Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and Cho Hwan Eik, CEO of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), have signed a contract to build a Smart Grid Station (SGS) at DEWA's green garage in Ruwayyah.

The SGS is a modular concept that connects smart grids to smart buildings. This partnership represents the both organisations' efforts to enhance the smart infrastructure in Dubai and South Korea.

The contract is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both parties in 2014, to exchange information on smart grids, smart cities, benchmarks, and organising mutual workshops to raise awareness.

A high-level delegation from KEPCO attended the signing, including Hwang Woo Hyun, Vice President of the Smart Grid & Innovative Business department, Kim Hoichon, Secretary to the CEO, and senior managers. Representatives from DEWA included Abdullah Obaidullah, Executive Vice President of Water & Civil, Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources, Waleed Salman, Executive Vice President of Strategy & Business Development, Khawla Al Mehairi, Vice President of Marketing & Corporate Communications, and Ahmed Abdullah, Senior Manager of External Communications.

The pilot project brings smart grids and smart buildings together. DEWA is exploring the concept of SGSs, which connect smart buildings to each other to share information, to help improve energy and water efficiency and make optimal use of renewable energy within a smart city.

The project will include several new ideas and developments regarding wind energy, battery storage and building management. The project also supports DEWA's Smart Initiatives to support the Smart Dubai vision to make Dubai the smartest city in the world within three years. These smart initiatives include the Shams Dubai initiative to encourage building owners to install photovoltaic panels on rooftops to produce solar energy and connect it to DEWA's grid. The Smart Applications through Smart Meters and Grids initiative, and the Green Charger initiative to build the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging stations in Dubai.

Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA, affirmed both the importance of cooperation between DEWA and KEPCO in renewable energy, and the importance of improving and enhancing this cooperation to improve services, which both parties excel in. Al Tayer invited KEPCO to participate in more projects, including research and development, The Internet Of Things (IoT), big data and drones.

"In line with the vision of Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, to achieve the Dubai Plan 2021, DEWA works to enhance our strategic partnership with international organisations, to support the competiveness of the UAE and Dubai by providing the best government services based on best international standards to achieve the highest levels of customer satisfaction and happiness," said Al Tayer.

"We are delighted to work with the Korea Electric Power Corporation. This contract represents an achievement for both sides and allows both parties to take advantage of the available skills and best practices for smart cities and smart grids around the world," added Al Tayer.

Cho Hwan Eik, CEO of KEPCO, noted the importance of enhancing their cooperation with DEWA and highlighted the KEPCO-owned Smart Grid Project in Jeju Island, which is considered to be a model in smart grids and applications and smart homes connected to the grid, as well as electric vehicles, smart stations and power storage. The Korean delegation confirmed their interest of strengthening their ongoing partnership with DEWA.