< PreviousTraditional energy network substations are evolving into digital substations, with major breakthroughs that may provide enormous gains for GCC utilities. These innovations are gradually giving rise to an intelligent grid The global digital substations market will reach 9.75 billion USD by 2023 from 6.13 billion USD in 2017 with a CAGR of 8.04% during the period. Increase in demand for electricity and the need to replace aging infrastructure is driving the market growth. Government funding initiatives in collab- oration with the private utilities is increasing the installation of digital substations across the globe. However, the high initial investment for setting up the digital substation is restraining the market growth. Asia-Pacifi c will grow at a high rate owing to the expanding power distribution networks in coun- tries including India, Singapore, Indonesia, Malay- sia, and Taiwan. North America will hold signifi - cant share in the market due to increase adoption of digital substations and the presence of well- established players. Substation automation includes intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), control commands from remote users, and automation and control capabilities within the substation fence to pro- vide intelligent information to properly control the power system devices to ensure that end users receive uninterrupted power service from their electric utilities. 17% (1.2 billion people) of the global population lack access to electricity, and the other 83 percent want more reliable and effi cient electricity. Devel- oping countries need to double their electrical power output to meet rising demand, and by 2035, they will represent 80 percent of the total growth in both energy production and consumption. This pent-up demand will be satisfi ed by addi- tional substations that will require substation automation. This will bring new concepts, if not necessarily new technologies, into play. The future is digital substations, and these will come about as retrofi ts and new substations. Microgrids are going to be a critical element in the developing markets and for geographically islanded customers. Microgrid growth will be driven by increased reliance on renewables in the energy mix and supported by new developments in battery storage. Recent technology trends around the world have set the GCC electric grid on the path for a complete overhaul. While the utilities industry has for long been known for resisting changes, even as everything else around it succumbed to them, the unremitting push for diversifi cation of energy sources is prompting a paradigm shift. Today, the grid is evolving in the wake of new industry realities that are pushing regional util- ities to reassess their positioning for the digital future in a world of fast changing consumer tastes and ubiquitous interconnectivity. Even as the GCC utilities plan investments to the tune of $100bn in renewable energy over the next fi ve years to boost current power supply, seri- ous concerns remain over power intermittency especially in the absence of utility scale storage. This and several other considerations continue to make a strong case for smart grids. EVERY ISSUE! UME ANNUAL REPORTS 2020 A DIGITAL FUTURE FOR SUBSTATIONS MARKET FOCUS 30 Utilities Middle East / June 2020 www.utilities-me.comGCC Utilities are gradually moving from a one- way system where power fl ows from centralised generation stations to consumers, to a platform that can detect, accept, and control decentral- ised consumption and production assets so that power and information can fl ow as needed in mul- tiple directions. This common industry vision is what has come to be widely known as the “intelligent grid.” The intelligent grid builds on the industry’s innovative heritage of increasing interconnectedness using sensors, smart devices, and networked opera- tions. Achieving it will require a myriad of tech- nologies, including numerous Internet of Things (IoT) applications. At the heart of these advances are exponential technologies like sensors, robotics, and advanced analytics, which together form advanced, inter- connected systems capable of quickly analysing large amounts of data. These critical systems are the sensory organs, nerves, and brains capable of giving electric systems the fl exibility and agility necessary to enable ideas like a self-healing grid and plug-and-play generation—an intelligent grid. “The world today has more machines than there are people, and a lot of useful information is coming out of these machines,” says a senior exec- utive at the ABB offi ce in the United Arab Emir- ates. “When you connect the two, you can unlock a huge amount of productivity that can take this industry to a whole new level.” As major utility companies chart the course to growth and returns through digital transfor- mation, the global number of devices being man- aged by utility companies is projected to grow to 1.53 billion in 2020. But this is just the beginning of this industry’s transformation. As major util- ity companies chart the course to growth and returns through digital transformation, the global number of devices being managed by utility com- panies is projected to grow to 1.53 billion in 2020. But this is just the beginning of this industry’s transformation. GCC utilities are determined to unlock the full potential of deploying digital solutions across the entire electric power eco-system. The deployment of smart grids in the