Dubai to stockpile water for 90 days for emergencies
The full scale of the ASR project can store up to 6,000 million imperial gallons of water once completed by 2025 as a strategic reserve…reports Asian Lite News
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has completed the construction of the first stage of the Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) project for desalinated water and has started the operations and testing stage.
The full scale of the ASR project can store up to 6,000 million imperial gallons of water once completed by 2025 as a strategic reserve. This makes it the largest ASR of its kind in the world to store potable water and retrieve it in case of an emergency. This will secure the Emirate with an additional source of potable water strategic reserve of 50MIGD for 90 days in emergencies, while ensuring the quality of the stored water.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, said that the new project supports DEWA’s efforts to increase the storage capacity of Dubai to reach 7212 MIG in 2025 when compared to the present storage capacity of 822 MIG.
“We support 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, and resilient infrastructure of electricity and water in Dubai according to the highest standards of availability, reliability, efficiency and safety. This helps to ensure meeting the rapidly growing demand for water across different areas in Dubai for all citizens, residents and visitors. Besides the ASR project, DEWA is working on a 120 MIG reservoir in Al Nakhali and another 60 MIG reservoir in Al Lusaily,” added Al Tayer.
The ASR project increases the sustainable production of water in Dubai. It uses clean solar power to desalinate seawater using the latest Reverse Osmosis (RO) technologies. Excess water is stored in aquifers and pumped back into the water network when needed. The cost of this innovative integrated model is less than the cost of traditional reservoirs, and is a sustainable, eco-friendly, economical solution. It also emphasises Dubai’s ability to anticipate and shape the future.
The production capacity of desalinated water of DEWA is currently 490 MIGD, including 63MIGD using Sea Water Reverse Osmosis (SWRO) technology. By 2030, SWRO will help expand its production capacity to 303 MIGD, increasing it to 730 MIGD of desalinated water by 2030.
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) strongly participated in UAE Innovates 2022…reports Asian Lite News
It organised the Innovation Week 2022, from 22nd February to 28th February, and held the series ‘Future Next’ virtually along with a group of workshops and panel discussions.
The Innovation Tent at DEWA’s headquarters and the Festival Garden at Expo 2020 Dubai hosted key DEWA innovative projects and initiatives. This is part of DEWA’s commitment to raise the UAE to become one of the most innovative countries that are prepared for the future.
“The annual national event the UAE Innovates reflects the importance the wise leadership attaches to innovation as well as the unlimited support of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to consolidate the culture of innovation and outline creative ideas to ensure a brighter and more sustainable future for generations to come. As part of its vision to become a globally leading sustainable innovative corporation, DEWA adopts innovation and is committed to making it a daily practice in government work. It also promotes social participation in designing and developing future and innovative solutions as well proactive measures for challenges in the next 50 years,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
The Innovation Tent at DEWA’s headquarters hosted 60 events and workshops organised by DEWA on innovation, disruptive technologies, and Fourth Industrial Revolution applications. The tent had an array of DEWA’s latest innovations to support its position as one of the most innovative utilities worldwide. It contributes to achieving the happiness of the individual and the society within an integrated strategy and solid foundations that achieve sustainable and comprehensive development.
Key projects include the Dubai Space-D programme which promotes reliability, and operational efficiency including the preventative maintenance of electricity and water networks (planning, generation, transmission, and distribution).
Digital DEWA, the digital arm of DEWA; will make DEWA the first digital entity worldwide with autonomous systems for renewable energy storage with the expansion of using Artificial Intelligence and digital services. The Innovation Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is a global platform for renewable and clean energy innovation. It is shaping the future of sustainable energy worldwide. DEWA also showed its Universal Service Centre, which offers a fully digital experience that provides comprehensive, reliable, and secure services to customers; and Rammas, on Amazon’s Alexa through which DEWA provides several smart services in Arabic.
DEWA also highlighted its ‘Augmented Reality (Phase 2): digital training and onboarding’ that uses digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli delivered technologies. It also showed its 11kV Centralised Self-Healing, an automated solution to restore power within one minute for all customers, compared to 15 minutes of manual restoration. It also showed its ‘Digital Simulation System for Distributed PV Analysis’ to provide historical and real-time weather, power, and energy data for existing, proposed, and planned Distribution Renewable Resources Generation projects throughout Dubai.
DEWA also presented its smart power plant that takes operational excellence management to the next level with online intelligence and automation. The system supports decision making at all levels by using data and implementing the best in-class power generation analytical applications.
