How Dewa uses innovation to ensure sustainable energy supply for Dubai
Utility provider advances infrastructure, power production and storage projects
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is engaged in the development of innovative and sustainable energy solutions to provide electricity services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, sustainability, and quality.
This is supported by advanced infrastructure for managing facilities and services through smart and integrated systems, utilising cutting-edge technologies such as the smart grid, artificial intelligence, Space-D programme, blockchain, energy storage and integration of its sources, Internet of Things and 3D printing, among others.
Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of Dewa, said Dewa’s preparedness reflects its strategy and unwavering efforts to achieve its vision of being a globally leading sustainable and innovative corporation committed to achieving Net-Zero by 2050.
Energy production and storage projects
Dewa is developing energy storage technologies through several pioneering projects, including the fourth phase of the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which will have the largest energy storage capacity in the world of 15 hours, and the pumpedstorage hydroelectric power plant in Hatta.
Automatic Smart Grid Restoration System
Dewa has developed a comprehensive strategy to implement a smart water and electricity infrastructure, known as the smart grid.
Among the programmes launched by Dewa under the umbrella of the smart grid is
an Automatic Smart Grid Restoration System, the first of its kind in the Mena region. The system works around the clock without any human intervention. It uses a smart, innovative, and central system that locates the fault in the power network, isolates it, and automatically restores the service.
Smart meters
In Dubai, all active traditional meters for electricity and water have been upgraded to smart meters. These enable customers to digitally manage their consumption without the need to contact Dewa.
The Smart Meters Analysis and Diagnosis Centre remotely monitors the smart meters every 15 minutes.
As of the end of 2023, the number of smart meters in Dubai reached 2.2 million.
Dewa’s initiatives for its production, transportation and distribution sectors ensure the sustainability and preservation of resources and provide ways to develop them by applying best practices in all initiatives and projects to raise production and operational efficiency.
During 2023, there were many initiatives undertaken by various divisions within Dewa, the most important of which were: Distribution Automation of Secondary Distribution Substations, Distribution Network Smart Centre, and DEWA Cable Lab.
Boosting efficiency
The seamless, swift, and effective operation of the smart grid has enabled Dewa to surpass prominent European and American companies in terms of efficiency and reliability.
Dewa has reduced electricity Customer Minutes Lost (CML) in Dubai from 4.9 minutes in 2014 to 1.06 minutes in 2023, which is the lowest in the world.
Dewa has also reduced losses in electricity transmission and distribution networks from 3.3 per cent in 2014 to 2.0 per cent last year by adopting the best international technical standards and the most accurate engineering practices in the planning, design, construction, and operation of energy systems.
Reducing water wastage
This percentage is also the lowest worldwide. In 2014, water network losses were at 9.1 per cent, and reached 4.6 per cent in 2023, which is the lowest in the world.
Dewa aims to enhance its leadership in innovation, sustainability, and future-shaping across all its projects and initiatives, focusing on Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies and digital transformation.