Research & Development (R&D) Centre

The DEWA Research and Development (R&D) Centre, launched in 2014 in alignment with the National Innovation Strategy, serves as a central hub for DEWA’s research efforts. Located at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park to leverage cross-disciplinary collaboration, the Centre was officially inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, in March 2020. Driven by the vision of HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer to anticipate and shape a sustainable future, the Centre's mission is to generate value through cutting-edge applied research, ensuring DEWA remains at the forefront of providing world-class services while aiming to lead the transformation of energy and water systems by 2050.

To fulfil its mandate, the R&D Centre is organised into four main departments: the Research Programme; the Technology Advancement and Demonstration which focuses on large-scale pilot development; the Technology Management for intellectual property generation; Research Infrastructure and Support for laboratory operations; all supported by an independent PMO for governance, programme and performance management.

Strategic Objectives

1. Position DEWA as a leader in global energy and water services.

2. Drive continuous improvement across DEWA’s core utility operations.

3. Foster value creation through targeted R&D activities and strategic global partnerships

4. Advance R&D excellence by adhering to international standards and best practices.

5. Build a world-class R&D ecosystem by combining state-of-the-art infrastructure with highly skilled talent.

Key Research Areas

The following sections detail the Research Verticals and Enabling Horizontals that define the Centre’s technical focus, along with the state-of-the-art infrastructure that drives their success.

Solar

Goal: Advance solar PV innovation by developing efficient, cost-effective PV cell and module technologies that positively contribute to net-zero carbon goals. Assess the performance reliability of next-gen recyclable modules to withstand harsh desert conditions

Programs

1. PV Cell & Module Development & Recycling

Improving and developing high-performance, cost-effective solar cell technologies, and enabling the design and manufacturing of advanced PV module designs that endure harsh desert conditions, while addressing the entire PV lifecycle through recycling initiatives.

2. PV Performance & Reliability

Assessing the performance and reliability of PV modules and systems to consistently meet intended performance metrics under desert climatic conditions

Supporting Infrastructure:

• Solar Lab (ISO/IEC 17025 Accredited): Offers PV performance and reliable indoor testing services certified to the highest international standards. Features multiple accelerating ageing chambers and solar simulators.

• Outdoor Test Facility (OTF): Enables continuous monitoring of solar photovoltaic (PV) module performance under real-world conditions.

• Solar Cell Fabrication Lab: Vacuum-based cluster tool, and solution-based deposition gloveboxes.

• Cleaning Test Field: Dedicated to testing robotic cleaning solutions for solar panels. 

Water

Goal: Support DEWA in achieving sustainable, reliable and cost-effective water production, storage and distribution. Studying, analysing, developing and demonstrating innovative seawater desalination methods and water purification technologies. Optimising and monitoring water transmission and distribution network operations to enhance efficiency and mitigate risks.

Programme

Developing a comprehensive seawater desalination portfolio covering pre-treatment systems, water desalination systems and brine treatment and valorisation options for improving efficiency and increasing insight into the processes. Recent projects include membrane performance at elevated temperatures, material recovery from brine, the development of an analytical alternative to Silt-Density Index (SD) measurements, testing of membrane distillation in combination to RO membrane fouling analysis and more.

Supporting Infrastructure:

• Water Lab: Dedicated to research in water treatment, desalination and water-energy domain. Characterisation and small-scale testing skids for membranes.

• Photovoltaic-driven reverse-osmosis System: Demonstrates sustainable water purification using solar energy.

• Seawater Desalination Testing Facility: Seawater-based system for testing novel desalination technology performance from membranes to anti-scalants.

Smart Grid Integration

Goal: Support DEWA in operating an efficient, agile, reliable and secure grid and generation system that fulfils customer expectations and integrate variable renewables at scale

Programmes

1.Power Systems Modeling & Studies

Use of advanced simulation and analysis methodologies, concepts and tools to enhance planning and studies for the stability, reliability, efficiency and sustainability of the power grid. Objective is to support the short term (operational) and long-term planning for maximum utilisation of the grid and the effective extension of the power grid. Build internal capabilities for grid code and compliance.

2. Advanced Grid Operations & Control

To propel the advancement of innovation, assessment and validation of advanced control, operation and protection strategies that drive and guide the continuous transformation of modern power systems, while achieving and maintaining sustainability, stability and security in energy infrastructure, and aligning with DEWA’s internal strategic objectives, including reliability, sustainability, renewable integration and innovation.

