http://www.mepmiddleeast.com August 2019 | MEP Middle East 33
INSIGHT
use, VRF systems lend themselves to the axiom that
simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.
UTPAL JOSHI BELIEVES VRF TECHNOLOGY CAN
HELP THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY MOVE
CLOSER TO THE IMPORTANT NET ZERO ENERGY
BUILDING BENCHMARK.
“Net zero building is an important benchmark and
industr y across the spectrum, for all whom are
working on it,” he said.
“At Daikin, we think VRV is the most ideal can-
didate to achieve this. We worked on a project in
Germany three years ago which is now already certi-
fi ed as a net zero building (NZEB).
“In the MENA region we have collaborated with
Masdar and our participation and support to the
Solar Decathlon is showing good results.
“Daikin is working on seasonal effi ciency with
our patented VRT (variable refrigerant technology),
water condensers and testing new refrigerants; all
are in part to achieve these systems in commercial
applications.
“Our VRT is already requiring 30% less energy and
is commercially available in our VRV IV+ series.”
JOSHI BELIEVES A RENEWED PUSH FOR
EFFICIENCY, COUPLED WITH A GROWING
LIST OF REGULATIONS AND INDUSTRY AND
GOVERNMENT REQUIREMENTS, HAS PROVIDED
OXYGEN FOR THE VRF MARKET TO GROW.
“Regulation for energy effi cient products is the need
of the hour in the Middle East since most electricity
tariffs are subsidised and governments are paying
huge prices for it.
“The best way to incentivise people to use energy
effi cient technology is by making regulations that
support the green vision.
“Estidama regulation in Abu Dhabi is a great ex-
ample where a minimum ‘two-pearl’ rating for all gov-
ernment projects with an EER – the ratio that meas-
ures the energy effi ciency of cooling performance
- of 3.8 for villas has resulted in the deliver y of more
energy effi cient mega complexes.
“Ruwais Housing (663 villas), 500 Hidd Saadiyat
villas, and more than 1,000 Al Dar Yas villas, to name
a few, are based on VRV technology.
“MEW and SASO are also now increasing mini-
mum energy effi ciency levels and promoting invert-
er with seasonal effi ciency – this will further help the
VRV industr y to grow.”
VRF USE IN COMMERCIAL BUILDING IS
GROWING, BUT WILL THERE COME A TIME
WHEN THE TECHNOLOGY IS THE BEST OPTION
FOR HIGH-RISE DEVELOPMENTS?
“Currently, almost 70% of villa complexes use VRV
systems due to lower infrastructure costs, bet-
ter green design, and lower tenant costs, and the
TRUSTED
AND
PROVEN
TO WORK
We expect more high-rise
buildings to adopt VRV systems
in time; Daikin has set an
example with a couple
of projects on 35, 44 and even
50-storey towers
technology is further expanding in low-rise build-
ings as well as the commercial sector.
“We expect more high-rise buildings to adopt
VRV systems in time.
“Daikin has set an example with a couple of
projects, with 35, 44 and even 50-storey towers
using full VRV systems.
“Usage is further fuelled by the availabil-
ity of tenant billing, like power proportional dist-
ribution (PPD), to make use of the diversity the
technology.”ALL THIS SUGGESTS A PERFECT STORM
FOR THE TRADITIONAL AC UNIT, BUT JOSHI
MAINTAINED THAT CONVENTIONAL SYSTEMS
WILL HAVE A PLACE IN THE MARKET IN THE
LONG TERM.“DX or traditional split 1-1 systems have their
place for economical and small applications, so the
market is remaining stable,” he said.
“However, with the introduction of inverter
technology, this market segment will also keep up
with its market share.”VRF/VRV systems will be introduced into more and more tall
structures, Utpal Joshi has predicted.