Expectations of the commercial operation of the third station in early 2023

Barakah will produce 85% of electricity with zero carbon emissions in Abu Dhabi by 2025

The third station in Barakah entered the start-up phase on September 22.

Wham

The year 2022 witnessed achievements that consolidated the country's leading position in the energy sector at the regional and local levels, and made the UAE a unique model in terms of the transition to environmentally friendly energy sources, with the aim of accelerating the reduction of the carbon footprint of the energy sector, and playing a pivotal role in achieving the country's strategic initiative to reach Climate neutrality by 2050.

carbon emissions

In January 2022 and during the Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation revealed new data based on the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, which showed that the Barakah peaceful nuclear energy plants in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi will, once fully operational, reduce carbon emissions in greater quantities. than previously expected, with 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions annually, an increase of 6% over previous calculations.

When fully operational, the Barakah plants will produce 85% of the carbon-neutral electricity in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi by 2025, making it the largest contributor to reducing the carbon emissions of Abu Dhabi's water and electricity sectors by 50% by the middle of the decade.

commercial operation

In March 2022, the UAE was on a date with the start of commercial operation of the second Barakah station, and the addition of 1,400 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the state's electricity grid, bringing the total production of the first and second stations in Barakah to 2,800 megawatts.

With the commercial operation of the second plant, the Barakah plants became the first multi-station peaceful nuclear energy project in operation in the Arab world.

Third stop

On June 17, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation issued the operating license for the third plant in Barakah, after the authority completed 120 inspections and careful audits of the plant.

On June 19, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced that its subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company, had begun loading nuclear fuel packages at three Barakah plants.

On September 22, the third station entered the start-up stage, which marks the beginning of the gradual increase in the station's reactor capacity, leading to the expected commercial operation in early 2023.

electrical connection

At the beginning of October, the third station in Barakah was connected to the UAE's electricity grid, and the station produced the first megawatt of environmentally friendly electricity. Once it is commercially operational, the station will add another 1,400 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the network.

Emirati competencies

In parallel with these achievements, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation continued its training programs aimed at developing Emirati competencies, as a new group of 87 operating managers and operators of nuclear reactors, including 30 Emirati competencies (including five Emirati women), obtained the license of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation. After passing rigorous exams, this license qualifies them to join the operating team at the Nawah Energy Company, which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Barakah peaceful nuclear energy plants.

This brings the total number of members of the operation team who have obtained the license of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, which qualifies them to operate the Barakah plants, to 159 operating managers and reactor operators, 60 of whom are Emirati competencies, including eight Emirati women.

international standing

The UAE has occupied an advanced position on the international map with regard to the nuclear energy sector. In April 2022, the Managing Director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, Mohammed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, was elected to membership in the Board of Directors of the World Nuclear Association, as the first Emirati to hold this position.

Also, last October, Al-Hammadi was chosen as the new president of the International Organization of Nuclear Operators, after a vote that took place during the general meeting of the international organization in the Czech capital, Prague, as the first Emirati and the first Arab to assume the presidency of the International Organization of Nuclear Operators.

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