Dewa enables automatic grid restoration

  • June 29, 2022
  • Steve Rogerson

Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has installed an automatic smart grid restoration (ASGR) system, said to be the first of its kind in the MENA region, to increase the control, management and monitoring of its power network.

The system works around the clock without any human intervention. It uses a smart central system that locates the fault in the power network, isolates it and automatically restores the service. This improves grid automation, fault detection and retrieval of connections. It also supports Dewa’s efforts to maintain supplies according to high standards of reliability, accountability and efficiency.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, CEO of Dewa, said that Dewa spared no effort to increase the capacity, efficiency and readiness of electricity networks in Dubai. This should meet the future needs of customers, developers and the business sector by using the latest tools and smart and digital technologies. This is part of Dewa’s efforts to transform digitally all its operations and services.

“We work to provide a state-of-the-art integrated infrastructure for electricity and water to meet growing demand and keep pace with sustainable development needs in Dubai,” said Al Tayer. “The smart grid is an integral part of Dewa’s strategy to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure for managing facilities and services using disruptive technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution applications.”

Dewa has invested AED7bn in its smart grid programme. It also supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of the energy production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.

“Dewa’s adoption of the latest international technologies in power generation, transmission and distribution has made it one of the best utilities worldwide,” said Al Tayer. “In 2021, Dewa achieved a new world record in electricity customer minutes lost per year. Dubai recorded 1.43 minutes per customer, compared to around 15 minutes by leading utility companies in the European Union. This highlights Dewa’s ability to restore power during faults or unplanned outages. The percentage of losses in the electricity transmission and distribution networks in Dubai was 3.3%, compared to 6 to 7% in Europe and the USA.”

Hussain Lootah, executive vice president at Dewa, said the smart grid was a reinvention of how energy was transmitted, distributed and measured. It is becoming the new standard for utilities and consumers.

Grid automation is one of the main governance themes that ensure the smooth, quick and effective functioning of Dewa’s smart grid. Lootah said the total value of Dewa’s investments in electricity transmission projects between 2021 and 2024 was AED10bn. This includes AED2bn for 400kV transmission projects and AED8bn for 132kV projects.