Dubai:Etihad Water and Electricity (EtihadWE) and Al Ghurair PCS Switchgear Manufacturing have signed a Memorandum of Understanding at WETEX 2026 to pilot ETAP digital twin technology at one of EtihadWE's substations. The collaboration aims to assess the potential of this technology to enhance network visibility, support operational decision-making, and improve operational efficiency.
According to Emirates News Agency, the MoU was signed by Eng. Abdulla AlKhemeiri, Chief Operating Officer of EtihadWE, and Ammar Hamdan, Senior Vice President of Al Ghurair PCS. The pilot project will focus on a 132/11 kV substation chosen by EtihadWE. Al Ghurair PCS is tasked with developing a digital model of the substation and deploying ETAP's Intelligent Single-Line Diagram (iSLD) module. They will also provide training and technical support for EtihadWE's teams during the evaluation period.
The initiative will allow EtihadWE to gain practical experience with the technology and determine its suitability for their operational and network needs. AlKhemeiri highlighted that digital technologies offer new opportunities to strengthen network visibility and enhance the planning and management of critical infrastructure. The pilot will enable EtihadWE to evaluate ETAP's capabilities using a model of their substation and assess the contribution of these tools to effective network planning and management.
Hamdan emphasized the importance of reliable data for effective decision-making and operational excellence. He noted that digital twins enhance visibility, optimize performance, and strengthen grid resilience, and as AI capabilities advance, they will unlock greater value from complex data, augmenting human expertise and enabling more informed decisions.