Since its establishment on  Jan.1, 1992, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) is moving steadily to achieve the visionary directives of the Founding Fathers and the wise leadership vision to promote comprehensive and sustainable development in the UAE which thrived over the past 50 years. This was evident in several achievements and gains that herald 50 coming years of more prosperity.

Dewa has made significant achievements that made it one of the best utilities worldwide providing its services for more than a million customers in Dubai. Dewa has world-class infrastructure and its assets reached Dhs200 billion with investments over Dhs86 billion in five years to meet the growing electricity and water demand. This is through a clear strategy and roadmap to turn Dubai into a hub for excellence in new and essential technologies to meet the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa, said that Dewa works to provide a state-of-the-art infrastructure according to the highest pioneering international standards, as well as raise the capacity and efficiency of power plants, transmission networks and distribution networks to provide electricity and water services. This is according to the highest availability, efficiency, sustainability and reliability standards to meet the growing demand for energy and water as well as Dubai’s ambitious urban and economic plans.

“As part of its vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation, Dewa strives to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030, promoting sustainability with its social, economic, and environmental aspects. This is in accordance with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai; and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, to make the UAE the world’s leading nation by its Centennial in 2071.

Thanks to the wise leadership support, Dewa’s installed capacity has reached 13,200 MW of electricity and 490 MIGD of water. Clean energy share has reached 10% of Dubai’s energy mix, which is a significant success for the Emirate as it has surpassed the target of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 7% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2020. Dubai has also surpassed the target of the Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy, two years ahead. Carbon emissions in Dubai dropped by 22% in 2019, surpassing the target of reducing 16% of emissions by 2021. Dubai has become a model for clean and renewable energy, sustainability, green economy, carbon emissions reduction, and finding sustainable solutions to mitigate the adverse effects of climate change,” said Al Tayer.

“Dewa has reached the highest standards in global competitiveness indicators, which includes raising the fuel efficiency of the generation units to about 90%, competing with the highest international benchmarks, and increased production efficiency by 33.41% between 2006 and 2020. The availability and reliability of power plants in summer to 99.66% and 99.98% respectively, which is among the highest percentages worldwide. DEWA surpassed prominent European and American companies in reducing its power transmission and distribution network losses to 3.3%, compared to 6-7% in Europe and the USA. DEWA has reduced its customer minutes lost to 1.66 minutes, compared with 15 minutes recorded by leading utilities in the European Union. DEWA’s water network losses have decreased to 5.1%, compared to 15% in North America,” added Al Tayer.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. The current capacity of the solar park’s projects has reached 1,013MW using photovoltaic solar panels. DEWA has projects with a capacity of 1,850 MW underway using photovoltaic solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) in addition to other phases to reach 5,000MW by 2030. DEWA seeks to set two new records for the tallest solar tower in the world at 262.44 metres and the largest 700-megawatt Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plant in the fourth phase of the Solar Park.

The Solar Park hosts the Innovation Centre which is a global platform for renewable and clean energy. It shapes the future of sustainable energy worldwide. It also includes the R&D Centre which supports DEWA’s efforts to anticipate the future, develop long-term proactive plans to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution, and innovate disruptive technologies to provide world-class services that enhance the quality of life in Dubai. Dewa has achieved the Guinness World Records title for the first 3D-printed laboratory in the world. The record was awarded for Dewa’s Robotics & Drone laboratory, housed within the (R&D) Centre.

Dewa’s Space-D programme seeks to enhance operational efficiency and effectiveness and promote preventive maintenance of electricity and water networks including planning, production, transmission and distribution. The programme will also contribute to enhancing flexibility and agility in monitoring and managing electricity and water networks, as well as the accurate and rapid assessment of the impact of weather and climate change on energy supplies and energy infrastructure including water desalination. It will also provide a backup support system for the network through satellite communications. The performance and efficiency of solar photovoltaic panels at the Solar Park will be monitored by cameras through the main satellite to study the effect of climatic conditions on the energy infrastructure and supply. The project includes satellites that support the main satellite, created by Emiratis at the R&D Centre.