DEWA AI gas turbine controller adds 29 MW capacity and cuts emissions at Jebel Ali plant

Dubai Electricity and Water Authority has deployed what it calls the world's first AI-driven gas turbine intelligent controller at the Jebel Ali Power and Desalination Complex. Developed with Siemens Energy, the system uses digital twin technology and AI algorithms to recover capacity lost to equipment degradation. It has increased generation by 28.9 MW across 14 gas turbine units, saving roughly $10.61 million in capital expenditure. The controller also cuts annual operating costs by about AED 8.72 million and reduces carbon emissions by around 28,530 tonnes per year. NOx emissions drop by roughly 22.9 tonnes annually. The project received a seven-star rating at the International Best Practice Competition. It supports DEWA's stated goal of becoming the world's first fully AI-native utility while improving efficiency and lowering the environmental footprint of gas-fired generation.