Dewa strengthens cooperation with the US energy companies

A delegation led by Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), visited Southern Power’s Garland Solar Facility and Clearway Energy Group’s Daggett Solar Site in California, USA.

The visit involved a detailed inspection of these solar energy sites, which integrate photovoltaic solar panels with Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS). The delegation aimed to gain insights into global best practices and expertise in this field to support the establishment of similar projects in Dubai. Dewa is currently generating clean energy through various technologies, including photovoltaic solar panels and Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies, featuring a central tower unit and three parabolic trough units. These technologies enable large-scale, continuous electricity generation around the clock.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said: “We are pleased to strengthen strategic and constructive cooperation with US energy companies, in line with the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to benefit from technologies, enhance performance, and improve the quality of life. This cooperation supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050, aiming for 100% clean energy production capacity by 2050. Dewa translates the ambitious visions and development boom witnessed by Dubai in all fields into giant projects and promising opportunities, especially in the fields of energy and water. One of the most prominent of these projects is the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world, with a production capacity of more than 5,000 megawatts by 2030.”

He added: “We are committed to exchanging best practices and expertise, and advancing new technologies and solutions that enhance efficiency and sustainability in the electricity sector, reducing carbon emissions in the process of electricity generation.”

Korean energy companies: Officials from several Korean energy companies learnt recently about Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa)’s experience in the clean and renewable energy sector, as well as the latest technologies and innovations developed by Dewa.

This took place during a visit by a high-level delegation, led by Sung Soo Kim Su, Senior Vice President of the Global Sae-A Group, to Dewa’s Sustainability and Innovation Centre and the Research and Development (R&D) Centre at the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the world’s largest single-site solar park using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, with a planned production capacity of over 5,000 megawatts by 2030.

During the tour, officials from the R&D Centre briefed the delegation on DEWA’s Green Hydrogen project, the first of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to produce hydrogen using solar power.

The tank can store up to 12 hours of hydrogen. The project, which produces green hydrogen through the electrolysis of water using renewable energy, has been designed to accommodate future applications and testing platforms for various uses of hydrogen, including energy production and mobility.

Officials from the Sustainability and Innovation Centre also briefed the Korean delegation on the Centre’s efforts, which serve as a global incubator for innovation in various fields of clean and renewable energy. The Sustainability and Innovation Centre provides visitors with a unique experience, allowing them to explore the latest innovation in clean energy technology.

The Korean delegation commended Dewa’s efforts and its achievements in innovation, research and the development of the renewable and clean energy sector.

In June this year, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has commissioned a new water reservoir in Enkhali and connected it to Dubai’s water network. The reservoir, which has a storage capacity of 120 million imperial gallons (MIG), cost Dhs287.8 million.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer said, “The 120 MIG reservoir in Enkhali and the other reservoirs in Lusaily, Hassyan, and Hatta support DEWA’s strategy to increase the efficiency and reliability of water networks, raise water flow and volume of water reserves to meet the growing demand and sustainable development of Dubai. When the reservoirs are completed, the storage capacity will reach 1121.3 MIG of desalinated water, compared to the current capacity of 1001.3 MIG.”

These reservoirs add to the Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project for desalinated water which DEWA has completed its first phase. The full scale of the ASR project can store up to 6,000 million imperial gallons of water once completed by 2025.