Saeed Al Tayer inaugurates ‘IDA Leaders Summit’ of IDA World Congress 2019

Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance and President of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai hosts International Desalination Association (IDA) World Congress 2019, under the theme Crossroads to Sustainability which will run until 24th October at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of DEWA inaugurated today the ‘IDA Leaders Summit’ during the second day of the IDA Congress. The summit brings together prominent water and energy sector leaders who discussed critical long-term sustainable solutions within the desalination and water reuse industry. 

The exclusive platform underscored the ever-growing demand for clean water as well as key solutions to the mounting sustainability challenges amidst the growing threats of climate change. 

HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of DEWA said:  “We are guided by the vision and directives of the wise leadership of HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE the world’s leading nation. DEWA has also aligned its strategy to the UAE Centennial 2071, the UAE Vision 2021, the Dubai Plan 2021, the Dubai Demand-Side Management Strategy 2030, the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050, the UAE Green Growth Strategy, the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, the UAE Water Security Strategy 2036, and other relevant strategies, all of which support the Sustainability."

HE added, “In Dubai, we have a comprehensive approach to ensure the sustainability of water resources in line with the Dubai Integrated Water Resource Management Strategy, which focuses on enhancing water resources, rationalising water consumption, and using cutting-edge technologies and innovative solutions to reduce water consumption by 30% by 2030. To support the vision of our wise leadership, DEWA has a world-class infrastructure, with a capacity of 11,400MW of electricity and 470 million imperial gallons of desalinated water per day (MIGD) to meet the growing demand in Dubai. DEWA plays a vital role, serving over 900,000 customers, with investments of AED 86 billion (equal to USD 23.4 billion) over the next five years. We are currently desalinating water through the Combined Cycle Co-Generation, which is efficient and depends on using waste heat created by the production of electricity for water desalination. DEWA conducted a study to improve water production, and analyzed the economic and technical feasibility of adopting sea water Reverse Osmosis (RO) technology to produce water using cheap and clean energy in our planned water production expansion.”

It is expected that by 2030, Reverse Osmosis will help expand the production capacity by 305 million gallons of desalinated water per day, increasing total desalinated water production capacity to 750 million gallons of desalinated water per day, compared to 470 MIGD currently. DEWA adopts a clear strategy to ensure that by 2030, total energy requirements to meet Dubai desalinated water demand will be 100% generated from clean energy sources using a mix of clean energy and waste heat. This will allow Dubai to exceed global targets for using clean energy to desalinate water. 

In an attempt to increase the operational efficiency in decoupling desalination from electricity production, which can save around AED 12 billion and reduce 39 million tonnes of carbon emissions by 2030 DEWA aims to adopt three pillars to ensure the sustainability of water production - All new desalination capacities will be based on latest sea water Reverse Osmosis Technologies, total energy requirement to meet 100% Dubai desalinated water demand will be generated by clean energy sources by 2030 and Storage of Desalinated Water in Aquifers and pumping it back into the water network when needed. This integrated innovative model protects the environment and represents a sustainable economic solution. It also emphasizes Dubai’s ability to anticipate and shape the future.

HE added, “DEWA has made global achievements in its electricity and water networks. Losses in water transmission and distribution networks decreased from 42% in the past to 6.5 % in 2018: one of the lowest recorded rates in the world. DEWA is doing this by leading rather than just following others, using the best international standards, practices and technologies, and today Innovation is at the core of our DNA. As we work to shape the future, DEWA’s efforts in creating innovative solutions have achieved great results, saving time, resources and efforts.”

“We are heavily focused on securing our supply by diversifying the energy mix, including the clean energy to provide 75% of Dubai’s total power output by 2050. This is why DEWA established the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. The Solar Park’s capacity will be 5,000MW by 2030, with investments totaling USD13.6 billion. Our R&D Centre at the Solar Park aims to support Dubai’s position as a global hub for research and development in solar energy, smart grids, energy efficiency, and water, and capacity building in these sectors. We are also conducting many innovative initiatives and projects such as the 250MW hydroelectric pumped-storage station that uses solar power in Hatta, which is the first of its kind in the GCC region,” HE added.

It also included sessions under the title ‘Expanding the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Model to New and Existing Markets’, ‘Trends in the EPC Market: Is Competing on Cost vs Quality Sustainable?,’ as well as ‘Bankability of Mega Water Projects: How to Increase the Appetite of Lenders and Financial Development Institutions?’ 

The Summit also witnessed a panel discussion titled ‘The Industrial Water – Energy Nexus: Are we on the Right Path?’ and ‘Innovation in the Advanced Water Treatment Market.’ 

The ‘IDA Leaders Summit’ was one of the main highlights of this year’s World Congress that runs until October 24th.