Third of four units to supply an additional 1,400 megawatts of clean energy
The UAE has completed the construction of the third unit of its $32 billion nuclear power facility, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi, which is expected to meet up to 25 percent of the country’s electricity needs with clean energy.
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) made the announcement on Thursday in time for the observance of Energy Day at the sidelines of the United National Conference of the Parties (COP) 26 on climate change.
ENEC is developing the 5.6-gigawatt plant, which will have a total of four units, with Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
“This milestone means that the Barakah plant will soon deliver yet another 1,400MW (megawatts) of zero-emissions electricity, highlighting the UAE’s leading role as a clean energy leader,” a statement said.
The announcement comes barely a month after the UAE made a commitment to invest more than 600 billion dirhams ($163 billion) in clean and renewable energy over the next several years to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
Once fully operational, the nuclear plant is expected to supply up to a quarter of the electricity requirements of UAE, as well as cut annual carbon emissions by up to 21 million tonnes, roughly equivalent to clearing the streets of 3.2 million cars. The project is part of the country’s initiative to generate clean energy.
Last September, the second unit of the nuclear facility was successfully linked to the national grid, just a few months after the first unit started commercial operations.
By 2025, it is projected that the nuclear plant will have cut Abu Dhabi’s carbon emissions by 50 percent.
With the third unit now complete, the UAE is now “progressing smoothly towards supplying a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs completely carbon-free”, said Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of ENEC.
The Barakah Plant, which started construction in 2012, is now more than 96 percent complete.
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