Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer receives Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister at 24th WEC in Abu Dhabi and highlights DEWA's renewable energy projects and initiatives

His Royal Highness Prince Abdul Aziz bin Salman, Saudi Arabia's Energy Minister, visited Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA’s) stand at the accompanying exhibition of the 24th World Energy Congress (WEC). HE was received by HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA. WEC is organised under the patronage of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE. DEWA is a host sponsor of the conference, which is held under the theme ‘Energy for Prosperity’ from 9 to 12 September 2019, in Abu Dhabi.

Al Tayer briefed the Saudi Minister about DEWA’s key initiatives and projects that aim to increase the share of clean and renewable energy, as well as promote innovation across all its operations. DEWA’s key projects include the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the largest single-site solar park in the world. Using the Independent Power Producer (IPP) model, it will have a production capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030 with investments totalling AED 50 billion. Upon completion, the solar park will reduce over 6.5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually and provide thousands of jobs in clean energy and green economy.

Al Tayer noted that DEWA adopted the IPP model in the solar park’s projects to promote public-private partnerships. Through this model, DEWA achieved the lowest international prices for electricity on four occasions.

The 13MW first phase became operational in 2013 using photovoltaic solar panels. The 200MW photovoltaic second phase of the solar park was operational in March 2017. The 800MW photovoltaic third phase will be fully operational by 2020.

The 950MW fourth phase of the solar park is the largest single-site investment project that combines Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) and photovoltaic technologies using the IPP model. It will use 700MW of CSP; 600MW from a parabolic basin complex and 100MW from a solar tower; and 250MW from photovoltaic solar panels. The project will feature the tallest solar tower in the world at 260 metres. The project will also have the largest global thermal storage capacity of 15 hours; allowing for energy availability round the clock.

DEWA issued a tender for the fifth phase of the solar park for 900MW of electricity using photovoltaic solar panels, based on the IPP model, which will be commissioned in stages starting Q2 of 2021.

DEWA is highlighting the EV Green Charger initiative, to develop the infrastructure of electric vehicle charging stations, and the Shams Dubai initiative, which encourages building owners to install photovoltaic solar panels to produce clean energy and connect the systems to DEWA’s grid.  

DEWA is also displaying a model of the Smart Grid Station (SGS), which highlights the smart city model through three concepts or systems: the smart office, smart building, and smart factory. The SGS concept is scalable and allows for the development of individual smart buildings, groups of smart buildings and smart areas, which ensures the efficient reduction of electricity and water consumption as well as carbon emissions.

DEWA’s stand is displaying the Green Hydrogen pilot project, which DEWA is implementing in collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai and Siemens at DEWA’s outdoor testing facilities in the R&D Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.  

DEWA is also displaying a model of its new headquarters named Al-Sheraa (Arabic for Sail), which will be the tallest, largest, and smartest government net zero-energy building in the world.

DEWA is  also highlighting its added-value services such as the Smart Response service for electricity and water technical notifications through its smart app and website as well as Rammas, DEWA’s virtual employee that used Artificial Intelligence (AI).

University students who are interested in participating in the second Solar Decathlon Middle East (SDME) can learn about the competition’s details at DEWA’s stand.

At WEC, DEWA is also highlighting the 21st Water, Energy, Technology, and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2019) and the 4th Dubai Solar Show, which it organises from 21-23 October 2019 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre, under the umbrella of the 6th Green Week.