GCC is expected to help the region save up to $10bn in infrastructural invest- ment by 2020, according to industry analysts. ABB won an order worth more than $90mn from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), to build the Shams 400 kV substation that will integrate solar power from upcoming phases of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum (MBR) solar park into the emirate’s electrical grid. The MBR solar park, located inland 50km south of Dubai, is a central part of Dubai’s renewable strategy. When completed in 2030, the park will occupy 214km2, generate 5,000MW and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 6.5 million tonnes. ABB has been contracted for the design, supply, and installation and commissioning of the Shams 400/ 132 kV substation, which once completed, will have an overall capacity of more than 2,000 megavolt amperes (MVA). Once Phase 3 of the project is fi nished in 2020, the total solar power generated through Solar PV will exceed 1,000 MW, which will lower carbon emissions. SEPTEMBER DESALINATION OCTOBER ELECTRICITY EFFICIENCY NOVEMBER DISTRICT COOLING/ NUCLEAR DECEMBER SOLAR Middle East ESSENTIAL INSIGHTS FOR MIDDLE EAST WATER, GAS AND ELECTRICITY PROFESSIONALS JULY WATER NETWORK MAINTENANCE AUGUST TESTING AND INSTRUMENTATION MARKET FOCUS www.utilities-me.com June 2020 / Utilities Middle East 31KNOWLEDGE PARTNER 32 Utilities Middle East / June 2020 www.utilities-me.com The high-voltage transmission sys- tems that we use today are, in eff ect, the “backbone” of our power delivery systems. This highly complex infra- structure transmits very large amounts of elec- tric energy between regions, and among sub- regions. Despite the public perceptions of ram- pant failures, transmission system equipment fails and causes power outages much less fre- quently than distribution equipment. But when transmission equipment does fail, many more customers are aff ected, and outage costs can be much higher, compared with the impact of a distribution equipment-related outage. What is the current status of technologies, especially those which are truly ready for larger-scale deployment and adoption by elec- cost alternative for increased transmission capacity. Dynamic ratings are typically 5% to 15% higher than conventional static ratings. Application of dynamic ratings can benefi t system operation in several ways, in particular by increasing power fl ow through the existing transmission corridors with minimal invest- ments. Dynamic rating increases the functionality of the smart grid because it involves the moni- toring of real-time system data that can be used in various applications: Real-time monitors yield a continuous fl ow of data to system operations—line sag, tension or both, wind speed, conductor temperature— traditionally not available to operators. Monitored data can be processed to spot trends and patterns. tric utilities? Several technologies have under- gone signifi cant research and development and are now available for commercial use, but have not been widely deployed. As with any technology, advances are continu- ing in most areas. The adoption of these technol- ogies by the electric utility industry is limited, typically by the business cases that include the cost/benefi ts analysis each capital investment must undergo before implementation. For instance, the adoption of Dynamic Ther- mal Circuit Ratings (DTCRs) requires more than just R&D—it also requires new business case development. Dynamic rating and real- time monitoring of transmission lines are becoming important tools to maintain system reliability while optimising power fl ows. Dynamic ratings can be considered a low- A look at the current status of transmission system tools and technologies that are ready for large-scale deployment by electric utilities. ADVANCING ELECTRIC TRANSMISSION SYSTEMSKNOWLEDGE PARTNER www.utilities-me.com June 2020 / Utilities Middle East 33 Real-time monitored data may be turned into useful operator predictive intelligence (for instance, critical temperature and percent load reduction needed in real time). While additional research may be needed to fully integrate DTCRs with future control schemes, a more robust business case for the application of this technology must be devel- oped so that more utilities adopt this technology. System planners are concerned that you cannot count on the qualifying conditions that off er the ability to benefi t from DTRC to be present when DTRC may be needed. There- fore, when doing the business case, you almost always have to plan around, or even plan out the corridors that could benefi t from DTCR. Another big priority is increasing the capa- bilities of the Fault Current Limiters (FCLs) or Short-Circuit Current Limiters (SCCLs). The SCCLs or FCLs are a family of technologies that can be applied to utility power delivery sys- tems to address the growing problems associ- ated with fault currents. The present utility power delivery infra- structure is approaching its maximum capac- ity and yet demand continues to grow, leading in turn to increases in generation. The strain to deliver the increased energy demand results in a higher level of fault currents. As a result, more SCCLs are needed. How- ever, additional development is needed to reduce their cost and physical size. The SCCLs fall into two categories: superconducting devices and non-superconducting devices. Superconducting SCCLs are either resistive or inductive. In a resistive