DEWA has implemented an industrial Internet of Things platform, to connect assets at its power plants.
The utility has rolled out Predix from General Electric, to connect machines, data, and people to support its digital capabilities, and enable it to collect and analyse data in real time, to enhance the speed and efficiency of its operations.
The move is part of DEWA's asset management innovation programme, under the Generation Division which handles electricity and water production. The assets will be integrated into power plants through the application of the Predix cloud-computing platform to provide analytical solutions for Big Data.
Applications include automated learning techniques and built-in Artificial Intelligence (AI) to predict the asset's lifecycle and prevent future malfunctions by using a continuous asset monitoring service to pre-identify and analyse root causes. This is part of DEWA's efforts to support innovation and keep pace with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The twin-digital concept is used on the Predix platform to build digital models of power station assets and operations. These models contribute to the management of advanced analytical applications, which in turn provide a comprehensive vision to assist in the assessment and improvement of operations. DEWA began the implementation of this initiative in the L1 station as a first step to integrate with the platform
"Our vision is based on innovation, and supported by the National Innovation Strategy, launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the UAE one of the most innovative countries in the world. This initiative supports making use of the technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, Blockchain, and the Internet of Things to support the 10X initiative to propel Dubai into the future, putting it 10 years ahead of other global cities through disruptive innovation and R&D, for generations to come," said HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD & CEO of DEWA.
"This achievement supports Digital DEWA, our digital arm that reimagines the concept of utilities and creates a new digital future for Dubai. Digital DEWA will enable us to apply a pioneering model for service organisations based on innovation in renewable energy, storing energy, AI and digital services. DEWA aims to disrupt the status of service organisations and transform itself into the first digital organisation in the world, with self-control systems for storing renewable energy and expanding the use of AI and digital services," said Al Tayer.
