This new achievement reflects DEWA’s efforts to achieve the Smart Dubai initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world.
The ceremony was attended by HE Dr Aisha Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of the Smart Dubai Office, and Dr Hwan-Eik Cho, President and CEO of KEPCO, Woohyun Hwang, Senior Vice President of the Innovative Energy Business division, and other members of senior management at KEPCO. Abdullah Obaidullah, Executive Vice President of Water & Civil, Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, Rashid Bin Humaidan, Executive Vice President of Distribution Power, Dr Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources, and Marwan Bin Haider, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future at DEWA, also attended the ceremony, along with other staff from DEWA.
At the beginning of the ceremony, Al Tayer welcomed Cho and the visiting delegation. Al Tayer noted that the inauguration of the first phase of the Smart Grid Station at DEWA’s Green Vehicle Workshop in Ruwayyah, is a result of the cooperation between DEWA and KEPCO, to exchange skills and expertise to adopt the latest international standards for smart cities and smart grids. The Workshop is the largest environmentally-friendly vehicle workshop in the region and designed according to the US Green Building Council’s LEED specifications.
During his speech, Al Tayer highlighted the importance of improving and enhancing this cooperation to improve services, which both parties excel in. Al Tayer invited KEPCO to participate in more projects, including Research and Development (R&D), The Internet Of Things (IoT), Big data, and drones.
"I am pleased welcome you to today’s ceremony, in recognition of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority’s (DEWA)’s new milestone in the Smart Dubai initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world. The Smart Grid Station is a solid stepping stone to build towards the smart future of Dubai, it also enhances the smart infrastructure and Dubai’s position in energy efficiency and sustainable resources. This will contribute to achieving the happiness of citizens and residents, as well as support the sustainability of our resources," said Al Tayer.
"The pilot project brings smart grids and smart buildings together. DEWA is exploring the concept of Smart Grid Stations, which connect smart buildings to each other to share information, to help improve energy and water efficiency and make optimal use of renewable energy within a smart city. Upon completing the project, we will cooperate with KEPCO to construct a group of smart residential buildings, further transforming Dubai into a smart city, added Al Tayer.
"This supports the Dubai Plan 2021, to make Dubai the preferred place to live, work, and visit, and our vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility. DEWA works to enhance strategic partnerships with international organisations, to enhance Dubai and the UAE’s competitiveness by providing the best government services based on world-class standards to achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction and happiness," concluded Al Tayer.
"I’m very pleased to attend this ground-breaking ceremony. This is the result of mutual cooperation between DEWA and KEPCO. Through this project, both companies will greatly contribute to the development of new industries in the Middle East and over the world."," said Cho.
DEWA’s Smart Grid Station is a micro grid that combines all 3 of these smart initiatives. It also features several smart elements such as smart homes, photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, an energy-storage system, a smart water system, a smart-cooling system, energy-demand units, distribution automation, smart devices, and smart lighting.
The project will include several new ideas and developments in wind energy, battery storage and building management. The project also supports DEWA’s Smart Initiatives to support the Smart Dubai vision to make Dubai the smartest city in the world. These smart initiatives include the Shams Dubai initiative to encourage building owners to install photovoltaic panels on rooftops to produce solar energy and connect it to DEWA’s grid, the Smart Applications through Smart Meters and Grids initiative, and the Green Charger initiative to build the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations in Dubai.
DEWA signed a contract with KEPCO in November 2015, to build a Smart Grid Station at DEWA’s green vehicle workshop in Ruwayyah. The contract is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by both parties in 2014, to exchange information on Smart Grids, Smart Cities, Demand Side Management, Asset Management, Distribution Automation, Substation Automation, Advanced Metering Infrastructures, Telecommunications, System Integration, IT Infrastructures, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles, Micro Grids, Databases in the Energy Sector, Investment participation opportunities and Performance Benchmarking, and organising mutual workshops to raise awareness.
A delegation from DEWA, headed by Al Tayer, visited the Smart Grid Test Bed project on Jeju Island, South Korea, in June 2014. The project, developed by KEPCO, is a model in smart grids and applications and smart homes connected to the grid, as well as electric vehicles, smart stations and power storage. The delegation looked at achievements in smart grids and smart cities, and best practices in sustainable energy and energy diversification.