In a recent podcast interview with Dr Chris Keefer of the Decouple podcast, Mohamed Al Hammadi, the Managing Director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), discussed the UAE’s experience in the nuclear energy sector. Al Hammadi shared his insights on how to deliver a successful nuclear program, drawing from the UAE’s success in becoming the first country in 27 years to deliver a new nuclear program on budget and within an efficient timeline.
Al Hammadi explained that the UAE began studying the future of the energy sector in 2006 in order to identify clean sources that would support the country’s growth and development. The government decided to invest in both intermittent renewable energy projects and baseload nuclear energy, paving the way for the planning of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first of its kind in the Arab World.
He went on to discuss why nuclear energy was the right choice for the UAE, highlighting its high levels of energy density, reliability, safety, and the fact that it produces clean electricity 24/7. Al Hammadi emphasized the importance of baseload electricity for the grid, which provides stability that is critical for powering homes and cities. Nuclear energy offers all of this while being commercially and economically viable. Currently, the UAE has three commercially operating units at Barakah, with a fourth nearing completion.
Dr Chris Keefer praised the UAE’s Peaceful Nuclear Energy program for its success in delivering one of the world’s leading new nuclear energy projects on budget and on time, despite the global financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic.
ENEC is now focusing on innovation and R&D in new technology development to accelerate the clean energy transition. The research includes a focus on small modular reactors (SMRs) and next-generation reactors, as well as generating clean molecules such as steam, hydrogen, and ammonia, along with heat, which is needed to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors such as shipping and aviation.
Al Hammadi also emphasized that achieving net zero by 2050 without nuclear energy is impossible. He sees COP28 in the UAE in November as a great opportunity to showcase the success of nuclear energy based on science, facts, and data. Clean electricity from Barakah is enabling the UAE to innovate in areas like clean hydrogen and providing higher-temperature steam to the chemical industry. The UAE plans to continue to help other countries drive the decarbonization of the energy sector and collectively meet the challenge of climate change and energy security.
