The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) announced today the completion of its pilot virtual power plant project, the first of its kind in the region. The project is one of the authority’s pioneering initiatives that aim to revolutionize the management of distributed energy resources (DERs) and enhance energy sustainability.
Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, emphasized the importance of a resilient distribution network in ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply which is crucial for accelerating the achievement of net zero by 2050.
Dubai’s energy security and sustainability
DEWA’s virtual power plant project utilizes advanced digital technology, including aggregation, orchestration and artificial intelligence (AI). In addition, it includes forecasting and optimization to integrate and control various types of DERs.
DEWA is currently testing the project using a digital twin of the electrical network to evaluate its performance as a potential digital technology enabler for providing large-scale system flexibility in energy transmission and distribution. So far, the authority has identified and aggregated potential sites on the network to enhance operational efficiency and reliability.
“We leverage innovation, research, our smart grid, and the latest disruptive technologies to ensure energy security and sustainability in line with the highest global standards,” said Al Tayer.
DEWA’s virtual power plant project supports both the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and the Dubai Net Zero Carbon Emissions Strategy 2050. Moreover, it contributes to achieving 100 percent clean energy production capacity by 2050.
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Supporting network operation and value
DEWA’s virtual power plant project is a smart network and digital platform that connects multiple small and medium-scale DER units. This includes photovoltaic solar systems, battery storage systems, electric vehicle charging stations, and other flexible loads.
This connectivity allows DERs to support network operations and maximize their value to the grid operator and end customers by providing grid services such as peak shaving, photovoltaic oversupply management, power factor correction, frequency regulation, energy balancing, and renewable firming.
In addition, the authority’s research and development center has implemented the project by connecting real physical assets and managing them as a single mixed portfolio of generation and load connected to the grid. Through the virtual power plant project, DEWA has integrated over eight DERs with a total flexibility of around 3.3 MW.
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