DEWA invests $151m in 6 new 132/11 kV transmission substations

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has commissioned six new 132/11 kV transmission substations from January to the end of April 2023 with a conversion capacity of 900 megavolt-amperes.

The six transmission substations in Al Jaddaf, Tilal Al Ghaf, Bani Yas, Jebel Ali Port, Marsa Dubai and Al Yufrah 1 were commissioned at a total investment of $151m (Dhs555m).

Completing the substations required more than six million safe working hours using the latest global digital technologies for transmission substations, thus enhancing DEWA’s efforts to promote digital transformation in all its service and operations.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of DEWA said the total cost of DEWA’s electricity transmission network projects under construction exceeds Dhs5bn while the reliability and availability of the company’s transmission lines is around 100 per cent.

DEWA has commissioned six new 132/11 kV transmission substations from January to April 2023, with a conversion capacity of 900 MVA, and a cost of AED 555 million. The project included 3,450 metres of 132kV ground cable to connect with the main transmission network. #DEWANews pic.twitter.com/dcXslOscsp

— DEWA | Official Page (@DEWAOfficial) June 13, 2023

The project included 3,450 metres of 132kV ground cable to connect with the main transmission network.

“The total number of 132 kV transmission stations across Dubai reached 340 stations by the end of April 2023, in addition to 24 stations under construction,” said Hussain Lootah, executive vice president of Transmission Power at DEWA.

Al Tayer highlighted that the utility firm is committed to making Dubai a role model for cities of the future and the best city in the world to live, work and visit by continuing to develop the company’s infrastructure and providing quality services for electricity and water.

DEWA infrastructure investments

Meanwhile, DEWA plans to have a gross installed capacity of 20 gigawatts (GW) and 730 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of desalinated water by 2030.

The company plans to obtain 5 per cent of the 20 GW from clean sources of energy while 240 MIGD of desalination capacity will be achieved using reverse osmosis technology.

Last month, DEWA commissioned a 60 million imperial gallons (MIG) water reservoir in Lusaily at a total investment of Dhs157.4m in May.

The utility major is currently working on three other reservoir projects in Nakhali, Hassyan and Hatta in addition to the newly commissioned water reservoir in Lusaily. The projects, which are set to increase the company’s storage capacity to 1,151 MIG from 881 MIG currently, are expected to be completed this year and next year.

The utility giant’s research and development efforts and the latest global technologies have reduced losses in water transmission and distribution networks from 42 per cent in 1988 to 4.5 per cent in 2022.

DEWA’s first-quarter net profit surged by 10.4 per cent to $208m (Dhs763m), driven by higher energy and water demand in the city.

The utility firm’s revenue for the first three months of the year hit Dhs5.44bn, up 7.3 per cent year-on-year (YoY). For the last twelve months, DEWA’s total revenue was Dhs28bn and its net profit was Dhs8.1bn.

DEWA said the demand for water in the city jumped by 6.25 per cent to reach 32.3 billion imperial gallons (BIG) in Q1 2023 compared to 30.4 BIG during the same period while average customer water consumption was higher than that of 2022.

Read: DEWA commissions 60 MIG Lusaily water reservoir