Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA launches Automatic Smart Grid Restoration System to enhance its innovative power grid management

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched an Automatic Smart Grid Restoration System (ASGR), 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, innovative, and 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 the highest standards of reliability, accountability, and efficiency.

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

“We work in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, 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. 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’s Smart Grid programme with investments totaling AED 7 billion, aligns with the directives of His Highness to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world. 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. In 2021, DEWA achieved a new world record in electricity Customer Minutes Lost (CML) 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 6-7 % in Europe and the US,” said Al Tayer.

Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power at DEWA, said that the Smart Grid is a reinvention of how energy is 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 noted that the total value of DEWA’s investments in electricity transmission projects between 2021 and 2024 is AED 10 billion. This includes AED 2 billion for 400 kV transmission projects and AED 8 billion for 132 kV projects.