Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has installed 3,392 smart meters (1,849 for electricity and 1,543 for water) for buildings in Hatta that are based on the latest international standards in December 2017.

This is part of Dewa’s Smart Applications through Smart Meters and Grids initiative to support the Smart Dubai initiative to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world.

“This achievement is a result of the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and his contribution to the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan, which is part of Dewa’s strategic plan to automate its operations and develop the meter system to ensure competitiveness and excellence in its services,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dewa.

“Dewa is currently replacing old mechanical and electromechanical meters with new smart meters. It has also implemented several smart procedures in electricity networks and is using SCADA systems, and smart monitoring devices, as well as control and automation systems to provide electricity and water services to the highest standards of availability, efficiency, and reliability. By 2020, we will have over 1,200,000 smart meters in Dubai,”

“The Smart Grid is a key component of Dewa’s strategy to develop advanced infrastructure to support Dubai's efforts to become a smart and happy city. We have begun to strengthen the electricity and water infrastructure to be smarter, by relying on modern smart network technologies and providing advanced features, including automatic decision making and interoperability across the entire electricity and water network. Smart Grid also supports efficiency and allows consumers to optimise consumption of energy and water.

“In addition, it supports the Demand Side Management Strategy, to reduce energy and water use to 30 per cent by 2030, and also supports the Dubai Plan 2021. The Smart Grid includes plans and programmes with investments totalling Dh7 billion ($1.9 billion) on 11 programmes to be completed in the short-, medium-, and long-term between 2014 and 2035,” added Al Tayer.

“We aim to make Dubai a worldwide model for clean energy and green economy while ensuring energy supply and energy efficiency. Dewa has started to build a hydroelectric power plant stored in the mountains adjacent to the Hatta dam, as well as several other development projects to be completed within 5 years. This project is the first of its kind in the region, with a capacity of 250MW. Dewa is also involved in other projects and initiatives in Hatta, along with the Shams Dubai initiative, and the establishment of an infrastructure for charging electric vehicles through the Green Charger initiative,” noted Al Tayer.

“We have awarded a tender for the development, engineering, procurement, construction, operation, maintenance and installation of photovoltaic panels in 640 villas for UAE Nationals in Hatta. This is part of the Shams Dubai initiative to encourage building owners to install photovoltaic panels to produce electricity from solar power and connect them to Dewa’s network. We chose three out of the five companies who provided the most competitive bids. Etihad Energy Services Company (ESCO), launched by Dewa, designs and installs these panels on the roofs of villas and government buildings. The stages of the photovoltaic installation project are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2018.” added Al Tayer. – TradeArabia News Service