Siemens to protect Dubai from power cuts

Siemens to roll out smart grid technology in Dubai

Monitoring system will improve the reliability of grid

Tamsin Carlisle

Siemens, the German industrial and engineering group, is to install smart-grid technology in Dubai to protect the emirate from power disruptions.

The company has signed a contract to install an advanced monitoring and control network for the power generation and transmission system of the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) by the end of next year. The project will improve the reliability and efficiency of the emirate's electricity grid.

Its technology will offer fast recovery in the event of any disturbances in electricity supply, said Wolfgang Braun, the head of Siemens's Middle East power transmission and distribution unit.

The Dh97 million (US$26.4m) contract was one of two deals Siemens and Dewa signed yesterday.

The other, for Dh372m, covered the design, supply, installation and commissioning of electrical stations in the Jebel Ali and Al Aweer and Warsan areas of Dubai to prevent local power system overloads and keep fault levels down.

"This project will allow for added safety on the network and guarantee safe and secure power supply for the future growth of Dubai," Mr Braun said.

Dewa signed five power and water deals yesterday, together worth more than Dh1 billion, on the sidelines of a Dubai trade show. They also included a Dh285m contract with India's Pratibha Industries for reservoir construction; a contract worth about Dh150m with the Spanish firm Apina for an air-chilling system to improve the efficiency of gas turbines supplying peak summer power demand in Dubai; and a Dh100m contract with Emirates Electrical Engineering to lay power cables.