Dewa’s Warsan Complex opens

Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Minister of Finance, and President of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa), today officially opened Dewa’s Dh500 million Warsan Complex and Al Qusais Control Centre.

“Dewa’s projects are the life, essence and backbone of Dubai’s infrastructure. Dewa provides world-class services at the highest levels of reliability, quality and best international practices and technologies, to ensure the continuity of electricity and water services and achieve sustainable development in the UAE,” said Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

“The opening of the Warsan Complex updates and automates our systems and meets the needs of urban-expansion projects and growing demand for electricity and water services, which we provide at the highest levels of quality, reliability, and sustainability. This is in line with the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to drive the sustainable growth of Dubai,” said Saeed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa.

“Led by its vision to become a sustainable world-class utility, Dewa is committed to achieving the highest levels of efficiency, quality, and sustainability across its current and future projects. The transmission and distribution control systems have been designed to meet the expansion of transmission and distribution networks, and manage the needs of the increasing number of substations. We have conducted several voltage-capacity tests to achieve the best performance of the networks. Besides, we have implemented a ‘Multi-Site System’ that provides alternative technical and geographical systems, in case of emergency, to minimise the impact of any unwarranted outages,” continued Al Tayer.

“The separation of the control centres facilitates seamless monitoring of the overall performance of the electric voltage to meet the technical requirements at the highest international standards. The control centres are equipped with training and simulation systems for providing specialised training for Dewa specialists who work in transmission, generation, and distribution control.”

“Separating the control centres has enabled us to adopt two smart programmes for transmission and distribution. This will help us to complete the Smart Grid project efficiently, and meet the requirements of transmitting power through the National Emirates network according to the (NERC Standards).”

“Warsan Complex spreads over 650,159 sq ft, and includes two transmission and distribution control centres, and a 430,630 sq ft administrative building capable of accommodating up to 2,350 employees, among other facilities,” added Al Tayer.

The administrative building comprises the ground floor, two stories of parking and three floors, and houses the Transmission Maintenance Department, the Power Transmission Safety Department, the Transmission Network Installation Department, the Engineering Department, the Transmission Project Management Department, and the SCADA Network Management Department, and the Office of the EVP of the Power Transmission Division.

The Warsan complex features two control centres. The first controls power generation and transmission of the 132/400 kV networks. The centre controls and manages power generation in coordination with Jebel Ali Power Station. The second control centre monitors and manages the networks to maintain continual improvement.

The Complex includes the first ISO/IEC 17025 certified testing lab for generator oil in the UAE, a mosque, and warehouses. The administration building features training and meeting halls, a library, a gym, a nursery, and a coffee shop.

From Warsan, Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum remotely-opened the Control Centre at Al Qusais, which cost AED 29 million. The Centre consists of two floors and includes distribution, planning, and coordination departments, a library, the Distribution Research and Development department, a simulator, and on-site distribution management.

“The control centres will ensure the efficiency, safety, and sustainability of Dubai’s power supply, maintain the required electricity reserves for emergency cases, provide quick intervention to solve blackouts, and coordinate with various departments for swift power recovery, power exchange coordination with other Emirates, as well as monitor quality indicators and network performance to achieve sustainability and reliability,” said Al Tayer.

“The two control Centres in Warsan control all strategic, economic and industrial expansion zones of the Emirate of Dubai, in addition to ensuring power supply continuity through Dubai networks in coordination with adjacent Emirates.  The implemented systems in the control centres can exchange data and tasks in case of emergency, achieving 100% in terms of availability and reliability. The systems meet the future expansion of the network as it has more six times more capacity when compared to the old systems. This will enable us to meet the requirements of the urban and economic growth of Dubai.

“The centre is equipped with the most advanced remote control and monitoring programmes using German technology including potential expansion opportunities. The latest programmes enable full control over the network in Dubai, its operations, in addition to monitoring generation process automatically in coordination with various stations to the highest international quality, efficiency, and sustainability standards,” added Al Tayer.

“The control centres adopt smart applications to help control engineers to analyse the process and ensure best execution, in addition to a training simulator programme to enhance staff experience and efficiency. They also implement monitoring generation process automatically in coordination with various generation stations using the highest possible international quality, efficiency, and sustainability standards,” concluded Al Tayer.

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