DEWA’s robust infrastructure is a key element of Dubai’s development
- February 6, 2020
- Posted by: Lyn Wilson
- Category: Conferences, Corporate, Environmental, Technology & Innovation, Water Treatment, Middle East
The UAE has become a prominent destination worldwide for foreign direct investment entrepreneurship and a global economic hub primarily due to the country’s progressive and robust infrastructure and which has played an important part overall in the sustainable development process.
The government of Dubai aims to achieve the goals of the Dubai Plan 2021 part of which is to provide a strong electricity and water infrastructure and at Dubai Electricity and Water Association (DEWA) the strategies and business objectives that are being carried out are all part of the UAE’s global achievements.
Dubai is a foremost city in energy and environmental design and is the first city in the Arab World and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to receive the Platinum Rating in the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for Cities certification awarded by the US Green Building Council (USGBC).
This award qualifies a city for the topmost rating for its sustainability performance benchmark and is measured within a comprehensive framework in areas such as the energy and water and waste treatment sectors amongst many others.
According to a report by the UAE government, Dewa owns a world-class infrastructure with an installed capacity of 11,400 megawatts (MW) of electricity and 470 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of desalinated water. Dewa is continuously developing its assets that are worth over AED144 billion with investments of AED 86 billion over the next five years to meet the growing demand for electricity and water in Dubai.
Dewa supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 to transform Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy by diversifying the energy mix to include 75% of Dubai’s total power output from clean resources by 2050.
The construction of the extension project of M-Station in Jebel Ali, inaugurated by Dewa in April 2019, is the largest power and water desalination plant in the UAE .The total cost reached AED 11.669 billion and the production capacity of M-Station in Jebel Ali achieved 2,885MW and 140 million gallons of desalinated water per day.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park is the largest single-site solar park in the world based on the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model. The project has been developed over several phases as follows:
- Phase 1 became operational in 2013
- Phase 2 in 2017
- Phase 3 is being implemented in 3 stages and will be fully operational by April 2020
Phase 4 of the solar park ( 950MW) is the largest single-site Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) project in the world based on IPP. The project will feature the tallest solar tower in the world at 260 meters. Phase 5 will be operational over several stages starting from Q2 2021.
Hatta Hydroelectric power plant, the first of its kind in the GCC with a lifespan of 60-80 years, is one of a number of development projects launched by Dewa, supporting the Hatta Comprehensive Development Plan. This project includes the construction of a 250-megawatt pumped-storage hydroelectric power station in Hatta making use of the already existing water stored in the Hatta Dam. The efficiency of power production will reach 79% with the response time to the demand for energy taking place within 90 seconds.
Dubai is researching methods to improve water production and to ensure its sustainability. For example, based on using clean solar energy to desalinate seawater using the latest Reverse Osmosis (RO) technologies they have made analyses in the economic and technical feasibility of replacing Multi-Stage Flash (MSF) desalination technology with solar-powered Reverse Osmosis (RO) to produce water using cheap and clean energy.
The result of this should mean that by 2030, Reverse Osmosis will help expand production capacity to 305 MIGD, increasing desalinated water production capacity to 750 MIGD.
The 22nd Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX) and the 5th Dubai Solar Show from 26-28 October 2020 will be organized by Dewa. WETEX has secured its position as one of the largest specialized exhibitions and the biggest of its kind, in water, traditional and renewable energy, sustainability, green technologies, and relevant fields in the region. Dewa is the official Sustainability Energy Partner of EXPO 2020 Dubai, which will be organized for the first time in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia.
These two exhibitions will be held at the site of EXPO 2020 and both act as a unique platform for companies and organizations working in these key sectors. Especially with the expansion in clean and renewable energy in the UAE and the region it is important for businesses to be able to promote their products, services and innovative technologies, and meet decision-makers, investors, buyers and interested parties from around the world.