Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), has commissioned a new 400/132 kV substation named ‘Shams’ at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

It has a conversion capacity of 2020 megavolt-amperes (MVA) with 223 kilometres of 400kV overhead lines to connect with Dewa’s network.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, said, “At Dewa we work in line with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to provide an advanced and integrated infrastructure for electricity and water according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, efficiency, and safety. This meets the growing demand and keeps pace with the sustainable development needs of Dubai.

Inaugurating the 400/132 kV Shams substation at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is part of Dewa’s efforts to raise the capacity of the power transmission network and increase the share of clean energy in Dubai’s energy mix. This achieves the objectives of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75 per cent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,” added Al Tayer.

The commissioning was attended by Hussein Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission (Power); Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence; Vice Presidents in the Transmission Power division, and other Dewa officials.

Al Tayer said that the total value of Dewa’s power transmission network under construction exceeds Dhs8.5 billion.

Shams substation, with a total cost of Dhs562 million, included over 2 million safe working hours without injuries. It was implemented according to the highest standards of quality, efficiency, and safety despite the obstacles associated with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Drones were used to follow work progress remotely round the clock as well as arrange for virtual site visits.

This ensured implementing the project according to the highest standards of safety and security to protect the health of all workers.

Hussein Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission (Power) at Dewa, said that Shams substation uses the latest digital technologies in line with Dewa’s efforts to enhance digital transformation in all its services and operations.

He noted that the new substation at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park increases the total number of 400/132 kV substations in Dubai to 24, in addition to three new substations that Dewa is currently building.

ABB Linxon implemented the project. Shams substation uses the latest control and protection systems. It includes 14 (400 kV) Gas Insulated Switchgears (GIS), 28 (132 kV) GIS, and four 400/132 kV transformers with 2020 MVA capacity.

Earlier this month the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has received the Global Award highest from the European Foundation for Quality Management (EFQM) for the second time

Dewa is the first organisation outside Europe to receive this prestigious global award, which is the highest award from the EFQM Excellence Model.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa, said, “We are honoured to dedicate this global achievement to the leader of excellence, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. We are guided by the vision and directives of His Highness to continue Dewa’s excellence across all areas. We consider excellence as a main pillar to achieve Dewa’s vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation.”

Al Tayer commended the efforts of EFQM in developing the criteria for sustainable excellence and recognising companies and institutions that achieve outstanding levels of excellence.

He added, “We are proud to receive the Global Award by the EFQM for the second time and to be the first organisation outside Europe to receive this prestigious award, surpassing prominent global organisations. The updated EFQM 2020 Excellence Model has helped us develop work mechanisms and implement the best international practices across all our operations despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

For his part, Russell Longmuir, CEO of EFQM, said, “It is an unbelievable achievement to win the EFQM Global Award but to win it twice in 3 years is unique and highlights their continued passion to be the best utility organisation in the world.”

Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at Dewa, said that winning the highest EFQM award for the second time and from the first application underlines Dew’s global position in all areas of excellence.