device the current passes through the superconductor and when the cur- rent increases, the superconductor quenches. In the inductive device, the simplest form is a trans- former with a closed-loop superconducting sec- ondary. Non-superconducting devices can be simple inductors or variable resistors. The power-electronics-based SCCL is designed to work with the present utility system to detect a fault current and act quickly to insert impedance into the circuit to limit the fault current to a level acceptable for normal operation of the existing protection systems. Many utilities are coping with mandates to realize cost reductions in transmission power fl ow control technologies. This area of could also be called ‘Power Electronics Based Sys- tems’. They are also known in the industry as Flexible AC Transmission (FACTS) technologies. A number of these technologies are com- mercially available today. These all incorpo- rate power electronics and can be applied to the transmission system. These include both the control and operation of the power system and applications that will extend eventually to transformers themselves. These types of devices can be put to a wide variety of uses: power fl ow control, loop fl ow control, load sharing among parallel corridors, voltage regulation, enhancement of transient stability, and mitigation of system oscillations. Such devices include the thyristor-con- trolled series capacitor (TCSC); thyristor-con- trolled phase angle regulator (TCPAR); static condenser (STATCON); and the unifi ed power fl ow controller (UPFC). American Electric Power (AEP), the US- based utility, installed the fi rst UPFC at its Inez substation in eastern part of the US State of Kentucky. While these technologies are more than 20 years old and well understood, they are almost always considered too expensive when compared with simply building more assets. Accelerating development of advance power electronics so as to dramatically reduce the cost of FACTS devices should remain a priority. Numerous utilities are interested in accel- erating the deployment of voltage source con- verters (VSCs). These are self-commuted high- voltage direct current (HVDC) converters. Con- trary to “traditional” HVDC converters, the self- commuted HVDC converters do not have to rely on synchronous machines in the ac system for its operation. The increased controllability improves har- monic performance and provides VAR sup- port. VSCs permit power fl ow to be reversed without reversing the polarity of the cable, thereby enabling the use of extruded cables (cables insulated with extruded polyethylene- based compounds, such as XPLEs). It makes undergrounding (cables, instead of overhead lines) more attractive. More VSCs are needed in the North American power system. Advanced analytics and visualization appli- cations are needed to maximize use of phasor measurement unit (PMU) data. PMUs, or syn- chrophasors, provide real-time information about the power system’s dynamic perfor- mance. Specifi cally, they take measurements of electrical waves (voltage and current) at strategic points in the transmission system 30 times per second. These measurements are time stamped with signals from Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites, which enable PMU data to be time-synchronized and combined to create a comprehensive view of the broader electri- cal system. Widespread installation of PMUs, which is occurring now, will enhance the abil- ity to monitor and manage the reliability and security of the grid over large areas. PMUs can provide system operators with feedback about the state of the power system with much higher accuracy than the conven- tional SCADA systems which typically take observations every four seconds. What will it take to accelerate develop- ment of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs)? IEDs encompass a wide array of microproces- sor-based controllers of power system equip- ment, such as circuit breakers, transformers, and capacitor banks. Utilities are coping with mandates to realise cost reductions in transmission power flow control technologiess. This is ‘Power Electronics Based Systems’.”34 Utilities Middle East / June 2020 www.utilities-me.com INDUSTRY FEATURE GCC governments are continuing to invest heavily in additional power-generation capacity amidst growing demand. At the same time, the region is making efforts to provide impetus to intra-regional electricity trading POWERING BEYOND BORDERS Through the ongoing electricity privatisation programme, Saudi Arabia has recently said that it is planning to supply electricity to countries in neighbouring continents, including Africa and Europe. The Saudi government has come out to say that the Kingdom is considering supply of elec- tric power to Ethiopia through its planned grid interconnection with Egypt, which is expected to be ready in three years. And through its planned grid in Turkey, the Saudi Arabia would also have the opportunity to supply power to European countries in the future. Oman Power and Water Procurement Co (OPWP) also revealed a few months ago that it was seeking to participate in pilot electric- ity trading activities with another the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries Interconnec- tion Authority (GCCIA) member state in order to test and establish the necessary arrangements for fi rm capacity transactions. This would eff ectively create an alternative option for short-term contingent capacity, for