H.E. Mohamed Al Hammadi, managing director and CEO of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), talks to The Energy Year about the role nuclear energy will play in the UAE’s near-term future and how the company is embracing new technologies. ENEC is responsible for developing the UAE’s nuclear energy sector.
In what ways has ENEC supported the development of a sustainable and localised nuclear supply chain in the UAE?
More than 2,000 companies have contributed to the development of the Arab world’s first nuclear energy plant. The contracts are worth USD 6.7 billion and have supported the development of a world-class local nuclear energy supply chain, built on the highest national and global standards of safety and quality.
The contracts with local companies have been awarded through collaboration between ENEC and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). Some of the companies include Emirates Steel, National Cement, Dubai Cable Company (Ducab), the National Marine Dredging Company, Western Bainoona Group and Hilalco.
How is ENEC embracing new technologies such as small modular reactors (SMRs)?
Despite being a landmark project, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant represents just 20% of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy programme. Innovation in areas like clean molecule generation and SMRs is a major part of ENEC’s focus now as we look to deliver the next phase of the wider programme and drive world class nuclear energy research and development projects.
We recently signed a framework agreement with Romania’s Nuclearelectrica for potential collaboration on the development and expansion of nuclear energy programmes in the UAE and Romania, as well as within Central and Eastern Europe. As part of this agreement, we will be sharing knowledge on advanced technologies such as SMRs and other advanced nuclear technologies to develop the sector and ensure reliable and sustainable operations. We will leverage ENEC’s significant expertise in constructing and operating light water reactors and support key procurement, engineering, and project management.
We are also exploring opportunities for collaboration to introduce SMRs in the UAE and in other countries. This is a reflection of ENEC’s growing expertise that we are able to export globally, after successfully delivering the first of its kind nuclear project in 27 years. With Barakah, we’ve set a global benchmark for nuclear newbuilds using innovative financial structures and a unique approach to project management.
Given the outlook for clean hydrogen in the UAE, how is ENEC exploring new options for hydrogen generation? How does it plan to leverage high-temperature reactors, electricity, heat and steam generated from nuclear energy to produce cheaper hydrogen?
To stay ahead of the curve, we are expanding beyond nuclear power generation and into other clean energy areas such as hydrogen as a clean fuel of the future. Nuclear energy offers an excellent solution for generating the electricity, heat and steam required for clean hydrogen production. Barakah’s 4 units have the potential to generate around 1 million tonnes of hydrogen per year.
As more and more nations recognise the crucial role nuclear energy plays as a proven solution to boost domestic energy security and in parallel decarbonise the power sector and heavy industry through the generation of heat, steam and clean hydrogen, we expect that international partnerships will become even more critical to accelerating the development of nuclear programmes.
To this end, we signed an agreement with Électricité de France (EDF) to invest in research and development in the nuclear industry and to explore the production of green hydrogen powered by carbon-free nuclear energy. Earlier this year, we signed a letter of intent with Idaho National Laboratory in the USA to enable ENEC and EDF to explore systems that can be deployed at the Barakah plant to generate commercial-scale clean molecule production, including hydrogen, ammonia, oxygen, water and steam.
These agreements align with ENEC’s long-term goal of exporting clean hydrogen and ammonia to meet the growing global demand. Clean hydrogen is a key component of the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategy. In addition, ENEC’s hydrogen-related ventures support the UAE’s plan to gain a 25% global market share of low-carbon hydrogen by 2030 under the national “hydrogen leadership roadmap.”
What goals and objectives does ENEC have for the coming 12-18 months?
Currently, ENEC is actively exploring opportunities and initiatives that go beyond just nuclear energy generation and support the development of various sectors in the UAE, such as agriculture, space exploration and medicine.
ENEC is also working to export its nuclear energy expertise and knowledge to other nations seeking to tackle issues of national energy security and climate change at the same time. Across the world, nations are facing this dual challenge, and this is where nuclear energy, innovations such as SMRs and other clean molecules and fuels including green hydrogen will have a crucial role to play in ensuring the world’s energy needs are met sustainably. Accordingly, we are preparing for opportunities to export the Barakah model and regional super-grid opportunities.
The Barakah plant is the cornerstone of the UAE’s Net Zero by 2050 strategy, helping deliver the much-needed energy transition on the ground today. With the largest portfolio of renewables and the first operating nuclear plant in the Arab world, the UAE is leading globally in decarbonisation and is setting examples for the world to collectively achieve Net Zero by 2050. At ENEC, we are closely aligned with this ambition and working towards supporting the UAE’s global leadership position in fighting climate change with clean energy solutions.
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