Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Unit 4 Successfully Connected to the UAE Grid

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) today announced that its operations and maintenance subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company, has safely and successfully connected Unit 4 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant to the UAE transmission grid.

The connection to the grid means the delivery of the first megawatts of carbon-free electricity from the nuclear power plant’s fourth reactor, marking a crucial moment in the country’s clean energy transition and its path to Net zero emissions by 2050.

Unit 4 will add another 1,400 megawatts of clean electricity capacity to power the national grid, representing another significant step towards full fleet operations, further supporting the UAE’s efforts to improve grid stability and energy security. through abundant 24-hour zero emissions. electricity.
Nawah teams at Barakah have worked closely with Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company (TRANSCO), a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PSJC (TAQA), which built the overhead lines to connect the Barakah plant to the Abu Dhabi grid. , ensuring the power generated at Barakah is delivered safely and reliably to consumers across the country.

The connection to the Unit 4 grid solidifies the Barakah Plant’s position as a cornerstone of the The UAE’s Net Zero 2050 strategy, contributing significantly to the country’s clean energy portfolio. It not only propels the UAE towards achieving its ambitious climate goals, but also positions the country as a leader in nuclear energy and decarbonisation. The operational readiness of the four units underlines the UAE’s commitment to diversifying its energy sources, ensuring the reliability and sustainability of its energy sector for the next six decades.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, Director General and CEO of ENEC, saying:

“We are proud to have achieved another critical milestone for the Barakah plant, which is a testament to the UAE’s leadership in developing large-scale multi-unit nuclear fleets. Grid connection of Unit 4 puts us on the path to full fleet commercial operations and, with that, the ability to generate 40 TWh of clean baseload electricity annually to drive our Net Zero economy, offering a competitive advantage to many companies and strongly decarbonizing. -to reduce industries, while presenting a global benchmark for the entire nuclear energy industry.”

Unit 4 of the facility is about to begin commercial operations and is undergoing power step-up testing (PAT) after grid connection to gradually increase power levels until reaching maximum output, meeting standards. safety and quality. Each successive unit has connected to the grid more efficiently than the last; Unit 3 was delivered four months faster than Unit 2 and five months faster than Unit 1, highlighting the benefits of phased construction. The success of the Barakah plant positions ENEC as a leader in clean energy initiatives, advancing nuclear technologies from large-scale reactors to small modular reactors (SMR) and microreactors through the ENEC ADVANCED Program. This strategic approach reinforces the UAE’s role in global decarbonization and demonstrates the potential of advanced nuclear technologies for sustainable energy solutions.

News source: Emirates News Agency