DEWA Organises Workshop for Students to Develop Smart Innovations

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) organised a three-week workshop for students participating in the Distinguished Conservation Project category of the 13th Conservation Award. The aim was to support innovation and enhance students’ abilities to implement innovative projects with smart programming to save electricity and water, to sustain natural resources for generations to come. The workshop, which was part of DEWA’s activities during the UAE Innovation Month 2019, supports DEWA’s vision to become a leading, sustainable, innovative global corporation. 

Around 200 students from 40 educational institutions at secondary and university levels took part in the workshop, which was presented by a number of engineers and specialists. Students were trained on the principles of smart apps, the use of Arduino development boards, Micro: bit tools and accessories, 3D printers, and other smart technologies. At the end of the workshop, 40 projects were presented to a specialised committee by the students, using modern techniques and tools made available to them by DEWA. The top three projects in this category will be awarded at a later time.

“At DEWA, we are committed to encouraging the youth to use modern science and technologies. We believe in their enormous potential and their ability to innovate disruptive technologies to keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution and achieve the vision of our wise leadership to make the UAE one of the most innovative countries in the world. We were pleased with the turnout from students participating in the Distinguished Conservation Project category of the Conservation Award, and the innovations they presented at the end of the workshop. We hope that they will build on what they learned, to devise smart technologies that contribute to the rationalisation of electricity and water use,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

DEWA organises the Conservation Award annually in cooperation with the Ministry of Education and the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA) in Dubai to recognise the achievements of the education sector in saving electricity and water and preserving natural resources. The Award also recognises individual achievements within this sector for students, faculty members and administrators.

During the past 12 years, the savings achieved by educational establishments, students and faculty amounted to 249GWh of electricity, and 1.5 billion gallons of water. These savings contributed to the reduction of 133,000 tonnes of carbon emissions. These cumulative savings in electricity and water are equivalent to approximately AED 168 million.