which OPWP has previously procured rental diesel generators when required, according to informationa from OPWP. It also plans to establish the contribution of the GCCIA interconnection benefi ts to require- ments for both operating reserves and genera- tion adequacy, in cooperation with Oman Elec- tricity Transmission Co (OETC) and Authority for Electricity Regulations (AER). Oman joined the GCCIA in December 2014, enabling access to the power systems of other member states via the UAE interconnect. A 220kV interconnection between the Oman (MIS) and UAE (Abu Dhabi) power systems was commissioned in 2011 and has been commer- cially operational since May 2012, according to OPWP’s latest seven-year statement. Electricity demand continues to grow rap- idly in the Middle East where consumption has increaseD 10-fold since 1980. This surge can be attributed to several factors including: popula- tion growth, urbanisation, industrialisation and electricity prices made artifi cially low through government subsidies. In its recent report title “Electricity trading in MENA – huge potential but far behind”, The Arab Petroleum Investment Corporation (APICORP) estimates that the MENA region will need to add capacity at 7.4% annually until 2021, which cor- responds to additions of more than 130GW, and investments of approximately $180bn. As electricity demand in the region maintains www.utilities-me.com June 2020 / Utilities Middle East 35 INDUSTRY FEATURE its strong growth, governments are continuing to invest heavily in adding power-generation capacity. At the same time, the region is trying to provide impetus to intra-regional electric- ity trading. The benefi ts of regional electricity trad- ing include enhanced energy security, eco- nomic benefi ts due to higher effi ciencies and reduced investments in new capacities, as well as more institutional cooperation. According to the World Bank, electricity trade could save the Arab world $17-25bn and reduce required capacity by 33GW through better mutual utilisation of existing capac- ity – while the GCCIA estimates that GCC trade could achieve savings of up to $24bn by 2038. At the same time, chronic technical, institu- tional and political barriers are major impedi- ments to trading in the region, whose networks are expected to remain amongst the most under-utilised in the world for this purpose. To increase supply of electricity, govern- ments have been investing heavily in power- generating capacities. Absent, however, has been a coherent strategy to improve regional cooperation and stimulate intra-regional trade despite the many obvious potential benefi ts for the region, says APICORP. “First, electricity trading can provide signif- icant economic gains. At times when GCC gov- ernments’ revenues have been falling, and other governments in the region are struggling to invest in new infrastructure and provide key public services, there is signifi cant pressure to make substantial investments for capacity addi- tions,” says APICORP in its recent report. “Trading could relieve some of this pressure by importing electricity and avoiding substan- tial investment costs in power generation.” According to the GCCIA, the interconnec- tor’s economic benefi ts surpassed $400m in 2016, with the majority of benefi ts deriving from installed capacity savings. Governments could have access to cheaper electricity given that cost of generating electricity diff ers from one coun- try to another. At the same time, it will facilitate more effi - cient utilisation of existing capacity – where the World Bank estimates that the region’s utilisa- tion rate of generating capacity stands at only 42% while that of the existing interconnection capacity is around 10%. If governments con- tinue their drive to liberalise electricity prices, electricity demand might fall, resulting in larger unutilised capacity, which could be absorbed by trading with neighbouring countries. Second, governments are putting energy security at the forefront of their agendas. While this has meant eff orts to diversify the energy mix away from fossil fuels and towards renew- able energy, it has also driven countries to diver- sify the sources of their energy imports. This is mainly the case for countries that rely on gas imported via pipeline. In principle, electricity trading should thus improve the region’s energy security, especially in countries that suff er recurring power out- ages. Currently, most electricity exchanges take place on an emergency basis to cover either unexpected outages or scheduled ones due to maintenance. Given the almost identical peak demand pat- terns (both days and hours) in the GCC and regu- latory and institutional barriers, trading within the region will likely remain on an emergency basis, says APICORP. This means that the most eff ective electricity trading will be with Egypt and the Levant, where demand patterns diff er. The GCCIA was established in 2001 by the six Gulf States to foster cooperation and intercon- nect their respective grids. Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are linked with 1.2GW of transmission capacity while the UAE and Qatar have 900MW and 750MW connected to the system. The remaining two countries, Bahrain and Oman, can deliver up to 600MW and 400MW respectively. The objective of the established authority was to use the interconnector to facili- tate spot market trading. The Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has advocated for pilot spot trading with other members to start towards the end of the decade – where it will operate in parallel to long term power purchase agree- ments. The country was the last to connect to the GCCIA and sees trading as a good option and a more viable alternative to short-term capac- ity generation from diesel. At the same time, the country’s push for trading comes at a similar time to expiration of some long-term power pur- chase agreements. Nonetheless, electricity trading in the GCC remains negligible – despite a surge in commer- cial trading in 2016. The main intraregional transfers have occurred on an emergency basis only covering unscheduled outages. Electricity trading falls under two categories: scheduled and unsched- uled exchanges. Scheduled exchanges occur 36 Utilities Middle East / June 2020 www.utilities-me.com INDUSTRY FEATURE cross-border electricity trading. However, progress has been slow and intra- regional trade is limited. Nonetheless, Morocco imports nearly 20% of its electricity from Spain where the two countries have been connected through a 1.4GW link since the late 1990s. Plans to link Algeria and Tunisia with other Mediter- ranean countries have also taken place, with no notable progress. APICORP says that despite the desire to foster greater cooperation and improve regional electricity trade, many challenges have impeded progress. “First, energy security is a key national priority for all countries in the region, and the escalating geopolitical tensions are likely to reduce governments’ willingness to rely on each other, despite the apparent eco- nomic benefi ts,” says the APICORP report. Gas trade in the region is also one of the lowest in the world despite the region’s vast and uneven distribution of gas reserves Although in principle trading should improve energy security, the deteriorating geopolitical situation will be one of the key concerns for all Arab governments, which will continue to focus on meeting their own demand through invest- ing in their local power generation. rarely and are based on bilateral agreements between members, after which members make transmission arrangements with GCCIA. More prevalent, however, are the unsched- uled exchanges whereby member countries require urgent power imports from other coun- tries through the system to cover unexpected contingencies and ensure system reliability. Unscheduled transfers from one country to another are returned in kind, i.e. unscheduled import during peak demand will be returned as exports during peak demand. For many years, there have been ambitious plans to expand the GCC grid to non-GCC coun- tries, including Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen, which have all been struggling with inadequate capacity and fi nancial constraints. Connecting the grid to non-GCC countries will solve one of the main challenges hinder- ing electricity trading in the GCC: the fact that peak demand in the GCC is uniform. By con- trast, North Africa and the Levant have diff erent demand patterns. Plans for a Saudi-Egyptian transmission line were expected to be signed in 2018, having been repeatedly delayed for many years during times of political uncertainty in Egypt. The line will be able to transmit 3GW early next decade. The expected cost of the project is around $1.5bn with the Saudi side covering the major- ity of fi nancing and regional development insti- tutions expecting to contribute to fi nancing. If achieved, this line will play a critical role in improving energy security in Egypt and foster- ing regional electricity trade, given that Egypt is also connected to Jordan and Libya. “Linking the GCC with Iraq also off ers huge potential. Having suff ered massive infrastruc- ture damage over the past years, Iraq is in dire need to upgrade and invest in its ailing power infrastructure, with power outages common through the country,” says APICORP in its report. The recent revival of Saudi-Iraqi relations has included discussions on wider cooperation in the energy sector, with the plans for a technical and economic feasibility study of an electricity link project, says APICORP. Additionally, a memorandum of under- standing was recently signed between Jordan and Saudi Arabia to conduct technical and eco- nomic studies for an electricity interconnection between the two countries, with Jordan keen to diversify electricity sources and reduce pres- sure on the government to invest in new power generation. One of the major interconnections in the Arab world started in 1988 and linked Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Syria and Turkey. It later expanded to include Libya, Lebanon and Pal- estine. The objective was to cooperate and share reserves in emergencies, as well as sur- plus power. However, trade amongst these countries has been marginal, with many impediments including limited generation capacity and dif- ferent regulatory frameworks. Moreover, inter- connections between these countries have rel- atively small capacities: the Egypt-Jordan link is the largest, but it is only 450MW. Further trade in the future is highly unlikely as each country struggles to meet its own demand. In North Africa, the Maghreb interconnec- tion began in the 1950s and connected Alge- ria, Morocco and Tunisia. The region has long stated its ambition to establish a liberalised market. The Algiers Declaration in 2010 stipulates that the three countries will aim to bring their laws and frameworks into line with each other, to