DEWA supports the ‘Smart City’ initiative with smart meters and grids

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21 Jul 2015

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) consistently works to increase the efficiency and capacity of the infrastructure for the production, transmission and distribution of energy and water to meet the growing demand from costumers, developers and businesses.

With the on-going preparations for Expo 2020 Dubai, DEWA has robust plans to raise the productivity and further enhance electricity and water transmission and distribution networks for the next 10 years. These plans are updated every year according to the data and anticipations of future demand and consumption and in line with the comprehensive development plans set by the Government of Dubai. It is also based on data and information from developers and the business sector.

All governmental entities and organisations are working to implement the ‘Smart City’ initiative announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aiming at transforming Dubai into the smartest city in the world within three years. The initiative features six key pillars and 100 initiatives on transport, communications, infrastructure, electricity, economic services, urban planning. Under the strategy, 1000 government services will go smart in the next three years.

DEWA launched three smart initiatives to support the ‘Smart City’ initiative. These include the ‘Shams Dubai’ initiative to connect solar power to houses and buildings, ‘Smart Applications’ initiative through smart meters and grids, and the ‘Green Charger’ initiative to develop infrastructure and electric vehicles stations.

“Our objective in the transition to become the smartest city in the world is to achieve the happiness of society and provide instant and seamless smart services anytime, anywhere. Dubai has all the elements to reach top positions globally and has become a leading global hub for business, finance, tourism, green economy and sustainability. The smart grid will contribute to the infrastructure by connecting renewable sources of energy and promoting environmental initiatives supported by qualified staff thus building a sustainable future for Dubai,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

“Our experience in implementing the smart grid strategy is unique because it is fully-integrated. DEWA has developed the smart grid strategy which is a key component of a smart city. We have developed plans and programmes for demand side management, energy efficiency and operational improvement under the smart grid strategy. These programmes include advanced metering infrastructure, asset management, demand-side management, distribution automation, information technology infrastructure, substation automation, system integration, telecommunications, and efficiency, reliability, and availability of energy supplies,” he added.

“One of the most important factors for the success of smart cities is the seamlessness and availability of round-the-clock integrated and connected services that meet daily living requirements. In 2009, DEWA started its smart transformation. It was the first government organisation to achieve a 100% smart transformation, less than a year after the Smart Dubai initiative was announced. Adoption of smart services was 62% last year. DEWA’s smart app, which was launched in 2010, provides over 150 services and features that makes life easier for everyone, including people with special needs by enabling them to complete their transactions anytime, anywhere,” noted Al Tayer.

The smart meter initiative focuses on using smart applications through smart meters and grids, and provides many smart features and applications for customers. Within the first phase, DEWA is currently installing 200,000 smart meters which will be operational in January 2016. Subsequently, more than one million smart meters will be installed by 2020 covering all over Dubai, and replacing all mechanical and electromechanical meters. Smart meters will speed service connection, improve response times, provide instant reconnection of electricity, and rationalise consumption to enhance the happiness and well-being of citizens and residents and to support resource sustainability.

The benefits of smart meters include providing automatic and detailed readings for consumers to monitor actual consumption for a specific period of time to better understand and manage their bills. Smart meters help identify energy efficiency solutions. They send readings automatically using advanced communication media such as fibre optic cables and storing the entire history of all consumption indicators and customer-related operations. Additionally, smart meters will support renewable sources of energy in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors by comparing supplies from consumption and generation sides.

The smart meters project complements the smart grid project by DEWA to implement a number of technical features in electricity networks, using the latest SCADA systems, smart monitoring and control automation systems to provide electricity and water services to the highest standards of availability, efficiency and reliability. The smart meters initiative underlines the commitment of DEWA to promote sustainable development and strengthen Dubai’s position as a global hub for smart infrastructure.