooling simultaneously
in different units. The technology is able to
control the amount of refrigerant that flows
through the system, helping customers
reduce power bills and lessen the chance of
damaging electrical equipment.
“VRF technology allows the customer to
reduce the HVAC electric consumption by
adjusting the HVAC to the lower cooling
demand and ambient temperature at off
peak periods, which may otherwise
constitute more than 90 per cent of the
system operation,” according to Ismail.
HVAC systems are a necessity for markets
such as GCC countries, which face extreme
weather conditions and sandstorms. During
summers, in particular, HVAC systems make
up a major share of the peak electrical load.
Ismail adds that HVAC systems account
Photo Credit : Adobe Stock
Technical Review Middle East - Annual Power Review 2018
www.technicalreview.me