DEWA organised its virtual Future Next series, with several experts from the Data Hub Integrated Solutions (Moro), InfraX, Digital X, Dell, Avaya, and Software AG, taking part.
DEWA participated in the Innovation Exhibition organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation at the Festival Garden of Expo 2020 Dubai from 11- 16 February. DEWA showed at its stand its key innovative programmes that use the latest disruptive technologies in addition to the key projects of its subsidiaries. DEWA showed its 3D printing spare parts project for its work, based on reverse engineering and product development techniques, and its liquid-cooling system that it developed for cooling IT devices in the data centre. (WAM)
Launch of DEWA’s space programme Space-D. (Photo credits_DEWA)
Space-D supports DEWA’s grid digitalisation programme by using IoT and remote sensing technologies…reports Asian Lite News
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has selected NanoAvionics to design, build, test, and manage the launching of two nanosatellites 3U and 6U. The services supplied by Nanoavionics also include operation, knowledge transfer and training.
Nanosatellites to support digitalisation of Dubai’s power, water networks
This is part of DEWA’s space-D programme that seeks to enhance operational efficiency and reliability, and promote preventive maintenance for the planning, generation, transmission and distribution of electricity and water networks. Space-D supports DEWA’s grid digitalisation programme by using IoT and remote sensing technologies.
Through this programme and the expertise of NanoAvionics, DEWA intends to enhance its flexibility and agility in monitoring and managing its electrical and water networks. With Space-D, DEWA expects to reduce costs, improve its asset utilisation and provide sustainable, efficient and reliable power and water services to its customers.
“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched DEWA’s space programme, Space-D. The programme aims to build DEWA’s capabilities and train Emirati professionals to use space technologies to enhance its electricity and water networks. The programme will take advantage of Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and blockchain to exchange information with the help of satellite communications and earth observation technologies,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
In line with its digital transformation, DEWA will use a 3U satellite with an Internet of Things (IoT) payload as well as a 6U satellite with an Earth Observation (EO) payload from Nanoavionics. Using satellite network connectivity, IoT terminals, satellite imagery and applying AI to the captured data will bring greater efficiency and effectiveness to DEWA’s operations, maintenance and planning. The agreement with NanoAvionics also includes launch management, construction of the ground station, and an extensive training programme for Emirati professionals to facilitate know-how transfer and support in expanding DEWA’s future space capabilities.
Vytenis J Buzas, co-founder and CEO of NanoAvionics, said, “This is a fantastic project for NanoAvionics to be involved in and a great example of how satellite technology improves our lives and helps us to become more sustainable. The knowledge transfer, in addition to satellite integration and mission operations for DEWA, also shows the capabilities and value that our expert team can bring to our customers. Our team has been part of more than 90 missions, including four successfully launched missions this year, and has previous experience in sharing its skills and knowledge through programmes with other international customers.”
DEWA CEO inaugurates second solar Decathlon Middle East
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD&CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has inaugurated the 2nd Solar Decathlon Middle East…reports Asian Lite News
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and MD&CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has inaugurated the 2nd Solar Decathlon Middle East (SDME) under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. DEWA has organised the competition as part of the partnership between the Supreme Council of Energy and DEWA with the US Department of Energy. SDME has attracted 8 teams from 12 universities from around the world, to design, build, and operate smart and sustainable solar-powered homes that are suited to the region’s climate.
The opening ceremony, held at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, was attended by Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary General of The Executive Council of Dubai; Ahmad Buti Al Muhairbi, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Energy; Saif Humaid Al Falasi, CEO of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC); university presidents, professors, and students, and many officials from the public and private sectors.
H.H. SHEIKH AHMED BIN SAEDD AL MAKTOUM, CHAIRMAN, DUBAI SUPREME COUCIL OF ENERGY:”The UAE presents a global role model for empowering young people and involving them in shaping the future by encouraging them to make use of their potential and talents. The UAE has become a destination for innovators and creative minds from all over the world. Organising the first and second Solar Decathlon Middle East in Dubai supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to attract skilled and talented young people. Their exceptional minds are key components of the UAE’s preparation for the future. The competition also supports the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to support young people who are the most valuable asset and the most important driver of development and innovation of solutions to challenges. Investing in their ideas and aspirations is the most effective investment to build the future.”
H.H. praised the local and international universities for encouraging their students to participate in the 2nd SDME. He also commended the students participating in the global competition for their intent to create solutions that promote the transition towards a more sustainable lifestyle.
