Dubai, UAE:- Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) showcased its latest innovative initiatives, achievements and projects at its stand at the 21st Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2019). DEWA has organised WETEX under the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of DEWA, from 21 – 23 October, at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
“As Dubai’s ambitious vision and ongoing development have been translated into major projects and promising opportunities, especially in energy, water, and the environment, DEWA implements its projects according to the highest standards of accountability, reliability and efficiency, using the latest world technologies. This supports the UAE Centennial 2071 and Dubai Plan 2021, and the ambitious vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy, to make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world. It also supports the 50-Year-Charter, which His Highness issued. This ensures that the energy supply will meet growing demand in Dubai and enhance the shift toward green economy by increasing its share of clean energy,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA and Founder and Chairman of WETEX.
“During WETEX 2019, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually from around the world and major international companies, we are delighted to share our expertise and experience in the adoption of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies. We will also show our efforts and experiences in anticipating and shaping the future of energy by innovating a futuristic model for utilities based on disruptive technologies such as AI, robotics, Internet of Things, and 3D-printing in providing smart solutions and services for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and water, as well as clean energy generation,” said Al Tayer.
During the three-day event, DEWA will highlighed its most prominent projects and latest technologies in the fields of renewable and clean energy and smart grids, including Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, Shams Dubai, Green Charger for electric vehicles, smart grid station, green hydrogen project, Al-Sheraa Building, Hatta Hydroelectric Power Plant, Reverse Osmosis Desalination Plant, Phase III of Plant K, Groundwater Desalination Storage Project, Al Namoos Initiative, Smart Utilities Service, Marafeq Smart Service, Digital Substation, Smart Response Initiative, Rammas virtual employee, and the Future Centre for Customer Happiness, in addition to Afkari and Ebtikari, DEWA Store, and Solar Decathlon Middle East (SDME).
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site strategic solar park of its kind in the world. It will generate 5,000 MW by 2030 with investments worth AED 50 billion. Through its projects, the park will accelerate Dubai’s shift towards renewable energy.
The 13MW photovoltaic first phase became operational in 2013 using photovoltaic solar panels. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase of the solar park was operational in March 2017. The 800MW photovoltaic third phase will be operational by 2020. The fourth phase of the solar park is the largest single-site Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project in the world based on the IPP model, with a total investment of AED16 billion. The fourth phase of the 950MW hybrid power plant will use three technologies: 600MW from a parabolic basin complex, 100MW from a solar tower, and 250MW from photovoltaic panels. The project will feature the tallest solar tower in the world at 260 metres and the largest thermal storage capacity of 15 hours; generating power around the clock.
Smart Grid Station (SGS)
The Smart Grid Station (SGS) brings smart grids and smart buildings together. DEWA is exploring the concept of SGSs, which connect smart buildings to each other to share information, to help improve energy and water efficiency and make optimal use of renewable energy within a smart city. The SGS highlights the Smart City model through three concepts or systems: the smart office, smart building, and smart factory. The SGS comprises a 200-kilowatt (kW) photovoltaic solar power production system; a 9-kilowatt (kW) wind turbine; and a 500-kilowatt hour (kWh) lithium-ion battery energy storage system, which stores energy for later use. The SGS is also integrated with a smart chiller system through a building management system, and a 100-tonne thermal energy storage system, which stores surplus cooling energy to be used when required, thereby reducing the demand on the smart chiller system.
Green Hydrogen project
The Green Hydrogen project is the first solar-driven hydrogen electrolysis facility in the MENA region. The project will be implemented in collaboration between DEWA, Expo 2020 Dubai and Siemens. It will be built at DEWA’s outdoor testing facilities in the R&D Centre at the Solar Park in Dubai. The hydrogen produced at the facility will be stored and deployed for re-electrification, transportation and other uses.
Al-Sheraa building
The Al-Sheraa building will be the tallest, largest, and smartest government Zero Energy Building in the world. Total energy used in the building during a year will be equal to or less than the energy produced on-site during that year. DEWA’s new headquarters has been designed to receive a platinum rating by LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and a silver rating from the WELL Building Standard. DEWA will later announce two more phases to implement work on the Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the photovoltaic solar systems for the building. The total cost of the building’s construction is over AED 1 billion.
Al-Sheraa’s built-up area is over 2 million square feet. The building will have 15 floors, a basement and 4 floors of car parking. The building can house more than 5,000 people. Facilities will include a 500 seating auditorium, training halls, a creativity centre, an exhibition hall, a nursery, and a gym, among others. The building will have over 20,000 square metres of photovoltaic solar panels rated to over 4,000 kilowatts. There will be 1,000 square metres of Building Integrated Photovoltaics. The building will generate over 6,500 megawatt hours (MW/h) a year of renewable energy.
Hatta Hydroelectric plant
Hatta Hydroelectric plant is the first of its kind in the region, with a total capacity to produce 250MW of hydroelectricity from water stored in the Hatta Dam, and a lifespan of 60 - 80 years. The hydroelectric power station will generate electricity by making use of the water in the Hatta Dam and an upper reservoir that will be built in the mountain. Turbines that use solar power from the MBR Solar Park will pump water from the dam to the upper reservoir. The waterfall from the upper reservoir will generate electricity using turbines when required. The efficiency of the power generation and storage cycle will reach 80% within 90 seconds of the response to demand for electricity.
Sea Water Reverse Osmosis-based Desalination Plant
DEWA will highlight the sea water reverse osmosis-based desalination plant in Jebel Ali. The project will cost AED 871 million and will produce 40 Million Imperial Gallons Per Day (MIGD) Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO).
