mdceo-of-dewa-highlights-sustainability-in-dewa-at-dubai-international-project-management-forum

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) took part in a panel discussion at the Dubai International Project Management Forum organised by the RTA in cooperation with DEWA and Emaar at Madinat Jumeirah-Dubai. HE Mohammed Mohammed Saleh, Director General of Federal Electricity & Water Authority, HE Dr. Ahmad Belhoul, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, and Dr. Klaus Grellmann, Chief Executive Officer, RWE Consulting GmbH, also participated in the panel discussion, entitled Energy and Sustainability. A number of international experts and specialists participated in the event. Project Management is a core component of strategies for development, and a major pillar of modern management science due to its role in developing the frameworks and determinants required for successful development. During the panel discussion, Al Tayer said that sustainability is at the heart of DEWA’s vision to become a sustainable world-class utility. He said that the challenges that sustainability faces include the depletion of non-renewable resources of energy in the future, heavy and continuous reliance on non-renewable energy resources, increasing demand on power, price instability, and environmental impact. Talking about the steps to tackle these challenges, Al Tayer said that Dubai is aware of the challenges facing sustainability, which is why the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy developed the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 to support Dubai’s economic growth by ensuring energy security, increasing efficiency of use, and environmental sustainability. Dubai has also developed the Dubai Integrated Gas Strategy 2030 to secure and manage gas supply. On the future of sustainable energy in Dubai, Al Tayer explained that the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy aims to diversify the energy mix to include 71% from natural gas, 12% from nuclear power, 12% from clean coal, and 5% from solar power by 2030, in addition to reducing energy demand by 30% by 2030 by implementing initiatives for energy efficiency. Al Tayer noted that DEWA has achieved competitive results surpassing the leading European and American companies in efficiency and reliability. This has been demonstrated by reduction of losses in electricity transmission and distribution networks to just 3.46%, compared to 6-7% in Europe and the US. Network line losses in the water sector decreased to 10.4% compared to 15% in North America, achieving pioneering international results in terms of water losses. DEWA has achieved 5.62 minutes for customer minutes lost, which is less than the world average, compared to 15 minutes in the best companies in the European Union. DEWA develops and enhances the efficiency, reliability, and security of power supply and applies the latest technologies such as smart grid systems. Other developments include the expansion of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to generate 1,000 MW by 2030 (making it one of the largest solar projects in the region), installing solar panels on the rooftops of buildings and connecting them to the distribution network, and developing a programme to reduce carbon dioxide emissions. DEWA has also released a tender for the 100 MW second project of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to qualified Independent Power Producers (IPPs). DEWA received 49 qualification documents through an open request for the qualification process, which was released last May. DEWA has shortlisted 24 developers for the second phase of the tender. Al Tayer spoke about DEWA’s efforts to promote sustainability across all its energy projects. He noted that in line with its vision to become a sustainable world-class utility, DEWA has modified its strategy and adopted a three-dimensional approach that emphasises the sustainable development of Dubai, reducing its carbon footprint, increasing its investments and improving its operations. DEWA’s strategy covers 5 main themes that help to achieve its long-term plans for sustainability. These themes are sustainable growth, operational and smart service excellence, stakeholder engagement, strategic innovation, and competent capabilities for effective Emiratisation. Al Tayer elaborated on the second of its smart initiatives which support the Smart Dubai vision to transform Dubai to the smartest city in the world within 3 years. The second initiative includes the provision of smart apps to speed service connection, improve response times, provide instant reconnection of electricity, and promote how using smart meters improves energy efficiency. This helps to achieve satisfaction and prosperity for all citizens and residents in addition to sustainability of resources. DEWA is planning to install 200,000 state-of-the-art meters for new connections and replace all mechanical and electromechanical meters within five years. These initiatives are part of DEWA's Smart Grids Strategy to build one of the best grids in the world with investments reaching 7 billion dirhams. ‎‎‎‎These investments allow DEWA to build a robust infrastructure that supports demand-side management programmes Al Tayer also mentioned DEWA’s Sustainable Building, the largest government building in the world with a Platinum rating for green buildings. It saves 66% of energy and 48% of water. In order to achieve sustainability, DEWA is focusing on eight priorities. They are supporting sustainability and governance policies, integrating sustainability in strategy and operational management, ensuring the participation of all relevant stakeholders, promoting sustainability, developing a flexible sustainable supply chain strategy and adopting green practices, power and climate change, empowering employees and supporting corporate social responsibility. DEWA implements all these aspects across all its operations and big projects such as its clean-coal project, the Solar Park, smart grids, the expansion of M station, SCADA projects, and in electricity and water transmission and distribution projects. DEWA has launched its first Sustainability Report, which covers 2013 and includes topics on the international initiative (GRI) G4 and highlights the international criteria related to sustainability reports.