Dubai Future Council on Energy holds fourth meeting

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Chairman of the Dubai Future Council on Energy chaired its fourth meeting at Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) at the R&D center of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.

This Council is one of Dubai Future Councils that were launched under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and enacted by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, and Chairman of The Board of Trustees of Dubai Future Foundation (DFF).

Dubai Future Councils were launched as a futuristic platform dedicated to keeping abreast of global trends, prospecting the future and development of Dubai’s key sectors over the next 50 years.

Dubai Future Councils are supervised by Dubai Future Foundation and aim to look into the future of Dubai’s vital key sectors. The Councils include an elite of experts and specialists specialised in exploring the future, and public and private sectors’ leaders both locally and globally. The Councils focus on promoting knowledge and expertise sharing to find efficient solutions to different challenges, launching national initiatives and strategies to explore existing and future opportunities.

During the meeting, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer & the council members reviewed and approved the Dubai Future Council on Energy year 1 report.

The meeting included an overview on the R&D Center and Dewa’s efforts in this field. The R&D Centre will focus on four key operations: producing electricity from solar power, integration of smart grids, energy efficiency, and water.

The R&D Centre includes indoor labs to study and test system reliability and external field testing of new technologies and equipment, for example facilities to study PV modules performance or study and mitigate dust and soiling effects, and water desalination through PV RO. The R&D Centre’s labs, apply the best international practices in research and development. Dewa is also using 3D-printing and additive manufacturing as innovative solutions for producing spare parts for Dewa’s generation, transmission, and distribution divisions, and support the digitisation of their inventories.

Dewa has signed agreements with several national and international entities, institutions, and companies, including the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) of the US Department of Energy, and the Spanish National Renewable Energy Centre (CENER) in R&D, on the latest developments in power, water and the environment. Dewa is also collaborating with the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU) and Khalifa University on joint research and studies in renewable and alternative energy.

The R&D Centre also includes Dewa’s R&D drone lab, which was built using 3D printing technology. The lab is the first building in the UAE to be fully-printed onsite, and the first such 3D-printed laboratory building in the world.

Separately, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer has received a high-level delegation from Saudi Arabia’s Power and Water Utility Company for Jubail and Yanbu (Marafiq). The delegation was headed by Mahmoud Al-Theeb, Vice President O&M, at the company. Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President for Business Support and Human Resources at Dewa attended the meeting.

The visit aimed at enhancing collaboration between both parties and sharing knowledge, experience, and best practices by Dewa, as well as benchmarking. Dewa provides electricity and water services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, and efficiency to make all customers and stakeholders happy.

Al Tayer welcomed the delegation and highlighted the importance of the fruitful collaboration between both organisations in energy and water. He also highlighted Dewa’s programmes, plans, and projects to achieve the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to improve performance, productivity, and quality of services. Dewa’s strategy aligns with the UAE Centennial 2071; the UAE Vision 2021; and the Dubai Plan 2021 to secure a happy and sustainable future and support the UAE in reaching first place in all areas.