Barakah Plant’s Fourth Unit Begins Commercial Operations

Moving another step close towards achieving the net zero ambitions, the UAE’s Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) on Thursday said that it has reached another milestone by launching the commercial operations of the fourth unit of Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant to bring clean energy to the Emirates.

Barakah is one of the most successful new build nuclear projects in the past 30 years, representing a remarkable feat of engineering and teamwork, and a significant achievement for the nation. The plant has been delivered in accordance with the UAE’s 2008 policy commitments for nuclear energy development, meeting the highest standards of safety, security and transparency.

The Barakah Plant is now generating 40TWh of electricity per year, nearly the equivalent of the annual electricity consumption of New Zealand, and provides up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity.

This clean and carbon-free energy is enough to power 16 million Electric Vehicles (EVs) annually and represents the largest decarbonisation effort in the UAE and the region, positioning the country ahead of its 2030 climate commitments.

The 22.4 million tons of annual carbon emissions prevented by the Barakah Plant are equivalent to removing 4.6 million cars from the roads each year and contribute to achieving 24% of the nation’s 2030 decarbonisation commitments – Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Barakah is also delivering wide-ranging economic benefits. Despite growing demand, consumption of natural gas for power generation is at a 13-year low in Abu Dhabi because of the significant contribution that Barakah is now making to Abu Dhabi’s energy mix.

Barakah’s four APR-1400 units are also playing a key role in helping UAE companies decarbonise as 85% of the clean energy certificates managed by EWEC are powered by Barakah, which are used by companies such as ADNOC, EGA and Emirates Steel Arkan to produce greener products that can be sold at a premium, providing a unique competitive advantage for Abu Dhabi-based companies.

During the construction phase alone, the delivery of the four units at Barakah yielded $6.7 billion in local procurement, making the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy programme a major driver of In-Country Value.

Vision Realised

ENEC Chairman Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak said that in 2008, the UAE’s visionary leadership took a data-led, long-term approach by issuing a comprehensive policy for the development of civil nuclear energy in the UAE to transform the nation’s energy supply.

“As Unit 4 of Barakah enters commercial operations, that vision has been realised, with one in every four electrons on the UAE grid coming from Barakah, providing up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs, and positioning the nation as a leader in civil nuclear development globally. This source of clean electricity will act as a magnet, attracting additional investment in the UAE by sustainably-minded, but energy intensive industries from around the globe,” he said

ENEC’s Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi said that this was a monumental achievement for UAE, and they were grateful for the continuous support of the UAE leadership, as ENEC has ushered in a new era of clean energy for the country.

According to him, the UAE has added more clean electricity per capita in the past five years than any other nation, with 75% of this coming from Barakah.

“This demonstrates that integrating nuclear energy into the UAE power’s mix and alongside growing renewable energy sources was the right decision, boosting energy security and establishing the UAE as a regional leader in this growing sector. Barakah is making a positive impact on the lives of every person in the UAE through the clean electricity we generate around the clock,” he added.

Barakah One Company’s CEO Nasser Al Nasseri said that the Barakah Plant was generating a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs in a reliable and efficient manner, providing a stable pipeline of power for the next 60 years.

With rising demand for electricity, driven partly due to AI, EVs and semiconductors, the stable and reliable clean electricity provided by nuclear is increasingly recognised for its role in decarbonising the energy sector.