DEWA's Distribution Network Smart Centre Drives Digital Transformation And Sustainability In Dubai

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) is boosting the efficiency and resilience of Dubai's smart network through its Distribution Network Smart Centre (DNSC). This centre enhances automatic decision-making capabilities, accelerating DEWA's digital transformation and supporting sustainability goals. It plays a crucial role in managing three smart initiatives: advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) for electricity, Shams Dubai for solar power generation, and the EV Green Charger for electric vehicle charging stations.

The DNSC collects, monitors, and analyses data from smart devices within the distribution power network. By using Big Data, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, it provides real-time data monitoring and automates responses for proactive maintenance. This approach reduces human intervention, improves decision-making, and supports customer satisfaction by offering smart diagnostic and analytical services.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, stated that the DNSC is integral to achieving DEWA’s Smart Grid Strategy 2021-2035. He said, "The DNSC is part of our efforts to achieve DEWA’s Smart Grid Strategy 2021-2035 and automate the network through smart and integrated systems to monitor and analyse data to design effective, proactive solutions." The centre's automation capabilities are key to this strategy.

Rashid bin Humaidan, Executive Vice President of Distribution Power at DEWA, highlighted the centre's impact on customer satisfaction. He noted that since its launch in January 2024, it has been analysing over 15 million bits of data daily from the distribution network. This data is transformed into insight reports and dashboards that support data-driven decision-making.

The DNSC continuously monitors Dubai's smart electricity meter infrastructure using an integrated automated system. It generates reports essential for DEWA divisions like Distribution Power to minimise electricity outage durations. These reports enable timely decisions by providing insights into energy consumption patterns.

Errors detected by the system prompt immediate responses by notifying field crews through diagnostic analysis. The centre also conducts daily remote readings to ensure data integrity for DEWA customers who can access these readings via the DEWA smart app. This capability aids future growth planning for electricity services.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations

The DNSC oversees DEWA’s EV Green Charger stations across Dubai. It offers precise, continuous data on their performance, challenges, and technical needs to facilitate timely analysis and decision-making. All traditional electricity meters in Dubai have now been replaced with smart meters as part of this initiative.

The DNSC's reporting capabilities provide valuable insights into energy consumption trends. These insights are crucial for planning future expansions of DEWA's electricity services. By leveraging advanced technologies, the centre ensures efficient operation while supporting sustainable development goals in Dubai.

With inputs from WAM