DEWA plans to invest AED 2.6bn ($700mn) in water, electricity and renewable energy projects ahead of the World Expo 2020 Dubai.
The injection will support the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to host the best World Expo in history, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, has announced.
Dubai is ploughing a total of AED 56bn into energy projects over the next five years to meet the Emirate’s increasing demand for water and electricity and promote the transition to a greener economy, Al Tayer said in a statement.
Among the major initiatives DEWA is rolling out is a solar project that will deliver 1,000MW by 2019 and 3,000MW by 2030. Around 100MW from the project will be supplied to the Expo venue in Jebel Ali.
Other projects include construction of the Hassyan Clean Coal Power Plant, the first coal-fired power plant in the UAE. The 1,200 MW plant, built on the IPP model like the solar project, will be operational by 2020.
DEWA has also awarded German company Siemens with a contract for the expansion works of its M Station, the largest power generation and water desalination plant in the UAE. The project will add 700 MW of electricity, raising the total production capacity to 2760 MW upon completion of the project in 2018.
“Several other projects are being implemented such as allocating part of the capacity of a 400/132 substation, building three 132/11 kV substations with high voltage (132 kV) cables reaching 45 km in length, and building power distribution networks with medium and low voltage cables and additional transmission stations,” said Al Tayer.
“The total cost of the electricity overall projects will be AED 2.180 billion. DEWA will also roll out water transmission networks with pipelines that are 600 and 1200 mm in diameter, pumping stations and distribution stations. Expected to cost AED 515 million, these projects will increase water flow rates and ensure adequate water supply that meets the increasing demand.”
Additionally, DEWA’s smart initiatives, supporting Dubai’s Smart City initiative to transform Dubai into the world’s smartest city, will contribute to strengthening the services and facilities for hosting the Dubai Expo 2020.
‘Shams Dubai’ will connect solar energy to exhibition venue while the ‘Green Charger’ initiative will provide three types of electric vehicle charging stations: fast charging stations that take (20 – 40 minutes), medium charging (2 – 4 hours) and home charging (6 – 8 hours).
The ‘Smart Applications via Smart Grids & Metres’ initiative will enable DEWA to build an integrated smart grid for Dubai Expo 2020.
Covering generation, transmission and distribution systems The AED 7 billion smart grid will include demand side management, asset management, automation, transfer stations, automation of distribution networks and the integration of systems and smart meters.
