DEWA projects contribute to sustainable future of Dubai

Dubai / WAM

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) said that DEWA is supporting sustainability in Dubai through mega projects and initiatives in renewable energy, sustainability, and the environment.
One of the key projects DEWA is implementing is the
Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, which emphasises how sustainable development tops the priorities of the wise leadership of the UAE: those of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE; and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The leadership realises the importance of renewable energy in achieving a balance between development and maintaining a clean, healthy, and safe environment.
Al Tayer noted that DEWA is inspired in its transformation towards using clean energy sources by the words of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, who once observed that, “Every investment in the development of clean energy sources is at the same time an investment to protect the environment for future generations.” Hence, investment in clean energy generates many social, economic, and environmental benefits. This supports the UAE Vision 2021, the Dubai Plan 2021, the National Innovation Strategy, which was launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the Dubai Innovation Strategy, which was approved by HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, to transform Dubai into the most innovative city in the world.

Carbon Abatement
Strategy
Dubai strives to enhance the development of renewable energy, sustainability, and the environment, while improving efficiency to make Dubai the city with the lowest carbon footprint in the world. The Dubai Supreme Council of Energy has launched the Carbon Abatement Strategy to reduce carbon emissions by 16% by 2020. This will contribute to making Dubai one of the cities with the lowest carbon footprints worldwide.
DEWA considers innovation a critical element in shaping the future. It is a key component of its strategic direction and organisational structure. DEWA has incorporated innovation in its vision, mission, corporate values, and strategic map. DEWA has allocated 40% of its goals to strategic innovation.

UAE leads int’l efforts
Al Tayer noted that what the UAE has achieved is a great source of pride for all citizens and residents. The UAE leads international efforts in clean and renewable energy. To support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, DEWA is working to diversify the energy mix so clean energy will generate 7% of Dubai’s total power output by 2020, 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. Through this strategy, DEWA is shaping the future of energy and preparing plans and initiatives to keep up with the latest developments in science and technology. Dubai is the only city in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to launch such a promising strategy, with specific targets and deadlines that outline the future of energy up to 2050.

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum solar park is the first of its kind in the region due to its capacity. It is the first of several promising projects to use renewable energy to generate electricity.

Innovation centre
DEWA is developing an interactive innovation centre, equipped with the latest technologies in clean and renewable energy, to enhance national energy skills, support business competitiveness, and encourage social awareness about renewable and sustainable energy. The centre’s design features five floors, at a height of 90 metres. The project will be complete by 2017.

The R&D centre
The R&D centre was launched in 2014. It is currently under construction and will be completed by 2020. The R&D centre includes indoor laboratories, to study and test the reliability of systems. The outdoor laboratories will conduct field tests of techniques and tools.
Indoor laboratories include a drone lab, which makes use of 3D-printing technology. The 4 main labs include the Electronics Laboratory, the Software Laboratory, the Mechanical Laboratory, and the Prototype Laboratory. The outdoor area is for field tests.
DEWA will make use of 3D printers in the drone lab to produce models, study technology, and study the ability to integrate these technologies, to enhance smart grids. DEWA will also study the potential of using 3D printing technology to develop spare parts, and improve the efficiency of drones in maintenance and operations. DEWA also conducts research on potential future applications for this technology in cooperation with a number of research centres and universities around the world to support DEWA’s innovation and creativity strategy.
DEWA is the first organisation in the region to use GRI, to develop sustainability reports focused on the electricity sector. In 2014, DEWA was also among the first 15 organisations in the UAE to issue a report using the GRI-G4 Guidelines, and is one of only 55 international service organisations in the electricity sector that issue reports on sustainability in accordance with these standards.

The IPP model
DEWA adopts the IPP model as a successful global model to follow across the park’s projects. This model creates a competitive work environment, by establishing the means to provide the private sector with the resources required to invest in and develop major projects.
According to the numbers issued by the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) about UAE, GGGI noted that raising the annual investment to 2.4% of the GDP, to spread technology and enhance green efficiency in all economic activities, will increase economic growth by about 4-4.5% by 2030. This economic growth will be capable of facilitating 160,000 new jobs, ensuring green growth and resources to limit effects on the environment.

Global partnerships
DEWA has signed several MoUs with international organisations such as RWA, First Solar, and the United States Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), to train DEWA employees in Europe, and the USA, while exchanging skills and learning about international developments in energy, water, and environment.
DEWA allocated AED55 million of its budget to scholarships in 2015. A total number of 24 students received scholarships in renewable energy between 2014 and 2016. 23 employees were involved in the exchange of information programme 2014-2015. DEWA sent a large number of engineers to Essen in Germany, as a part of the first group in a month-long comprehensive programme. DEWA also sent students to the University of Arizona, to study renewable energy. DEWA cooperates with the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), and the United Nations (UN) to research renewable and alternative
energy, to reduce carbon footprint and limit greenhouse gas
emissions.