Sharjah’s power network expansion integrates renewable energy for greater resilience

Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority is already moving forward with a broad upgrade of the emirate’s power network, as the demand keeps rising along with urban growth and industrial development. In 2025, the authority announced that it had completed and commissioned eight electricity transmission and distribution substations rated at 33/11 kV. Meanwhile, 15 more projects are still underway as part of a wider expansion plan.

This work forms part of a longer-term effort to bolster the resilience of Sharjah’s grid and improve overall efficiency. SEWA has framed this as a practical response to the emirate’s growth, with new assets aimed at supporting residential neighborhoods, commercial zones, and other critical sectors, making sure the supply stays stable even as load increases. Honestly, the idea is to make the system more robust.

Engineers at the authority say these upgrades are being rolled out in accordance with technical standards aimed at boosting reliability and ensuring continuous service. Hamad Al Tuneiji, who heads the Energy Transmission Department, said the utility is working on transmission projects and network improvements that align with the directives of Sharjah’s ruler, Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi. The goal, he mentions, is to provide better services to residents.

Now, completing those eight substations is just part of the bigger picture. According to SEWA, their teams are also busy working on projects designed to expand the network’s reach and flexibility. These include facilities that can handle extra demand, especially as new neighborhoods, business districts, and infrastructure projects come online. It’s all about preparing the grid for future growth.

A notable milestone this year was the launch of the Houshi 33/11 kV power transmission station, reported to have cost AED 23 million. SEWA stated that this station was connected to the grid and brought into operation after meeting all safety and security standards. Its purpose? To strengthen power supply to Houshi and nearby areas. This project perfectly illustrates the authority’s approach: small, local stations to ease pressure in expanding districts, combined with larger strategic assets that form the backbone of the entire network.

But the crown jewel among those strategic assets is the Al Matar 220 kV substation, which SEWA confirms is now operational. It’s actually the largest transmission substation in Sharjah, built to add significant capacity and increase the system’s operational flexibility. Basically, this allows the grid to better absorb new demand, reroute power more efficiently, and keep the lights on even during maintenance or disruptions. Pretty handy, right?

SEWA also emphasized its efforts to integrate renewable energy into its transmission system. Abdullah Al Kous, deputy director of the Energy Transmission Department, shared that the authority has connected the solar plant operated by the Sharjah Petroleum Authority to the electricity grid. That’s a step forward, improving supply reliability and promoting more sustainable operations by bringing renewable energy into the mix. It’s a sizable move, and honestly, it’s quite notable for grid managers in the UAE.

For energy folks, especially those focused on climate and sustainability, this is significant. Grid integration remains one of the tougher hurdles for scaling up renewables, mainly because intermittent sources like solar need to be balanced with steady demand. The fact that SEWA has directly linked a solar farm into its network shows it sees renewables not as an add-on but as an integral part of its core infrastructure. Interesting, isn’t it?

At the same time, the authority has ramped up its internal engineering oversight. It states that during 2025, it reviewed and approved a total of 867 engineering designs related to substation and grid development projects. This process, SEWA explains, is part of their quality control and governance efforts, making sure everything complies with technical standards, safety protocols, and operational requirements before any construction or commissioning begins. That’s a good move, especially considering how important early planning and design are, delays or errors at this stage can cause bigger issues down the line.

Speaking of investments, the broader picture is becoming clearer. Reports from this year mention that SEWA has launched what might be the largest 220 kV substation in its network, located in the airport area of Umm Fannin. This project is said to have cost over AED 500 million. It’s equipped with multiple high-capacity transformers and offers more than 1,200 MW of capacity. While SEWA hasn’t grouped this project with the eight 33/11 kV substations in their official announcements, it all points to a coordinated strategy. Reinforce the main grid, boost local distribution, and prepare for future demands.

All of these initiatives illustrate how Sharjah’s utility is tackling a dual challenge: on one hand, serving a growing population and economy; on the other, enhancing efficiency, resilience, and incorporating modern tech like solar. Their current programs seem intent on addressing both simultaneously.

Taken together, these investments could result in a transmission system with more capacity and room to grow. For other utilities around the UAE, this serves as yet another example of how grid development is moving beyond simple capacity expansion toward a more integrated approach. Now, reliability, sustainability, and renewable energy are being planned hand in hand, an interesting shift, don’t you think?