Dubai plans 50 132kV substations
23 July 2024
Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) plans to tender 50 132-kilovolt (kV) substations in the next three years.
"Over the next three years, we plan to issue new tenders to build more than 50 132kV transmission substations and extend 350 kilometres of ground transmission cables,” said Hussain Lootah, executive vice president of transmission power at Dewa.
Lootah's statement coincided with the announcement that Dewa has commissioned eight new 132kV transmission substations in the first half of 2024, with a conversion capacity of 1,200 megavolt-amperes and a cost of AED1.36bn ($370.3m).
According to Dewa's managing director and CEO, Saeed Mohammed Al-Tayer, the newly-commissioned substations are in Al-Thanya 3, Al-Barsha South 4, Wadi Al-Shabak, Nadd Hessa, International City Phase 2, Wadi Al-Safa 5 and Umm Suqeim 3.
The completion of the projects took the total number of transmission substations across Dubai to 382 as of the end of June 2024.
This includes 27 400kV substations and 355 132kV substations, according to Dewa.
There are also 31 132kV transmission substations that are under construction.
MEED understands the utility is also reviewing financial proposals for six new 132kV transmission substations.
Dubai has been ramping up renewable energy installed capacity in line with the energy diversification agendas of the emirate and the UAE.
Increasing renewable energy's share of the electricity production mix will require a more robust power transmission network.
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