Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) has launched a pilot project to install and test a 1.2 MW/7.2 MWh sodium sulphur battery energy storage system (NaS BESS), at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park.
Dewa will connect the storage systems to its grid. The project, in cooperation with Amplex Emirates, supports Dewa’s efforts to promote clean-energy production and storage technologies.
“Dewa is disrupting the business model of public utilities by creating a new digital future for Dubai through Digital Dewa, its digital arm. Dewa will implement a leading model for utilities that is based on innovation in renewable energy, energy storage, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital services,” said Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, managing director and CEO of Dewa.
“Dewa will become the world’s first digital utility, using autonomous systems for renewable-energy and storage, increasing the use of AI, and delivering digital services. Dewa’s project to install and test NaS BESS, in cooperation with Amplex Emirates, is part of our efforts to diversify the energy mix and improve storage technologies. It is just one of our projects to support the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, to transform Dubai into a global hub for clean energy and green economy, and provide 75 per cent of Dubai’s total power output from clean energy by 2050.
“Our initiative for Dubai 10X focuses on four pillars to deliver a new utility experience for Dubai and the world. The first pillar is launching advanced solar power technologies in Dubai, and the second is deploying a renewable energy grid that uses innovative energy-storage technologies.
“This will make better use of the diversified clean energy mix, integrate renewables and storage, and ensure maximum efficiency and reliability of operations. The NaS BESS project at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park will enable Dewa to evaluate the technical and economic capabilities and characteristics of this technology when integrated with photovoltaic arrays, and see how it will increase network flexibility,” added Al Tayer.
Al Tayer noted that Dewa is working on pilot energy storage systems. It is currently working on NaS batteries from NGK that would result in the capacity of the battery reaching 6.25 megawatt hours after 10 years.
