Integrating smart infrastructure for a sustainable, secure energy system
In an exclusive interview with Energy Connects, Yousif Ahmed Al Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Etihad Water and Electricity, talks about how utilities can ensure energy transition and embrace digitalisation, all while adopting measures to maintain energy security.
What are the most effective ways in which global utilities can address the challenges and opportunities surrounding energy transition, energy security, and digitalisation while maintaining resilience and reliability?
Balancing energy transition, security, and affordability requires a systems approach rather than treating these priorities as competing objectives. Reliability must remain the foundation of utility operations, while emissions intensity is gradually reduced through efficiency improvements, smarter infrastructure, and better system integration.
Improving operational efficiency is often the most immediate step. Reducing technical losses, modernising networks, and deploying energy-efficient technologies can unlock additional capacity within existing systems, allowing utilities to meet growing demand and integrate cleaner energy sources without compromising affordability or service reliability.
In regions where water and energy systems are closely interconnected, improving the efficiency of essential services such as desalination and water distribution can also contribute significantly to decarbonisation. Lowering the energy intensity of water production strengthens both environmental performance and long-term system resilience.
Ultimately, utilities that combine infrastructure investment with digital intelligence and integrated planning will be best positioned to deliver reliable, affordable services while advancing the transition to cleaner energy systems.
Could you share your insights on how EtihadWE’s Distributed Solar System initiative is helping residential, industrial, and agricultural customers play a more active role in the energy transition?
Rather than relying solely on centralised generation, utilities are increasingly enabling customers to participate directly in clean energy production while maintaining grid stability.
Through the Distributed Solar System programme, Etihad Water and Electricity allows residential, industrial, and agricultural customers to install rooftop solar systems and export generated electricity to the grid, with credits reflected in their bills. This model enables customers to contribute to national decarbonisation efforts while also improving overall system flexibility.
For utilities, distributed generation strengthens energy resilience by diversifying supply sources and reducing pressure on central infrastructure during peak demand periods. For customers, it offers greater visibility of consumption and a clearer connection between energy use and sustainability outcomes. It also transforms customers from passive consumers into active contributors.
The initiative also supports the UAE’s broader clean energy and climate objectives, including the Net Zero 2050 Strategy and the National Energy Strategy 2050.
How is EtihadWE working to strengthen overall system resilience and support the integration of more decentralised and distributed energy solutions?
Strengthening system resilience requires utilities to invest in both robust infrastructure and more flexible operating models. At Etihad Water and Electricity, this approach focuses on improving network efficiency, modernising infrastructure, and enabling the integration of distributed energy resources while maintaining system stability.
A key priority is strengthening the efficiency and reliability of the water and electricity networks across the Northern Emirates. Programmes such as large-scale non-revenue water reduction, smart grid upgrades, and advanced leak detection systems help reduce losses and improve the overall performance of the system.
Real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance tools provide greater visibility of network operations and allow faster response to operational challenges. Together, these measures help ensure that the system remains reliable and adaptable as more decentralised and cleaner energy solutions are integrated into the grid.
How are smart metering, digital services, and AI-enabled processes helping transform operational efficiency and enhance EtihadWE’s relationship with customers?
At Etihad Water and Electricity, smart metering, digital platforms, and AI-enabled tools are helping improve operational efficiency while making services more responsive and transparent for users.
Smart meters provide customers with clearer insight into their consumption patterns, enabling them to better manage their energy and water use. At the same time, real-time data allows the utility to monitor network performance more closely and respond more quickly to operational issues.
Across the organisation, digital platforms now support millions of transactions annually, simplifying service requests and reducing the need for manual processes. This has helped accelerate service delivery and improve overall customer experience. AI-supported tools also enhance system monitoring and network optimisation, enabling faster identification of potential issues and more efficient use of infrastructure.
What are you looking forward to at World Utilities Congress 2027?
What makes World Utilities Congress particularly valuable is the opportunity to move beyond high-level discussion and focus on solutions that can be implemented across different markets.
For utilities operating in rapidly developing regions, collaboration and knowledge sharing are essential. Issues such as energy transition, water security, infrastructure resilience, and digital transformation require coordinated efforts across governments, utilities, and the private sector.
For Etihad Water and Electricity, the Congress offers a valuable opportunity to engage with international peers, share practical experiences from the UAE, and contribute to the global conversation on building more resilient and sustainable utility systems.
