The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has announced that Unit 4, the fourth and final unit at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE, has begun its operational readiness preparations
The operations team at Barakah have now commenced the operational readiness testing required to demonstrate the unit is ready to receive the operating license from the UAE’s independent nuclear regulator, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).
The lessons learnt from the previous three units have been effectively applied to the next unit, ensuring the swift and safe transition to operational readiness, with each unit passing through the phases of preparation in a more efficient manner while maintaining the same standards of quality and safety.
Once commercially operational, Unit 4 will raise the Barakah Plant’s total clean electricity generation capacity to 5.6GW, equivalent to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs, delivering more than 40TWh of clean electricity per year. The Barakah Plant has already had a transformational impact on the UAE’s energy landscape, spearheading the rapid decarbonisation of the UAE’s power sector. Over the winter months, the plant met 48% of Abu Dhabi’s electricity requirements with zero-carbon electricity.
Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, managing director and CEO of ENEC, said, “In the UAE’s Year of Sustainability, we are demonstrating how nuclear energy can have a real, rapid and transformative impact on decarbonizing the power sector. Every year since 2020, we have added another unit to deliver 10TWh of 24/7, emissions free power to the grid. With Unit 4 now moving towards becoming operational we will soon meet our mission to generate 25% of the Nation’s electricity. Barakah offers a clear success story as we head towards COP 28 in Dubai, where attendees will be looking for solutions to the climate crisis and are increasingly recognising the critical role proven nuclear energy technology will play. The success of the three commercially operational reactors reflects the dedication and skill of all our teams involved in the program. As we embark on the last leg of this first phase of our program to deliver the last of our four commercially operational nuclear reactors, we continue to inspire a new generation of climate change champions, while accelerating the UAE’s decarbonisation towards the goal of Net Zero emissions by 2050.”
