DEWA R&D Centre Develops Digital-First Method To Monitor Critical Power Infrastructure

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA)'s Research and Development (R&D) Centre has developed a digital-first method to evaluate the condition of key assets like power transformers and overhead lines (OHL).

This new approach doesn't need any on-site sensors or hardware installation. It only requires data about the assets and their locations. The method is based on the ISO 9223:2012 standard, which offers guidelines for assessing atmospheric conditions and predicting corrosion rates for OHL conductors, WAM reported.

For power transformers, the model follows the IEC 60067-7 standard and uses the external temperature as a factor in predicting their condition. To improve the user experience, the R&D team has also created a user-friendly interface (UI) that provides valuable insights.

These insights will help stakeholders make data-driven decisions, leading to cost savings and more efficient operations and planning. The approach also aims to boost collaboration by breaking down barriers between different business units through the use of a digital platform.

"We implement the latest digital innovative strategies to enhance the efficiency and reliability of our electricity and water networks," Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Managing Director and CEO of DEWA said.

"By deploying Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies, we enable DEWA to maintain world-class service levels. We accelerate our journey towards the digital transformation of our electricity and water networks to meet the growing demand in Dubai and uphold DEWA's excellence and leadership as one of the best utilities in the world," he added.

DEWA is proud of the advanced and innovative research done by its R&D Centre, Al Tayer said. The researchers are crucial in creating and testing solutions to meet the needs of utilities and contribute to both local and global scientific knowledge.

Waleed Bin Salman, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Excellence at DEWA, said that the R&D Centre provides its staff with the latest global technologies, labs, and top-notch facilities to create the best environment for developing solutions.

The center used its weather modeling tools to generate data from the past 5 years and digitally analyze how weather affects various metrics of these assets. Maintenance and inspection teams can use these insights to adjust their maintenance schedules, prioritize tasks, and plan operations or replacements as needed. Furthermore, they can estimate the Remaining Useful Life of these assets to make the most of their usage.