Saturday, October 8, 2022 – 11:07 am
The connection process provides thousands of additional megawatts of environmentally friendly electricity to the UAE’s electricity grid.
The operating teams will start conducting an upward power test at the third station, in preparation for commercial operation within several months.
ABU DHABI, 8th October/WAM/ The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced today the connection of the third of the four stations in Barakah to the UAE electricity grid, and the production of the first megawatt of environmentally friendly electricity from the third of the four Barakah stations, after its start-up by the company. Nawah Energy is affiliated with the Corporation, which is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Barakah plants.
Once commercially operational, the third plant in Barakah will add another 1,400 megawatts of carbon-free electricity to the country’s grid, in a very important step to ensure energy security and sustainability in the United Arab Emirates and confront climate change, two of the biggest challenges facing the world today.
With the commercial operation of the first and second stations in Barakah and the production of environmentally friendly electricity around the clock, and with the third station getting closer to commercial operation in the coming months, the Barakah stations form a fundamental pillar of the country’s strategy of climate neutrality, by playing a pioneering role in accelerating the reduction of the footprint carbon dioxide in the energy sector in the country. The nuclear energy sector is also a vital part of the environmentally friendly energy portfolio in the UAE, which includes multiple sources that are free of carbon emissions, which ensures the reliability, efficiency and flexibility of the country’s electricity grid for at least the next 60 years.
On this occasion, His Excellency Mohammed Ibrahim Al Jamadi, Managing Director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, said: “The vision of the wise leadership’s far-reaching and wise decisions for more than 13 years are bearing fruit today, as we celebrate another proud moment for the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program. Barakah Nuclear Energy Plants for Peaceful Nuclear Energy in the State Electricity Grid Thousands of additional megawatts of environmentally friendly electricity to support all aspects and areas of life in our society, in addition to avoiding burning fossil fuels to produce electricity.The energy produced by Barakah plants also contributes to enabling companies in the UAE to obtain clean energy certificates which gives it a significant competitive advantage.”
Al Hammadi added: “We are proud of the work teams led by Emirati competencies, who continue to work according to advanced levels of knowledge and expertise to support the development of a carbon-neutral economy, and we appreciate the efforts of everyone who contributed to making these achievements a reality on the ground.”
After connecting it to the state’s electricity grid, the operating team will begin to gradually raise the power level of the third plant reactor, within the framework of what is known as the upward power test, in addition to conducting the necessary monitoring and tests until reaching the reactor’s maximum capacity, in preparation for commercial operation within several months, while adhering to all Local regulatory requirements and the highest international standards for safety, quality and security.
Once fully operational, the four Barakah plants will contribute 25% of the UAE’s commitment to achieving climate neutrality, especially as it is the largest source of environmentally friendly electricity that can be distributed through the network. The Barakah plants also highlight how to develop nuclear energy projects safely, successfully and competitively with the aim of reducing the increasing carbon emissions. Through the environmentally friendly electricity produced by the Barakah plants, nuclear power contributes to reducing the carbon footprint of some of the most energy-intensive sectors.
Islam Al-Hussein / Ahmed Al-Nuaimi