DEWA reduces average maintenance costs by Dhs22m annually

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has revealed that the regular preventive maintenance of its power transmission networks has contributed to achieving 100 per cent reliability and availability of power in Dubai.

According to the utilities giant, this strategy reduced the average maintenance costs by approximately Dhs22m annually.

DEWA continuously conducts preventive maintenance work based on artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality, data science, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the latest cybersecurity technologies, thermal images and functional tests.

Through its Space D-programme, DEWA is developing several specialised uses for the electricity and water networks, enhancing operational efficiency and effectiveness, including preventive maintenance and improving resilience and agility in monitoring and controlling the networks.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, noted that DEWA is the first utility in the region to adopt the Reliability Centred Maintenance (RCM) strategy. In 2016, it received the ISO 55001: 2014 Certificate for Asset Management.

DEWA was the first utility in the world to receive the award for integrating high-quality asset management in operations pertaining to the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity and water.

“We are committed to achieving the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to provide an advanced and integrated infrastructure for electricity and water to meet the increasing demand, keep pace with the needs of sustainable development in Dubai, and to provide electricity and water services according to the highest standards of availability, reliability and efficiency. DEWA continues to develop innovative, proactive solutions by using its advanced smart grid and the latest technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution to strengthen its leadership as one of the most prominent and distinguished utilities worldwide in all fields,” he said.

Hussain Lootah, executive vice president of Transmission Power at DEWA, said: “We raise the capacity, efficiency and reliability of the electricity transmission network by implementing preventive maintenance and using the Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system, telecommunications and tele-control systems, securing the network through a well-established protection system, adopting the highest international standards in operation, and using smart grid technologies.

“The smart grid provides advanced features, including automated decision-making and deployment of smart sensors and applications to regulate transmission and distribution network operations. This has made DEWA’s practices a benchmark for utilities around the world.”