Projects based on the independent power producer (IPP) model and worth Dh27 billion ($7.34 billion) have received approval from the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).

As well as leveraging public private partnerships, Dewa is keen on building new capacity in renewable energy to diversify the emirate’s energy mix in the long term, said a senior official.
Dewa has announced a total budget of Dh23.65 billion for 2016, a slight increase from Dh22.87 billion last year.

“Its operational budget for 2016 is Dh14.165 billion compared with Dh13.465 billion the year before, while the administrative capital budget has been set at Dh770 million,” remarked Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, the managing director and chief executive of Dewa.

Dewa has assigned a large part of the budget to clean energy-related projects in support of the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 launched to provide 75 per cent of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy.

“This will make Dubai’s carbon footprint the lowest in the world,” Al Tayer said.

According to the official, a sum of Dh8.72 billion will be allocated to capital expenditure and projects compared with Dh8.028 billion in 2015.

Dewa, he stated, has also allocated funds for several key projects, including the construction of nine new 132 kV substations at a cost of Dh775 million and the extension of 256 km of 132 kV cables, and other power transmission and distribution projects and smart communication networks.

Dewa’s headquarters

“Also Dh245 million has been set aside to build two water reservoirs at Al Nakhly area to increase water storage capacity at Dewa and a further Dh50 million to build a water pumping station on the Dubai-Al Ain road, as well as other water transmission and distribution projects,” added Al Tayer.

Meanwhile, Dewa has been certified by the British Safety Council as an occupational health and safety training centre. Dewa employees and strategic partners who undergo the training will be awarded with credit certificates in occupational health and safety from the British Safety Council.

Dewa has signed an MoU with RWE Technology, one of Europe’s leading engineering and project management companies, to boost co-operation in innovation, research and development in energy and smart grids, as well as scientific research and sustainable development projects.

In other news, Al Tayer received a delegation from Itron, a US smart meter company, at Dewa headquarters.

The meeting supported the smart applications initiative for smart meters and grids, one of three smart initiatives announced by Dewa to encourage household and building owners to install photovoltaic panels on rooftops to generate solar power.

A team from Dewa visited Estonia to develop cooperation in information technology practices.

The delegation was presented with the latest developments in Estonia’s smart services via a single portal, which can be used by Dubai to handle big data and develop services in connection with identification.