DEWA completes its pilot Virtual Power Plant project, the first of its kind in the region
This article was originally published by Emirates 24/7 on 30th July 2024.HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), announced the completion of DEWA’s pilot Virtual Power Plant (VPP) project, the first of its kind in the region. This project is one of DEWA’s pioneering initiatives to revolutionise the management of Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) and enhance energy sustainability. Al Tayer emphasised the importance of a resilient distribution network in ensuring a reliable and sustainable energy supply, crucial for accelerating the achievement of net zero by 2050.
The VPP utilises advanced digital technology, including aggregation, orchestration, Artificial Intelligence (AI) forecasting, and optimisation, to integrate and control various types of DERs, supporting the smart grid. Al Tayer noted that DEWA is currently testing the VPP 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. DEWA has identified and aggregated potential sites on the network to enhance operational efficiency and reliability.
