he-saeed-mohammed-al-tayer-inaugurates-5th-smart-grids-and-smart-meters-summit

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) inaugurated the 5th Smart Grids and Smart Meters Summit and delivered a keynote speech, in the presence of HE Ahmed Al Kaabi, the Ministry of Energy’s Assistant Undersecretary, representing HE Suhail Mohammed bin Faraj Al Mazroui, Minister of Energy for the UAE. The Ministry of Energy supported the summit, which was held on 28-29 October at the Madinat Jumeirah resort in Dubai, and coincided with the Sustainable Utilities Middle East Expo. The event bought together more than 1,000 visitors and participants from various major areas of the energy and water sector. These comprised government organisations, municipalities and similar bodies, research institutions, technology importers from the GCC, the Middle East and around the world. “On behalf of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, I am delighted to take part in the 5th Smart Grids and Smart Meters Summit 2015, which highlights very important topics including the implementation of smart grids, improving energy efficiency, adopting advanced renewable energy technologies and empowering sustainable solutions with technology. At this event, we will share our experiences with participants to serve the drive towards smart networks and meters that is taking place around the world,” said Al Tayer. “In line with the Smart City initiative of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, aiming to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world within three years, DEWA has launched the Smart Applications initiative through smart meters and grids, as part of three initiatives including the Shams Dubai initiative to connect solar power, which is connected to DEWA’s grid, to houses and buildings, and the Green Charger initiative to develop infrastructure and electric vehicles stations in Dubai,” added Al Tayer. “The smart meter initiative focuses on using smart applications through smart meters and grids, and provides many smart features and applications for customers. The benefits of smart meters include providing automatic and detailed readings for consumers to monitor actual consumption for a specific period of time to better understand and manage their bills. Smart meters help identify energy efficiency solutions. They send readings automatically using advanced communication media such as fibre-optic cables and storing the entire history of all consumption indicators and customer-related operations. Additionally, smart meters will support renewable sources of energy in residential, commercial, and industrial sectors by comparing supplies from consumption and generation sides,” stated Al Tayer. “The smart meter initiative focuses on using smart applications through smart meters and grids as it entails many smart features and applications for customers. Within the first phase, DEWA is currently installing 200,000 smart meters which will be operational in January 2016. Subsequently, more than one million smart meters will be installed by 2020 covering all of Dubai, and replacing all mechanical and electromechanical meters in the coming years. The smart meters project complements the smart grid project by DEWA to implement a number of technical features in electricity networks, using the latest SCADA systems, smart monitoring and control automation systems to provide electricity and water services to the highest standards of availability, efficiency and reliability. Underpinned by robust plans, we at DEWA work to raise the productivity and further enhance electricity and water transmission and distribution networks for the next 10 years. These plans are updated every year according to the data and anticipations of future demand and consumption and in line with the comprehensive development plans set by the Government of Dubai. It is also based on data and information from developers and the business sector,” added Al Tayer. “Our Smart Applications and Smart Meters initiative supports our efforts to transform Dubai into a Smart City. Dubai is building a smart grid that is the first network in the world to cover from generation, transmission, and distribution systems, to customers. It uses state-of-the-art communication technologies such as Radio Frequency, WiMax, Fibre Optics, and BPLC. The smart grid includes demand-side management, asset management, distribution automation, substation automation, system integration, and smart meters. This will significantly improve living standards in Dubai. Involving all stakeholders and customers as DEWA partners in dealing with smart grids, and providing our services through them to save time, effort, and resources will make people happier.” “One of the most important factors for the success of smart cities is the seamlessness and availability of round-the-clock integrated and connected services that meet daily living requirements. In 2009, DEWA started its smart transformation. It was the first government organisation to achieve a 100% smart transformation, less than a year after the Smart Dubai initiative was announced. Adoption of smart services was 63% last year. DEWA’s smart app, which was launched in 2010, provides over 150 services and features which make life easier for everyone, including people with special needs by enabling them to complete their transactions anytime, anywhere, and raise the level of their happiness,” concluded His Excellency. The summit included open discussion sessions and studies looking at specific international and regional situations, in addition to activities designed to gather major stakeholders. Around 20 spokespeople from various energy sectors discussed a wide range of topics including the future of automated grids, demand management, measuring large volumes of data according to global SCADA systems, strategies to connect networks to help cities transition to smart solutions, installing smart meters on main facilities grids, grid security in smart infrastructure, wireless communication technology, electric vehicle technology, landmark power storage systems and other effective and sustainable solutions, in addition to renewable technology and solar power.