Dubai: Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), recently engaged in discussions with Chris White-Horne, Deputy CEO and Chief Delivery Officer at the UK Space Agency, during the Dubai Airshow at Dubai World Central. The meeting aimed to explore potential collaborations in space technology to enhance the efficiency and reliability of utility services. Key figures such as Marwan Bin Haidar, Executive Vice President of Innovation and the Future, and Dr. Yousef Al Akraf, Executive Vice President of Business Support and Human Resources, were also in attendance.
According to Emirates News Agency, the discussions focused on DEWA’s pioneering Space-D programme, which utilizes nanosatellites and advanced space technologies to improve the planning, operation, and maintenance of electricity and water networks. This initiative supports the UAE’s National Space Strategy 2030 and aligns with the UK’s ambitions in the global space sector.
Al Tayer highlighted the significant achievements of DEWA’s Space-D programme, which was launched in January 2021 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. This programme marked DEWA as the world’s first utility to leverage nanosatellites for optimizing electricity and water networks. Al Tayer emphasized that Space-D is integral to DEWA’s strategy of incorporating Fourth Industrial Revolution technologies like IoT, artificial intelligence, and blockchain into its operations, thereby advancing strategic national and global initiatives, including the UAE National Space Strategy 2030.
The programme also supports the Dubai Clean Energy Strategy 2050 and Dubai Net-Zero Carbon Emissions 2025 by enhancing monitoring and efficiency at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park. This effort contributes to Dubai’s goal of generating 100% of its energy from clean sources by 2050. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer stated that DEWA is committed to using cutting-edge technologies to bolster the UAE’s vision and enhance global competitiveness.
Al Tayer also detailed the infrastructure of the Space-D programme, including the DEWA SAT-1 nanosatellite, launched in January 2022. This satellite tests direct-to-satellite long-range communication from custom-designed IoT terminals to enable condition monitoring and surveillance in areas with limited connectivity. It is complemented by the DEWA SAT-2, launched in April 2023, which provides high-resolution imagery and greenhouse gas measurements for various applications. This network is supported by a ground station at the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park and a system of IoT terminals that facilitate communication and use thermal imaging for monitoring.
Chris White-Horne expressed the UK’s commitment to fostering international collaboration in the space sector, praising DEWA’s innovative use of space technology in utility management. He noted the potential for knowledge sharing and joint innovation, which could benefit both countries and set a global standard for using space technology to enhance essential services on Earth.