create a competitive electricity market and potentially integrate with the EU. The plan includes transparent network access for FEATURE www.utilities-me.com June 2020 / Utilities Middle East 37 Harnessing the power of drones for utility: Could this be the answer to growing calls for zero downtime in critical power infrastructure? Historically, utility companies con- ducted analysis of their distribution assets and equipment on foot. It is not diffi cult to imagine how time-con- suming, ineffi cient and potentially dangerous this approach can be. Fortunately, drone tech- nology is delivering new effi ciencies and intel- ligence to utility companies by augmenting the inspection workfl ow. The GCC’s power lines are linked by tall steel structures known as transmission towers. If these Eiff el Tower–shaped edifi ces are knocked down or damaged, several parts of a country can go dark. The same would apply to the water supply if a major leak remains undetected along the water supply network. Deploying drones equipped with multi- spectral sensors can help identify vegetation encroaching equipment for distribution power lines in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the cost. Even a simple visual sensor can play a criti- cal role to collect data from diff erent angles that can be transformed into a 3D model to capture more detail for line-mile inspection than many traditional inspection methods. According to PwC, the global power trans- mission sector loses some $169bn annually because of network failures and forced shut- downs. Drones are touted as helping cut up to 50% in inspection costs through reduced manpower expenses and higher detailed 3D modelling. Not only does this allow utilities to prevent future problems by enabling proactive mon- itoring, it also reduces the risk of employee SKY’S THE LIMITFEATURE 38 Utilities Middle East / June 2020 www.utilities-me.com Drones are playing a key role in supporting the expansion of projects in DEWA’s network and monitoring infrastructure development, enabling timely monitoring.” Rashid Bin Humaidan, DEWA AERIAL INSPECTOR Drones are helping to cut down inspec- tion costs injury by assigning drones to cover high risk areas. Most recently, Dubai’s utility, Dubai Electric- ity and Water Authority (DEWA), has ventured into the use of drone technology as part of its Sirb (Arabic for fl eet) initiative, to boost the effi - ciency of its operations and maintenance ser- vices. DEWA is piloting drones at several utilities installations around Dubai. It is using fi xed-wing drones, the kind that look like small airplanes, to inspect power lines across the emirate. Manned by trained staff , a small drone can cruise along a power line for about 15 miles before it returns to the person directing it. The robots capture images to spot, for instance, vegetation grow- ing too close to the towers or tall trees that pose a threat to the lines. “The use of drones is reshaping the way we manage projects. They are able to monitor large areas in short periods of time, allowing proj- ect managers to handle a number of projects at once,” says Rashid Bin Humaidan, executive vice president of distribution power, DEWA. “At the same time, drones are playing a key role in supporting the expansion of projects in DEWA’s network and monitoring infrastructure development, enabling timely monitoring of development in the infrastructure and a reduc- tion in the cost of manpower.” DEWA is now improving its use of the tech- nology to cover various domains including top- ographic surveys, improved operational effi - ciency, thermal inspection, photovoltaic panel maintenance, and early detection, using ther- mal imaging, to identify overhead power lines. This limits risks, reduces costs, enables quick- response times and ensures accuracy, making it easier to make informed decisions, says Humaidan. The drones being piloted are leveraging state- of-the-art upgradable technologies such as high- defi nition cameras that are equipped with night- vision, lasers and GPS sensors, and can measure pressure, height, magnetic fi elds, and use ultra- sound scanning. DEWA has started using the unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to carry out inspections around the photovoltaic (PV) panels on its sustainable building in Al Quoz. “A considerable amount of time and eff ort can be saved when UAVs are used in scanning the building’s roof, which has an approximate area of 100,000 square feet. This can be done in less than fi ve minutes and allows Ultra HD (4K) images with a resolution of over 20 megapixels to be taken,” says Humaidan. The sustainable building’s rooftop hosts pho- tovoltaic panels that produce 600kW of electric- ity. DEWA uses drones to monitor the cleaning activities by contractors, which are essential for the panels to function properly in a desert envi- ronment. Drones have also been deployed to inspect the largest single-rooftop arrays in the Middle East and North Africa, with 1.5-megawatt direct current (MWdc) photovoltaic generation proj- ect at DEWA’s Jebel Ali Power Station ( JAPS). DEWA installed 5,240 photovoltaic panels on the 23,000 square-meters roof of the water reservoir at M-Station, the latest and largest power produc- tion and desalination plant in the UAE. DEWA is also using drones to inspect the water cooling process in evaporators, enabling utility to operate without fully shutting them down for maintenance. Regular DEWA project reviews and progress reports can now