3. Grid Asset Management

Advance the management and enhancement of grid assets through the integration of innovative technologies, optimisation of maintenance practices, improvement of asset resilience and promotion of sustainability, ensuring reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible grid performance. Focus on critical assets as being the critical components of the safe, secure and reliable operation of the grid.

Supporting Infrastructure:

• Smart Grid Integration (SGI) Lab: Supports testing and validation of smart grid technologies including load management, real-time monitoring and renewable integration. Advanced Power Hardware in the Loop (PHIL) and power quality analysis.

Energy Systems

Goal: Support DEWA in fostering sustainable energy use, reducing energy waste and accelerating the net-zero carbon transition. Enhance DEWA's capabilities by developing and utilising advanced system modelling, economic assessment and optimization of current and future energy scenarios.

Programmes

1. Energy Systems Modelling & Optimisation

Develop and apply advanced capabilities for joint technical and economic assessment of energy-related technologies, systems and policies. Energy projects cover systems techno-economic analysis, integrated energy system optimization, energy storage and hydrogen integration, lifecycle assessment and carbon accounting, and climate risks & resilience.

2. Smart & Sustainable Buildings & Cities

Validate technologies that will radically foster the efficiency of building and district energy demand, enable net-zero carbon performance and dynamic response to the grid, and increase their overall sustainability performance. Projects cover sustainable districts and buildings, intelligent energy management, renewables in buildings and cities, energy behaviour and demand response, advanced and efficient cooling systems.

Supporting Infrastructure:

• Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) Testing Facility: Supports evaluation of PV systems integrated into building structures.

Fourth Industrial Revolution

Goal: Support DEWA’s utilization of various fields of robotics, drones, IOT, advanced materials, 3D printing, AI and Big Data to improve performance, efficiency, research quality and achieve market gains.

Programmes

1. Robotics & Drones

Utilise robotics and automation to enhance operational performance, improve safety and reduce intensity of field operations for DEWA business units. Projects include live maintenance robots/drones, aerial inspection drones and ground infrastructure monitoring.

2. Artificial Intelligence and Data Analytics

Develop and test advanced machine learning and AI tools to improve DEWA’s operational productivity and enable research effectiveness. Provides support for predictive maintenance, advanced forecasting and Big Data analytics.

3. Internet of Things

Develop and test advanced IoT hardware and software solutions to improve DEWA’s operational productivity and enable research effectiveness. Projects include embedded hardware and firmware for grid and water management, edge computing data pre-processing, data communication for integration, smart data visualisation for IoT platforms

4. 3D Printing & Advanced Materials

• Advanced design, printing processes and materials for fast prototyping. PoCs and spare parts for DEWA’s Bus.

• Development and characterisation of advanced material solutions for energy applications and storage.

Supporting Infrastructure:

• Robotics and Drone Lab: Supports development of autonomous systems for inspection, maintenance and environmental monitoring.

• Internet of Things (IoT) Lab: Enables development and testing of IoT-based solutions for energy and infrastructure applications.

• High-performance Computing Cluster: Provides advanced computational capabilities for simulations, data analytics and AI research.

• Advanced Materials and Characterisation Lab: Focuses on material science research including multi-scale physical and chemical properties’ characterisation tools.

• 3D Printing Lab: Equipped with multiple types of 3D printers (metal, PLA, ABS, Nylon, composites, clay, etc.) for rapid prototyping and production.

• Fabrication Workshop: A versatile engineering space for mechanical, electrical and fabrication tasks supporting R&D operations.

Space & Remote Sensing

Goal: Empower DEWA with next-gen space technologies to drive sustainable and efficient operations, leading the global shift towards a greener future.

Programmes

1.Resource Assessment & Forecasting

Develop tools and models for accurate measurement and forecasting of solar radiation and weather conditions to improve predictions of solar energy output. Projects include numerical weather modelling, satellite and sensor-enabled resource assessment and forecasting, solar radiation and solar output forecasting, renewable technologies performance assessment

2.Utility Space Applications

Develop innovative and sustainable solutions using advanced space technology, ensuring efficient, resilient and environmentally friendly services to support DEWA’s needs in the communications and remote-sensing domains. Develop the extensive Majara Remote Sensing platform including asset monitoring, environmental monitoring and early warning systems

Supporting Infrastructure:

• Satellite Ground Station (Space-D Initiative): Supports DEWA’s space-based research and communication systems. Includes various systems for real-time satellite communication.

• Solar Resource Station (SRS): The Solar Resource Assessment and Forecasting programme develops methods to accurately forecast solar irradiance and power output in order to improve the overall integration of solar energy in DEWA’s grid.

DEWA Research Transactions

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R&D Al Baheth Programme

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