Dubai registers patent for AI-powered water network tool

State utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has registered a patent for its Hydronet project, which utilises artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning to monitor and control the emirate’s water network

State utility Dubai Electricity & Water Authority (Dewa) has registered a patent for its Hydronet project, which utilises artificial intelligence (AI) and deep learning to monitor and control the emirate’s water network.

The Hydronet product can be integrated with any SCADA system and can provide real-time insights into the current state of the network.

According to Dewa, Hydronet will lead to savings of up to AED5.3m per year.

“[Dewa] has reduced losses in electricity and transmission and distribution networks to 3.3 per cent, compared to 6-7 per cent recorded in Europe and USA. Water network losses were 5.2 per cent, compared to around 15 per cent in North America,” Saeed Mohammed al-Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa, was quoted in the press release about the Hydronet patent.

In November 2020, Dewa selected the local Utico as the preferred bidder for the planned 120 million imperial gallons a day (MIGD) Hassyan independent water project (IWP) in Dubai.

The project attracted a world record tariff of $0.277 per cubic metre.

The project is Dubai’s first IWP, with previous desalination projects having been tendered under engineering, procurement and construction contracts.