UAE begins operations at final Barakah nuclear unit
Unit 4 will increase the national grid's clean electricity capacity by an additional 1,400 megawatts.
The President announced on September 5 that the fourth and last unit of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant has been successfully commissioned.
In a tweet, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan of the UAE mentioned that the launch of operations at Unit 4 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant signifies a significant progress towards achieving net zero.
Unit 4 increases the national grid's clean electricity capacity by 1,400 megawatts. The Arab world's first multi-unit operating plant is projected to avoid over 22 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, which is equal to taking 4.8 million cars off the roads.
The Barakah Plant produces 40TWh of energy annually, which is almost the same as New Zealand's yearly electricity usage, and supplies a quarter of the UAE's electricity. This renewable energy source can support 16 million electric vehicles every year.
The President further stated that we will maintain our focus on energy security and sustainability for the well-being of our country and citizens in the present as well as in the future.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the leader of Dubai and Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE, also went to X to honor the success.
He stated that the plant will supply one quarter of the nation's electricity demands and is the biggest provider of renewable energy in the area.
"In the last five years, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant has contributed the highest proportion of clean electricity per person globally, with 75 percent coming from Barakah facilities."
This action signifies the most extensive decarbonisation initiative in the UAE and the surrounding area, placing the country in a leading position for meeting its climate commitments by 2030. The Barakah Plant prevents 22.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually, which is like taking 4.6 million cars off the roads each year and helps in reaching 24 per cent of the country's 2030 decarbonisation goals.
Every unit has been connected to the grid in a more efficient manner compared to the unit before, by utilizing accumulated institutional knowledge and experience. Unit 3 was completed four months ahead of the Unit 2 timeline, and five months ahead of the Unit 1 timeline, showcasing the substantial advantage of constructing several units according to a phased schedule.
In November 2023, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) revealed the introduction of ENEC Advance, a new program designed to assess the most recent technologies in advanced, small modular reactor and micro-reactor fields.
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