Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (DEWA) | DEWA launches two advanced platforms to enhance smart grid data security and management

As part of its smart grid programme, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has launched the Big Data and Analytics platform to integrate smart grid applications, and operational technologies, among others. This enables the processing of large amounts of data and provides fact-based analytics and forecasting for current and future projects. The platform contributes to improving the operations and management of assets and smart meters, thus improving the experience of stakeholders and enhancing their happiness. It also launched the Smart Grid Data Governance platform to ensure compliance with all data policies and procedures. This ensures best practices in accountability, decision-making structure, data management and stewardship. The Smart Grid Data Governance platform manages data as an asset, and defines and approves data strategies, policies, standards, procedures and metrics.

This step enables DEWA to find solutions to data-related challenges, in addition to monitoring and enhancing compliance with approved policies, data usage and other governance-related activities. The launch of the two platforms also contributes to improving the benchmarking processes of asset performance, service security, reliability and efficiency, improving capital investment through proactive management and avoiding asset failures, and protecting data privacy. This aims to ensure data security and transparency, providing metadata tables, vocabulary and business-related terms, and managing data quality, to ensure consistency and accuracy. Moreover, the two platforms contribute to providing data analysis of the ‘Green Charger’ stations for electric vehicles registered with DEWA, the ability to display the stations geospatially, and provide a record of maintenance work for the stations. It also provides automation of failure notifications, analysis of general causes of failures, and prioritisation of Notice of Defects (NODs).

“DEWA’s smart grid programme aligns with the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city in the world. The programme, with a total investment of AED 7 billion, is a key component of our strategy to develop an advanced infrastructure that supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power capacity from clean energy sources by 2050.  A Smart Grid provides advanced features that include interoperability across the entire electricity and water network. It is an integral part of DEWA’s strategy to develop state-of-the-art infrastructure for managing facilities and services according to smart and integrated systems using disruptive technologies and Fourth Industrial Revolution applications,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.

Building on the success of completing 100% of the short-term goals of its Smart Grid Strategy 2014 – 2035, DEWA is implementing its updated Smart Grid Strategy 2021-2035 which has been transformed from a technology-based approach to a value-based approach and from ten programmes to six main themes covering 19 capabilities from the world-class smart grid enablers. These themes include Foundational Capabilities; Grid Automation; Smart Energy Solutions and Green Mobility; Smart Water; Smart Grid Artificial Intelligence; and Innovative Value-Added Services.

DEWA has a world-class governance system and an ongoing record of good governance in all its operations. The implementation of the standards of good governance by DEWA has contributed to achieving competitive results at the global level, and the practices applied by DEWA have become a benchmark for many institutions around the world.