DEWA’s R&D Centre files new patent for advanced battery performance

Image courtesy: DEWA/ X

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has filed a new patent for an innovative method for improving the performance of electrodes in lithium-ion (Li-ion), sodium–sulfur, and electrolyte distribution batteries.

The innovation by the utility firm’s Research and Development (R&D) Centre is achieved by treating the electrodes chemically using a polymer to increase the number of active groups on the surface of the electrodes. This leads to improved performance of the batteries

DEWA’s Research and Development Centre has filed a new patent for an innovative method to treat the electrodes chemically, for improving the performance of electrodes in lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, sodium–sulfur batteries, and electrolyte distribution batteries. #DEWANews pic.twitter.com/8HbTe3sKU8

— DEWA | Official Page (@DEWAOfficial) August 30, 2023

The low-cost, environmentally friendly method requires low temperatures and ensures stable battery performance. The innovation is part of the company’s efforts to promote the technologies of energy production and storage.

DEWA’s R&D Centre drives innovation

DEWA said the patent supports the pilot project for energy storage that the utility firm has inaugurated at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park using Tesla’s lithium-ion battery solution.

The project has a power capacity of 1.21 megawatts (MW) and an energy capacity of 8.61 MWh with a life span of up to 10 years. This pilot project is the second battery energy storage pilot project at the solar park.

The first project was implemented in collaboration with AMPLEX–NGK to install and test a sodium sulphur (NaS) energy solution with a power capacity of 1.2 MW and an energy capacity of 7.5 MWh. This was the first utility-scale energy storage pilot project in the region.

“DEWA relies on research and innovation to support the development of energy storage technologies and increase the share of clean and renewable energy. This supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050 to provide 100% of Dubai’s total power production capacity from clean energy sources by 2050,” said Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director & CEO of DEWA.

“DEWA is working on other energy storage projects, including using Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) at the 4^th phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the 250 MW hydroelectric power plant in Hatta with a storage capacity of 1,500 megawatt-hours, and the Green Hydrogen project to produce and store hydrogen using solar power.”

Earlier in August, the water and electricity provider selected Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) to build and operate the 1,800 MW sixth phase of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park with an estimated cost of up to Dhs5.51bn.

The total capacity of the solar energy projects commissioned at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park has reached 2,427MW. The sixth phase of the solar park will increase the total production capacity to 4,660MW.

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