be easily obtained by simply deploying drones to take pan- oramic pictures. “Since this is a pilot project that we intend to fully implement, we have to adhere to the high- est safety and security standards by outfi tting the drones with sensors and anti-magnetic fi eld paint to neutralise their eff ects on users and on DEWA’s assets,” says Humaidan. While a drone may be a useful appendage, it is the software that serves as its brain, opening it up for customisation based on application areas. And that is where cloud computing comes into play. Solutions providers are now creating stra- tegic partnerships with UAV manufacturers to apply the latest software that will eventually fi nd relevance in the complex networks monitoring within the power and water sectors. For instance, GE has made signifi cant invest- ments in Airware, a software startup in San Fran- cisco whose solution is built on the cloud plat- form developed by Amazon Web Services AMZN -0.76% , and makes it possible for a drone to plot destinations, generate fl ight paths, and wirelessly transmit data to a remote data centre for analysis. In the case of vegetation, GE can crunch the num- bers to assess the growth rates of foliage in prox- imity to the lines and see if and when it might risk damaging them. Despite their relatively recent introduction to the public, drones have gained a rapidly grow- ing fan base that is expected to only multiply in coming years. BI Intelligence predicts that the potential for the drone market will top $12 bil- lion by 2021, as recreational drones become more popular and the regulatory environment calms down. Sales are expected to reach $15bn in 2025 as drones fi nd more application areas. A number of major utilities in the region have expressed interest in using drones. “With any new technology, people are very nervous in the beginning. That is fi ne. In the end drones are going to take off ,” says Jon Resnick, Policy Lead, DJI, a Chinese technology company that manu- factures drones. “A drone could point to areas, point to exactly where you need to go, point to what you might need to take with you to do the repair. When you FEATURE www.utilities-me.com June 2020 / Utilities Middle East 39 $169bn Estimated global power transmission losses RESILIENT Effective monitoring of power transmission lines with the help of drones look at the amount of information we can gain to make accurate decisions about our systems, and look at the cost and time savings, there is huge potential,” adds Resnick. The UAV system that most Utilities around the world are using starts at about $10,000, accord- ing to resellers. Sensor attachments range from a few thousand dollars to upward of $100,000. “But the cost savings are far greater than the investment,” says Resnick. “Utilities spend sev- eral hundred thousand dollars a year to send people out in the fi eld to do mapping and mea- suring of their electrical system. A UAV equipped with “lidar,” the sensor technology used to develop driverless cars, can collect the same data and more at a small fraction of the cost and time.” “With wind turbines, you will have a couple of guys hanging off the blades by a rope a couple of hundred feet in the air to do inspections visu- ally, at a cost upwards of $10,000 per site,” says Michael Costa, a renewable energy expert in the Middle East. “We can get the same results with a UAV for $300, without putting workers in danger.” “The unmanned aerial systems can have tre- mendous value for utilities and other companies that must regularly inspect hard-to-reach equip- ment. Drones can glide over rugged terrain, where it’s hard for utility workers to get around, and send back pictures showing the condition of power lines and pipelines,” points out DEWA’s Humaidan. “They can’t inspect buried pipes, of course, but they can send back images of vegeta- tion around pipelines that can fl ag problems.” Despite the “sky’s the limit” outlook that drones bring to the industry, there have been lim- itations and restrictions that have prohibited util- ities from using drones in their daily operations— until now. Recent changes in drone regulations, particularly the permission to perform beyond visual line of sight fl ights, have opened up new opportunities for the utilities sector and others, which allow drones to perform an increasing number of operations. As the need for more long-distance transmis- sion lines increases, the resource requirement and cost of maintaining these growing systems does as well. The ability to fl y a drone beyond visual line of sight is the answer to cost eff ectively, consistently and effi ciently inspect both trans- mission and distribution power lines. Drone operations enable utilities to quickly capture high-resolution data and facilitate the identifi cation of problems, such as loose cables, rust and damaged insulators, before they become a potential hazard. They can do all of this without putting their employees in harm’s way. One of the greatest benefi ts of drone opera- tions to the utility industry is the sheer volume of data that drones can deliver. As drones are able to fl y further from the pilot’s line of sight, they are collecting exponentially more data. Depth in data opens up opportunities in the industry to use tools such as artifi cial intelligence to drive a never before seen depth of insights. Having a cost-eff ective way to collect detailed data over longer distances is critical to fi rms maintaining a competitive edge. Next >