Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has recorded savings with its smart water network of AED225 million (US$61 million) over the past 10 years. The savings have amounted to over 25.5Ml of water in the period from 2013 to 2023 and with water network losses reducing to a record low of 4.6% by the end of 2023. HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of DEWA, says the company is committed to “preparing for the future by relying on innovation, sound scientific planning, and seamless, swift and effective operation of the smart grid. “Advanced technologies play a pivotal role in DEWA’s water ..read more

Centrosur has entered into a technology cooperation agreement with Gridspertise aimed towards the modernisation and digitalisation of its distribution network. Under the agreement the two companies intend to carry out actions towards the implementation of smart metering and other advanced grid infrastructure. In particular the technological cooperation is focused on the coordination, promotion and development of joint activities for the ongoing improvement of the provision of electric electricity and related services within Centrosur’s concession area and the optimal use of its networks and el ..read more

The Dutch demonstrator of the eFORT project is developing a digital twin of the grid to increase its resilience to cyber attacks. The Dutch demonstrator, one of four being undertaken in the eFORT project, is developing the digital twin as one of its main solutions with the expectation of revolutionising grid security by enhancing cyber security. In particular the focus of the demonstrator is on preventing cascading failures and power grid restoration following an outage. Matija Naglic, Business Developer System Operations at the TSO TenneT, which is co-leading the demonstrator, says that while ..read more

GE Vernova has invested $10.2 million in the Xlinks Morocco – UK power project, becoming a minority stakeholder. Once complete, the project’s wind and solar generation, combined with flexible battery storage, is expected to supply 3.6GW, approximately 8% of Britain’s current electricity needs. The new electricity generation and battery storage facilities located in south Morocco will be connected exclusively to Britain via 4,000km HVDC sub-sea cables. GE Vernova joins other significant investors from the energy sector, including TAQA, TotalEnergies, Octopus Energy and AFC. Have you read? BritN ..read more

Siemens Smart Infrastructure has completed the first successful 1MW charge, in a pilot which brought together a prototype MCS charging station from Siemens and a long-haul prototype eTruck. Megawatt Charging System (MCS) charging can successfully contribute towards sustainable long-distance transport for heavy-duty vehicles. The charging initiative aims to drive further progress in the sustainable transformation of heavy-duty transport, a high emitting sector. Specifically, Siemens introduced a prototype of the SICHARGE Megawatt Charging System. Based on an existing portfolio, the MCS consists ..read more

Swiss tech major Hitachi Energy has announced an upgrade and modernisation of its power transformer factory in Varennes, and other facilities in Montreal, Canada, to address fast-growing customer demand for sustainable energy in North America. The Varennes facility is Hitachi Energy’s premier manufacturing location for large power transformers in North America, supporting national and regional power grids, and serving utility-scale renewable energy projects. The establishment of a new on-site transformer testing facility in Varennes is a critical element of the company’s efforts to meet growin ..read more

Three key focus areas need to be prioritised to ensure the mass market adoption of grid-beneficial programmes, explains Erin Keys of Uplight. Smart thermostats are now in nearly 20% of WiFi-enabled homes, with many of the customers who adopt them doing so with an eye on their ability to improve comfort and convenience, as well as provide modest energy savings. These devices are just one example of a larger class of technologies called Distributed Energy Resources (DERs) that include assets like rooftop solar and behind-the-meter (BTM) storage, electric vehicles (EVs), and smart water heaters ..read more

Artificial intelligence was a central theme of the discussion among participants in the ‘transformative technologies’ panel at the World Energy Council’s 26th Congress in Rotterdam. Jason Li, Global President of Huawei’s Electric Power Digitalisation Business Unit, now in its third year, opened the proceedings. He pointed to the need for automation and control at the heart of the company’s approach to its solution development and with the complexity of the energy system with growing numbers of connected devices the need for AI to drive it. ”Automatic control technology alone cannot solve the p ..read more

Of the four ‘Ds’ democratisation appears to be the key one to focus on for shaping public support for smart grids at local and national levels. With the energy transition focussed on what has become known as the four ‘Ds’ – i.e. decarbonisation, decentralisation, digitalisation and democratisation – and public support critical for its success, questions arise on issues such as public awareness and expectations that can drive this support. While much effort has been put into creating awareness of smart meters by utilities embarking on rollouts and thereafter into how energy consumption can be m ..read more

Cologne-based energy service provider RheinEnergie has partnered with Munich-headquartered The Mobility House in efforts to couple the energy and e-mobility sectors through vehicle to grid technology. The partnership between RheinEnergie, the fifth largest energy utility company in Germany, and the bidirectional charging-focused The Mobility House, will tap into vehicle to grid (V2G) tech through the intelligent integration of electric vehicle batteries into the grid. “This strategic alliance is an important building block for us, especially for our customers. With The Mobility House by our si ..read more