“It is my pleasure to welcome you to the opening of the 2nd Solar Decathlon Middle East. In 2018, we hosted the first SDME in line with our efforts to support the vision of our wise leadership, who attaches great importance to innovation as a forward-looking approach to develop sustainable solutions to the challenges facing humanity. Our leadership provides young people with opportunities to unleash their potential and encourages them to be creative; motivating them to develop innovative solutions that support global efforts to protect the planet from the effects of global warming, to ensure a brighter and more sustainable future for our generations to come,” said Al Tayer in his keynote speech.
”Dubai is the first city to host the first and second biggest and most competitive competitions for international universities in the Middle East. This supports its commitment to sustainability, its pioneering role in shaping the future, its relentless support to efforts to combat climate change, and its role as an incubator for creativity and innovation, especially among young people. This SDME is particularly important as it is being organised in conjunction with Expo 2020 Dubai with its theme ‘Connecting Minds, Creating the Future’. This event also coincides with the Year of the 50th where we celebrate 50 years since the establishment of the UAE. This year, the UAE has announced a strategic initiative to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, making the UAE the first country in the Middle East and North Africa to do so. Dubai has launched a strategy and roadmap to be a centre of excellence in the essential new technologies to achieve zero carbon emissions and reach 100% of clean energy by 2050.”
Al Tayer noted that Dubai has adopted a unique approach to be a smart city that always seeks to improve its inhabitants’ quality of life. The Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan outlines an integrated roadmap for sustainable urban development to make Dubai the world’s best place to live. In 2019, Dubai was the first city in the Middle East and North Africa to achieve a platinum rating in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Cities certification awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC). Dubai also joined the world’s C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, becoming part of an elite group of the world’s cities committed to fighting climate change.
“At DEWA, we support these efforts through major renewable and clean energy projects, most notably, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which is the largest single-site solar power park in the world, with a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030. We have launched pioneering projects to diversify Dubai’s clean energy mix. These include all available clean and renewable energy sources and technologies such as solar photovoltaic systems, Concentrated Solar Power (CSP), green hydrogen production using solar power, pumped-storage water technology, and studying electricity generation from wind power, as well as other efforts made to transform Dubai into the world’s smartest and happiest city in the world,” added Al Tayer.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer
SAEED MOHAMMED AL TAYER, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE DUBAI SUPREME COUNCIL OF ENERGY AND MD &CEO, DUBAI ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY: “Your participation in the SDME confirms your role as a driving force for building a sustainable future and highlights your awareness of the importance of smart solutions in supporting sustainable development efforts worldwide. On this occasion, I would like to thank you and commend the efforts you have made over more than two years, during which you have overcome the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, to design and build smart homes that adopt the latest innovative technologies that contribute to reducing environmental impact, including clean energy, to provide a happy and sustainable lifestyle. While the jury evaluates the homes that you designed and built over the next two weeks, I assure you that everyone is a winner in this competition. All the innovative models we have seen will constitute an important addition to the sustainable development process not only in Dubai but across all cities of the world,” said Al Tayer addressing the students participating in the SDME.
Al Tayer thanked the sponsors and partners of the 2nd SDME, as well as the professors, supervisors, judges, volunteers and everyone who has a role in organising this global prestigious competition.
After the ceremony, Al Tayer and senior officials toured the houses designed by the participating teams in the second SDME.
SDME encourages the university teams to design, build, and operate sustainable models of cost-effective and energy-efficient solar-powered homes, with a focus on protecting the environment, taking into consideration the climate of the region. The teams compete in 10 contests: architecture; engineering and building; energy management; energy efficiency; comfort conditions; house functioning; sustainable transport; sustainability; communications, and innovation.
Visitors can register via an online portal by scanning the QR codes at DEWA’s pavilion. Competition winners get a chance to win valuable prizes. …reports Asian Lite News.
As part of its World Energy Day campaign, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organises a series of events at its pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, to highlight the importance of the initiative, adopted by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; along with 54 countries, representatives from the UN, the Arab League, and the African Union through the Dubai Declaration on 22nd October 2012.
Between 20th-23rd October, DEWA is conducting the World Energy Day awareness campaign at its pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, at the Sustainability Pavilion, to introduce visitors to its prominent projects and pioneering innovative initiatives that support the pillars of World Energy Day.
Visitors can register via an online portal by scanning the QR codes at DEWA’s pavilion. Competition winners get a chance to win valuable prizes.
