DISTRICT COOLING SYSTEM

SERVICES

ABOUT

JANA operates Iskandar Malaysia’s first District Cooling Plant, with Thermal Energy Storage capability, that produces and supplies cooling load, for the purpose of air-conditioning, to the Johor State Government complex at Kota Iskandar; and to the various private-sector developments at Puteri Harbour.

Current cooling load to the State Government is more than 3,000 RT; piped in to serve some 3,000-Government employees at 11-buildings through a 6-km long pipe reticulation network.

ABOUT

2005

10,000

6 Km

11

Year Established

RT Cooling Load

Long pipe reticulation network

Buildings.
Served 10000 Government Employees

PROJECTS

A PROVEN SUCCES STORY

JANA DCS SDN BHD

Kota Iskandar buildings are designed as well-ventilated and airy spaces, with high ceilings, porches, and verandahs through which sea breezes drift from the Strait of Johor. However, this is not enough to keep the air cool and comfortable in the hot and humid tropics where temperatures hover around 30ºc daily. Under these conditions, air conditioning is as good as mandatory. At Kota Iskandar, the developer opted for the environmentally-friendly district cooling system (DCS)

SERVES SEVERAL BUILDINGS

District cooling systems work best in large areas with several buildings, offering economic of scale. They produce pre-chilled water in centralised plants and distributes it through network of pipes (above ground or underground) to one or more buildings in a specified area for air-conditioning purpose. In temperate Europe and Japan, many plants are dual purpose - they distribute chill water for air-conditioning in summer and steam for heaters in winter.

In Kota Iskandar , the DCS plant is located between the C2S and C3S clusters, and it is forecast that about 3,300 refrigerant tonnes worth of capacity is channeled through six kilometres of pipes along the developments utility corridor to five main buildings - the State Legislative Assembly building, Chief Minister's Office / State Secretariat , Clusters C2S and C3S and the mosque.

SUSTAINABLE ON ALL FRONTS

DCS has many advantages. Which air-conditioning facilities located in one central building, there is no need for unsightly rooftop cooling towers that are often a blot on the landscape. There is also no need for chiller plant rooms in the buildings resulting in more nett usable space. Most importantly, district cooling was selected because it has proven to be an economically and environmentally sustainable alternative.

Apart from being free of hydro fluorocarbons, district cooling help lower electricity usage. it is estimated that in Malaysia , as much as 60% of electricity consumption goes towards air conditioning . When electricity demand peaks during the afternoon, district cooling kicks in to supply chilled water for air-conditioners. There is thus less demand on the grid, and at the same time users save on electricity bills.

In addiction, DCS cuts down waste by recycling the chilled water, which is pumped back to the plant where it is cooled again during the night when the chillers and other equipment take advantage of lower off-peak electricity tariffs. to reduce the amount of chilling (and electricity) required, the recycled water undergoes special treatment - it is purified and treated with additives to maintain lower temperatures. Once pumped into the pipes, it will stay for a long time with little or no evaporation.

In the face of rising oil prices and electricity costs, district cooling systems are becoming an attractive option despite their high start up costs. In the longer term, they result in lower operating costs. A meter on the building premises records the amount of chilled water channelled; and user pay only for what they use, in the same way they pay for electricity and water.

With careful projection and planning, the plant can scale up its provision of chilled water as demand increases. When the subsequent phases are completed, it is estimated that more than 7000 refrigerant tonnes will be required to meet the air conditioning needs of the entire development.