DEWA adopts Solar Life Project developed by Government Innovation Diploma which is organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) has adopted the Solar Life Project developed by members of the Government Innovation Diploma which is organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation. The move supports the UAE Innovation Week initiative, launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to be held from 22-28 November, as well as declaring 2015 as the Year of Innovation in the UAE. The Solar Life Project is the first of its kind in the world and supports one of the main pillars of the UAE Vision 2021. It is the first idea on innovation and sustainability by the Sustainable Environment and Integrated Infrastructure Team under the Diploma in Government Innovation programme at the Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation last April. The solar life project idea was chosen among several ideas that were suggested.
The innovative idea is to combine and integrate different solar energy sources such as solar, wind, kinetic (motion) energy from people, bicycles, and vehicles, and other renewable energy sources to generate electricity and use it in everyday activities. This includes lighting parking areas, walkways, and charging stations for smart phones and electric vehicles. The project includes storing excess energy from these sources.The Sustainable Environment and Integrated Infrastructure Team that developed the Solar Life Project idea is currently working with DEWA’s research and development team to study and implement the final phases of the project. Details of this innovation will be announced soon.
“Innovation is a key pillar and a corporate value, which we adopt at DEWA to support the vision and directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the National Innovation Strategy, which His Highness launched to make the UAE one of the most innovative countries in the world. We work to implement the directives of His Highness to improve government work in all areas, foster a culture of creativity and innovation, and disseminate and spread it as an official standard practice. This will help to develop government services, face challenges, and contribute to improving the efficiency and performance of government work. DEWA adopts an integrated strategy to stimulate and implement creative ideas and suggestions, and research in renewable energy and sustainability. We are also committed to adopting the best studies and research in all our operations and services, enhancing our leading position, and achieving our vision to become a sustainable innovative world-class utility,” said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
“DEWA spares no effort in supporting talented Emiratis in accordance with their abilities in various sectors. This complements our efforts to support the Dubai Plan 2021, to establish Dubai as a city of happy, creative and empowered people, and the Dubai Innovation Strategy, to position Dubai as the most innovative city in the world. DEWA is also committed to implementing the Green Economy for Sustainable Development initiative, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to develop green technologies to achieve the sustainable development. This is a priority for DEWA’s strategy. DEWA follows an integrated approach in managing innovation as well as attracting new investments in the energy sector in general and in renewable energy in particular. We are working to strengthen our expertise in these areas and develop our productive capabilities,” added Al Tayer.
DEWA has launched the Innovation Centre at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park in Dubai. The Centre will showcase the latest solar and renewable energy technologies. It will enable DEWA to demonstrate its own achievements in renewable energy and sustainability, and highlight the green strategies incorporated in the Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 and the UAE Vision 2021. The Solar Innovation Centre will be a museum and exhibition for solar and renewable energy. It is expected to attract tourists, universities, schools, companies, and partners. It will be open to solar energy manufacturers and developers as it has a specialised area and a convention centre for events, conferences, business meetings, training and seminars on subjects related to solar and renewable energy and other green initiatives,” added Al Tayer.
The Government Innovation Diploma team that is responsible for sustainable environment and infrastructure includes members representing different federal and local government organisations. They are Hazza Khalfan Al Neaimi, from the Dubai Government Excellence Programme of the Executive Council of the Government of Dubai, Azza Sulaiman Bin Sulaiman, and Dhaen Al Muhairi from Ministry of Public Works, Ghareeb Obaid Al Mutawwa and Othaibah Al Qayedi form Ministry of Environment and Water, Abdullatif Abdullah Galadari and Ruwayyah Al Zahr from the Federal Authority for Electricity and Water (FEWA), Farah Al Zarooni from the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology, and Hind Ahmed Almutawa from Ministry of Energy.