“The UAE is one of the first countries in the region to prioritise environmental protection for climate change, by adopting green policies and pioneering initiatives in this vital sector, such as the World Energy Day initiative, to raise awareness on conservation and sustainability, cooperation between organisations and society to curb environmentally harmful practices, rationalise energy consumption and minimise carbon emissions, to ensure a brighter future for generations to come,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA.
“In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to enhance the shift towards a green economy, we continue to move forward with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050; and the Demand Side Management Strategy 2030 to reduce 30 percent of electricity and water demand by 2030. This contributes to making Dubai a globally leading hub in demand-side management,” added Al Tayer.
DEWA competition (WAM)
DEWA encourages the public to visit its website to download the World Energy Day toolkit, which includes graphics and information that can be easily shared across social media.
DEWA encourages everyone to share the hashtag #WorldEnergyDay to encourage their friends and families to adopt conservation through simple steps. Community members are also urged to take part in the Green Pledge on the World Energy Day section on DEWA’s website.
The Green Pledge encourages participants to make a personal commitment towards the environment by adopting conservation practices at home, with a focus on waste reduction.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and Meghan Gregonis, the United States Consul General in Dubai.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), has met Meghan Gregonis, the United States Consul General in Dubai, at Expo 2020 Dubai…reports Asian Lite News
Al Tayer stressed the importance of promoting cooperation between DEWA and public and private American companies in clean and renewable energy and water, as well as enhancing bilateral relations through sharing global best practices and benchmarking between DEWA and American organisations.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and Meghan Gregonis, the United States Consul General in Dubai.
In his meeting with Gregonis, Al Tayer highlighted DEWA’s key projects, initiatives and plans to achieve the vision of the wise leadership, to increase the share of clean and renewable energy. This is in line with the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. DEWA is also harnessing all its capabilities to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and disruptive technologies to contribute to making Dubai a smart city. This is achieved by providing the best government services. DEWA’s initiatives and projects aim to enhance Dubai’s global competitiveness, especially in renewable and clean energy, sustainability, and green economy.
Al Tayer also highlighted the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world with a planned total capacity of 5,000MW by 2030. The Solar Park’s projects constitute one of the key pillars of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050.
Al Tayer also talked about the Green Hydrogen project, which DEWA commissioned at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. This is the first pilot project of its kind in the Middle East and North Africa to produce green hydrogen, one of the most promising sources of energy and among the environmentally friendly sources, which constitute one of the pillars of a sustainable future that depends on accelerating the transition to carbon neutrality and achieve a green economy by developing green mobility, and reducing carbon emissions across various industries.
Al Tayer talked about the 250MW power plant using hydroelectric pumped storage technology in the mountainous area adjacent to the Hatta Dam. He also highlighted DEWA’s study to produce energy using wind power, in addition to the smart grids. DEWA has adopted a strategy to enhance energy efficiency. It also has a clear strategy for demand side management, which seeks to reduce electricity and water demand by 30% by 2030.
It is the largest single-site solar park in the world using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model with a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030….reports Asian Lite News
The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA), using its Space-D programme, has collaborated with Stanford University to develop an advanced system to forecast Photovoltaic (PV) production in the short term at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
It is the largest single-site solar park in the world using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model with a planned capacity of 5,000MW by 2030.
The new system reduces errors in the forecast to less than 10 percent. This supports DEWA’s efforts to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to provide 75 percent of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050, said a DEWA press release on Thursday.
The system uses modern technologies such as artificial intelligence, deep learning, high-density cameras on the main satellite and a network of metrological stations to predict irradiance, dust and cloud movement, which can affect PV performance.
“We are collaborating with Stanford University at DEWA’s R&D Centre through our membership in the Energy 3.0 programme from the university. The R&D centre focuses on enhancing partnerships, especially among the academic community and harnesses all capabilities 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,” Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, said.
Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, said that the collaboration also exchanges knowledge and experience to resolve critical energy issues worldwide, accelerate innovation, research and studies in advanced renewable and alternative energy.
“The R&D Centre supports DEWA’s efforts to overcome challenges in the energy sector when generating electricity from solar and clean energy. This supports the Centre’s goals to become a global platform for promising solutions that enrich the scientific community in the UAE and the world,” said Dr. Saif Saeed Almheiri, Vice President of Research & Development at DEWA.
“I am pleased and honoured to be able to collaborate with DEWA on this world-leading solar project. Improving the ability to forecast solar PV output will help not only Dubai but the entire world, as we shift increasingly to a clean solar-based economy,” said Prof. Adam Brandt, Associate Professor of Energy Resources Engineering at Stanford University.
