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Barakah Nuclear Plant: Clean Energy For UAE | |
| Sumita Pawar |
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been generating clean electricity since March 2022, contributing to the energy needs of Abu Dhabi and the nation.
The plant has an annual capacity increase of 1,400 MW of electricity that is available round the clock and with zero emissions. Unit 2 of the plant has generated 10,402 GWh of clean electricity and prevented more than 5,000 kilotons of carbon emissions since beginning commercial operations.
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The plant's four units, once all commercially operational, will generate up to 5,600 MW of clean electricity around the clock, equivalent to almost 40% of the UAE’s peak demand of about 15,000 MW during the hot summer months.
With three units operating at maximum capacity, Barakah already generates more than 80% of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi’s clean electricity.
Once all four units are operational, the Barakah Plant is set to meet up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs, generating enough clean electricity to power up to 574,000 homes.
The plant will also support the UAE’s strategy for becoming a net exporter of liquefied natural gas (LNG) by 2030 by replacing local gas consumption with clean electricity from nuclear.
The UAE’s data-driven approach to including nuclear in its energy mix was the right approach, as it has enabled the delivery of a swift and sharp decarbonization of the power sector at a time when many nations are still trying to identify how they will deliver Net Zero while making sure the ‘lights are always on.’
This timing couldn’t be more important, as experts highlight just how critical the climate change emergency is becoming and how essential nuclear energy will be to solving this crisis.