About Course

As demand for energy-efficient cooling rises, district cooling systems are vital for sustainability. Understanding the technologies and engineering optimises efficiency, cuts costs, and reduces environmental impact.

This course delves into the multifaceted world of district cooling, covering key technologies, engineering principles and practices, economic considerations, and future trends. Designed to equip learners with essential expertise, this masterclass provides in-depth knowledge and practical skills to navigate the dynamic district cooling landscape. Additionally, networking sessions offer valuable opportunities to connect with industry professionals and expand your expertise.

Skills you’ll gain
Sustainability
Energy Efficiency
Chemical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
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Who Should Attend

HVAC system designers
M&E and facility engineers
Energy and sustainability professionals
Urban planning and development professionals
Government officials and policymakers
Investors and financing professionals
Architects and design engineers
Prerequisites

Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering or an Engineering Diploma with at least 2 years of relevant work experience.

Learning Outcomes

Comprehensive Understanding of District Cooling Systems (DCS)

  • Gain an in-depth understanding of district cooling systems, including the technologies, engineering principles, and economic impact

Practical Application

  • Learn to plan, design, operate, and maintain efficient district cooling systems through hands-on workshops and case studies

Economic Insights

  • Explore the economic aspects of district cooling, including cost-benefit analysis, financing models, and economic indicators

Sustainability and Compliance

  • Understand the environmental impact of district cooling systems and learn how to align projects with regulatory standards and sustainability goals

Smart Cities Integration

  • Discover the role of district cooling in smart city planning, focusing on integration with emerging technologies and urban development strategies

Teaching Team

Swapnil Dubey
Swapnil Dubey

Assistant Professor, Singapore Institute of Technology

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Anne Miclo
Anne Miclo

Chief Technical Officer, ENGIE South East Asia

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Lei Yu
Lei Yu

Programme Manager, ENGIE South East Asia

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Edwin Choo
Edwin Choo

Senior manager (Operations), ENGIE

Heng Wan Teng
Heng Wan Teng

HVAC Design Engineer, ENGIE

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Lacine Dosso
Lacine Dosso

Projects and Strategic Partnerships, ENGIE

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Course Details

Schedule

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    Day 1

    Morning Session: Overview and Fundamentals

    · Introduction & Overview
    · Importance of District Cooling in sustainable development
    · Basics of District Cooling
    · Definition and concept
    · Historical development and global trends
    · Key components and system architecture
    · Thermodynamics of Cooling
    · Principles of heat transfer
    · Thermodynamic cycles in chillers
    · Different types of chillers and their role
    · Chiller Performance and operational strategies

    Afternoon Session: Principles and Technologies

    · Thermal energy storage
    · DCS plant supply and demand optimization
    · Fluid Dynamics and Flow characteristics
    · Pumping systems
    · Chilled Water Distribution System
    · Chilled water pipes and their insulation
    · Design consideration for heat transfer station
    · Direct and indirect connections in DCS
    · Components of energy transfer station

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    Day 2

    Building Interface and Sustainability

    Morning Session: Building Integration – BY SIT

    · Heat exchangers in district cooling
    · Functions and types of heat exchangers
    · Ensuring the efficient return of water to the chiller plant
    · Cooling tower operations and their significance
    · Cooling tower performance, sizing and optimization
    · Air Handling Units (AHUs) and Fan Coil Units (FCUs)
    · The role of AHUs and FCUs in the consumer end
    · Thermostats and controls for effective temperature regulation


    Afternoon Session: Environmental Impact and Sustainability – BY ENGIE

    · Short presentation of ENGIE (to introduce ourselves)
    · Energy efficiency considerations / greenhouse gas emissions
    · Heat island effect
    · Water usage and conservation
    · Space savings allowing green roofs / solar installations · Regulatory Compliance
    · Contribution to smart city planning
    · Integration of green energy
    · Presentation of successful district cooling systems:
      o Punggol Digital District
      o Megajana
      o Northgate
      o Fraicheur de Paris
      o Districlima
      o Climaespaco
      o Tabreed

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    Day 3

    District Cooling Systems (DCS) Planning and Engineering – BY ENGIE

    Morning Session: Development of a DCS

    · Evaluate the needs of the territory
    · Identify buildings to be connected / Load forecasting
    · Mapping of cooling needs
    · Identification of land for DCS plant
    · Identification of local sources of renewable or recoverable energy
    · Differentiation between greenfield and brownfield projects
    · System sizing and capacity planning / Centralized, decentralized design
    · System engineering
     o Environmentally friendly refrigerants and practices.
     o Sustainable features for optimizing energy efficiency
     o Based on lifecycle cost analysis

    · Role of Thermal Energy Storage in District Cooling
     o Storing excess chilled water for peak demand.
     o Demand side management
     o Improving efficiency and operational flexibility.


    Afternoon session: New technologies and Innovation in DCS

    · Chiller technology: oil free and variable speed
    · Thermal Energy Storage (TES) technology: PCM
    · Heat transfer technology: Nano-fluid
    · Digital technology: AI- and multi-objective optimization control

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    Day 4

    Operation & Maintenance and Site visit – By ENGIE

    Morning Session: Operation and Maintenance

    · Plant operation
    o Operational risk: Low DT syndrome

    · Plant maintenance
    o Preventive maintenance
    o Predictive maintenance
    o Water treatment
    o Replacement

    · Digital tool to support
    o BMS / SCADA: Monitoring and Control
    o CMMS


    Afternoon session: Site visit

    · Presentation of SIT design
    · Site visit
     o Plantroom and cooling tower areas / Assessing the role of key components in real-world scenarios.
     o Control room and BMS
     o Smart O&M

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    Day 5

    Economic Viability, Regulatory Landscape and Class Assessment

    Morning: Economic viability and regulatory landscape – By ENGIE

    · Business plan
    o CAPEX estimation
    o OPEX estimation
    o Economic analysis

    · Analysis of average price of cooling compared to market price
    · Capital intensive project: Initial investment vs. operational savings
    · Different actors of a DCS project
    · Key role of the local government
    · Different contractual structures

    Afternoon Session: Workshops and Assessment – By SIT

    · Class Assessment
    · Group Workshops - Application of principles learned in real-world scenarios
    · Q&A Session


    Note: All the above points are subject to minor adjustment.

Certificate and Assessment

A Certificate of Attainment will be issued to participants who:

  • Attend at least 75% of the course
  • Undertake and pass non-credit bearing assessment during the course

Participants who meet the attendance requirement but do not pass the assessment will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Fee Structure

The full fee for this course is S$5,450.00.

Funding CategoryEligible FundingCourse Fees Payable After Funding
Singapore Citizen (Below 40)70%S$1,635.00
Singapore Citizen (Above 40)
Funded under SkillsFuture Mid-Career Enhanced Subsidy (MCES)
90%S$635.00
Singapore PR / LTVP+ Holder70%S$1,635.00
Non-Singapore CitizenNot EligibleS$5,450.00


Note:

  • All fees above include GST. GST applies to individuals and Singapore-registered companies.
For Organisations
Interested in this course for your business or team?
Tailored to your organisation's specific training needs, we can help you design and develop custom courses to grow key talent and build specialist expertise to meet the future demands of work.

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Course Runs

November 2025
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03 Nov 2025 - 07 Nov 2025
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5 days
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In-person
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SIT Punggol Campus, 1 Punggol Coast Road, Singapore 828608
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SGD $5,450.00
Up to 90% SF Funding
Apply By:
14 Oct 2025 23:59
Apply now