Reverse Osmosis will help expand production capacity to 305 million gallons of desalinated water per day by 2030. Eventually, reverse osmosis will produce 41% compared to its current share of 5%, so DEWA will be able to produce 750 million gallons of desalinated water per day by 2030, compared to its current capacity of 470 million gallons per day. Also, increasing the operational efficiency of the decoupling process will save around AED 13 billion and reduce 43 ton of carbon emissions by 2030.
Phase III of K-Station
In cooperation with the Spanish company Duro Felguera, DEWA is working on Phase III of the K-Station at Jebel Ali Power Station, worth AED 798 million. After the completion of the third phase, 590MW will be added, bringing the station’s total production capacity to 1,538MW. The project is one of the main pillars that provide Dubai with reliable, efficient, and high-quality electricity and water.
Storing desalinated water within subterranean water basins
DEWA is building a subterranean water basin to store 6,000 million gallons of water that can be retrieved when needed. This will provide the Emirate with a strategic reserve of over 50 million gallons of water per day in emergencies, while ensuring the quality of the stored water remains unaffected by external factors.
Al Namoos Initiative.
DEWA launched its Al Namoos service in 2014. It provides electricity connections in just one step within 7 days, with no connection charges for commercial and industrial projects up to 150 kW. The service is exclusively for consultants and contractors.
Shams Dubai
As part of the Smart Dubai initiative, DEWA has launched Shams Dubai, to encourage customers to install solar photovoltaic panels at their premises to generate electricity from solar power and export any excess to the power grid, offsetting against the customer’s consumption. Till October 2019, DEWA’s Shams Dubai has connected 1,358 buildings totalling 132 MW of power. DEWA also launched a project to install solar panels in 10% of UAE nationals’ homes in Dubai to support 50-Year Charter, announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This has resulted in the successful installation of solar panels on 554 rooftops of citizens’ homes in Hatta and the retrofitting of 2,092 facilities and buildings in Dubai.
EV Green Charger
At WETEX 2019, DEWA will also highlight its EV Green Charger initiative that establishes infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations, to encourage the public to use eco-friendly electric vehicles. DEWA has installed 200 Green Charger stations across Dubai.
Solar Decathlon Middle East
DEWA will organise the second Solar Decathlon Middle East (SDME), under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. SDME is part of a partnership between the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy, DEWA, and the US Department of Energy. SDME is an international competition that challenges teams from various universities to design and build houses powered exclusively by solar energy. The first SDME, which DEWA organised for the first time in the MENA region was a great success. It attracted over 600 students and academics, comprising 54 nationalities, and 15 teams from 28 universities in 11 countries. The second SDME will be held in conjunction with Expo 2020 Dubai, whose theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’ fits well with this distinguished international competition.
Marafeq Smart Service
DEWA will also highlight its Marafeq Smart Service, for DEWA approved consultants/contractors, which facilitates submission of DEWA Information NOC via its website instead of providing them in Microstation format. The service enables consultants/contractors to access the web services from their respective offices using (AutoCad) software with the same symbology used by DEWA NOC engineers.
Digital Substation
DEWA will showcase its Digital Substation at its WETEX stand this year. The initiative aims to improve capability and sustainability by implementing the latest technologies to provide high-resolution real-time data, in order to integrate equipment for multiple stations and intelligent asset health monitoring systems for transmission plant projects with 132 kV.
Smart Response
The Smart Response Service forms part of DEWA’s efforts to create added value for its customers. The service has several features such as self-diagnosis of power and water interruptions, reducing steps to deal with complaints, through DEWA's smart app and website; enhancing customer experience and efficiency of services.
Virtual employee ‘Rammas’
Rammas is DEWA’s virtual employee that uses Artificial Intelligence. It can respond to an unlimited number of enquiries in record time. Rammas is characterised by its ability to learn and understand the needs of customers, according to their enquiries. Rammas analyses these based on available data and information and accurately answers most queries. Rammas is available 24/7 in Arabic and English on DEWA’s Whatsapp business platform. DEWA is the first government organisation in the UAE to get a verified WhatsApp account. Rammas is also available on DEWA’s website and smart app (iOS and Android), DEWA’s Facebook page, and through Amazon’s Alexa service and Google Assistant, and in robots.
Future Centre for Customer Happiness
The Future Centre uses AI, robotics, and the latest innovative technologies to achieve customers’ happiness and exceed their expectations. The centres have smart self-service booths to help customers complete their transactions easily, without using papers.
Afkari Platform
Afkari (Arabic for My Ideas) Platform is an internal website for DEWA’s employees to share their innovative ideas and foster a culture of innovation. DEWA is the first organisation in the region to use HYPE Software, which allows staff to collaborate and vote on the best ideas submitted, similar to social media sites. The project focuses on improving the work environment and enhancing communication among staff at all levels. It also facilitates studying and discussing their suggestions and ideas with all divisions and departments, including DEWA’s management.
Ebtikari Platform
DEWA also showcases the Ebtikari platform which encourages inventors and innovators from all over the world to send their innovations and ideas. It is an interactive platform to provide innovative solutions in sustainable energy and water.
DEWA Store
DEWA launched DEWA Store on its smart app to provide exclusive offers and discounts to DEWA’s customers, in cooperation with a number of public and private sector companies. This includes discounts on telecommunications packages, bank services, insurance, smart-home systems, maintenance companies, consultants, and logistics companies among others.
-Ends-
For more information, please contact:
Khuloud Al Ali / Shaikha Almheiri / Mohammad Almheiri
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
+971 50 8450757 / +971 55 2288228 / +971 50 4511571
Media@dewa.gov.ae / Shaikha.almheiri@dewa.gov.ae / Mohammad.almheiri@dewa.gov.ae
Jessy Chami / Layal Charara
Orient Planet PR
+971 55 8257576 / +971 58 5845000
jessy@orientplanet.com / layal.charara@orientplanet.com
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