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DEWA CEO Shares Sustainability Vision with Bahraini Leaders | |
| Sumita Pawar |
HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), met with a group from the Electricity and Water Authority (EWA) in the Kingdom of Bahrain. The group was led by HE Kamal bin Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed, President of EWA.
The meeting was attended by Nasser Lootah, Executive Vice President of Generation (Power and Water) at DEWA; Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission (Power); Rashid Bin Humaidan, Executive Vice President of Distribution (Power); Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence; Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources; and Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future at DEWA.
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Report stated that HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer explained DEWA’s key projects, initiatives, and programmes to the Bahraini delegation. DEWA, which adopts sustainability as part of its vision, is committed to achieving the vision and directives of the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to strengthen the UAE’s global leadership in all areas.
It also mentioned that Al Tayer emphasised that DEWA is working to achieve the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050. The Mohammed bin Rashid Solar Park is one of the key projects reflecting DEWA’s efforts to promote sustainability and make Dubai a global hub for clean energy and a green economy. The solar park, with a planned capacity of 5,000 megawatts (MW) by 2030, will contribute to reducing more than 6.5 million metric tonnes of carbon emissions annually.
Al Tayer highlighted Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park’s key components, phases, and strategic objectives. He noted that the 13 MW photovoltaic first phase became operational in 2013. The 200 MW photovoltaic second phase of the solar park was launched in March 2017.
The 800 MW photovoltaic third phase became fully operational in November 2020. The 4th phase of the solar park, with a capacity of 950 MW according to the IPP model, is the largest concentrated single-site solar power plant that combines CSP and solar photovoltaic technologies. It features the world’s tallest solar power tower at 262.44 metres.
On its completion, the project will have the largest thermal storage capacity in the world at 15 hours, allowing for energy availability around the clock.
In addition, 600 MW from the 900 MW 5th phase using photovoltaic solar panels have been commissioned, and work is underway to complete the rest of the projects. DEWA has also announced the 1800 MW 6th phase using photovoltaic solar panels. It will be operational in phases.
According to the report, DEWA has achieved world-class results and developed a new benchmark for solar energy prices (5.6 cents per kWh for the 200 MW end phase in 2015 and 2.99 cents per kWh for the 800 MW 3rd phase in 2016) and USD 7.3 cents per kWh for the 700 MW fourth phase using concentrated solar power (CSP), which is the lowest in the world based on the IPP model.
Al Tayer talked about the key performance indicators (KPIs). In 2022, DEWA’s results continued to surpass those of major European and American utilities in several indicators. Losses from electricity transmission and distribution networks were reduced to 2.2%. Water network losses were also reduced to 4.5%.
DEWA has achieved a new world record in customer minutes lost (CML) per year. Dubai recorded 1.19 minutes per customer. DEWA’s Generation division has achieved global leadership in its operations and performance for electricity and water co-generation systems. DEWA’s optimal fuel heat utilisation is 90%, which is among the highest in the world.