Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (Dewa) Innovation Centre at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park received several high-level delegations headed by ministers and officials from several countries, over the past few weeks.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa, emphasised Dewa’s commitment to exchange expertise with ministries and organisations worldwide in renewable and clean energy, environmental sustainability, innovation, smart cities, water, and other areas of common interest.

“Through the centre, Dewa aims to support innovation in clean and renewable energy, develop skills and build the capacities of the next generation of innovators in clean energy technologies with a focus on developing and refining the talents of young Emiratis.

It aims to provide a unique learning environment by hosting events, conferences, seminars and workshops, building partnerships with local and international universities and start-ups to cooperate in innovation and exchange of knowledge and experiences, and raising awareness about clean energy and sustainability.

The centre’s innovations in solar energy support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to provide 75 per cent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,” Al Tayer said.

Waleed bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at Dewa, explained that the centre supports renewable and clean energy projects such as the Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. It has a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030. It will reduce over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually when completed.

The Innovation Centre provides visitors with a unique experience to explore the latest innovations in clean energy technologies.

The exhibition area on the first floor focuses on Dewa’s journey, vital historical inventions and innovations in electricity, and the latest developments in renewable and sustainable energy. The area includes over 30 interactive exhibits designed to introduce visitors to developments in renewable energy.

The site also houses the museum, water desalination plants, and visual space that explains the properties of light and solar radiation.

The centre also features an exhibition on critical components of photovoltaic solar cells and related technologies, including Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and the Solar Power Tower.

It also showcases the renewable energy journey, Smart Dewa, solar cell applications in spacecraft and satellites, and sustainable buildings.

Meanwhile Dewa has received a Saudi Electric Company (SEC) delegation as part of benchmarking visits for knowledge sharing among pioneering utilities in the region during the last week of December 2021.

The visit enhances bilateral work to support the region’s sustainable and comprehensive development journey.

The delegation was briefed on Dewa’s technical specifications and requirements in its energy distribution projects and substations and its methods for handling interruptions in the distribution network. In addition, Dewa officials accompanied the delegation on a field visit to its Control Centre for Power Distribution to learn about monitoring the distribution networks.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa, stated, “We work to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to provide a state-of-the-art, integrated infrastructure for electricity and water. This is according to the highest availability, reliability, efficiency and safety standards to meet the growing demand and keep pace with Dubai’s requirements for sustainable development. This is through specified and reliable plans based on the latest tools for anticipating the future and best global practices.

“Dewa adopts the Smart Grids strategy to achieve distribution automation and enhance energy efficiency. It has become a role model in best practices and key indicators.”

“It has surpassed prominent European and American companies by reducing electricity network losses to 3.3 per cent compared to 6 to 7 per cent in Europe and the United States.

Dewa also reduced water network losses to 5.1 per cent compared to 15 per cent in North America.”

“The number of 33kV medium voltage substations in service has reached 79 by the end of October 2021, while the number of 11kV medium voltage stations has reached 41,243. The number of 6.6kV medium voltage stations has reached 422 stations. This ensures meeting the growing electricity demand and ensure the sustainability of supply for different customers at all times,” said Rashid bin Humaidan, Executive Vice President of Distribution Power.