DEWA discusses new smart grids development strategy
The utility firm discussed its strategy at a workshop at the 24th World Energy Congress (WEC) in Abu Dhabi
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has outlined its new strategy for developing smart grids and connecting building-based solar systems to the power grid.
The smart grids strategy is said to contain 10 programmes: Advanced Metering Infrastructure for Electricity, Advanced Metering Infrastructure for Water, Asset Management, Distribution Automation, Information Technology Infrastructure, Transmission Automation, System Integration, Telecommunications, Big Data and Analytics, and Security.
Waleed Salman, DEWA’s executive VP (Business Development and Excellence) said the firm works to provide state-of-the-art infrastructure and manage all facilities and services through smart and connected systems that use technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including AI, unmanned aerial vehicles, energy storage, blockchain, and the Internet of Things among others.
“This supports DEWA’s vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation. The Smart Grid is a key component of DEWA’s strategy to develop an advanced infrastructure for Smart Dubai’s initiative to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world,” said Salman.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA added, “The Smart Grid includes programmes with investments of up to $1.9bn that will be completed in the short, medium, and long-term until 2035.”
Al Tayer also pointed out that the UAE, represented by DEWA, came first for the second consecutive year in getting electricity, according to the World Bank’s Doing Business 2019 report. DEWA also achieved the lowest customer minutes lost per year (CML) in the world of 2.39 CML, he said.
