Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant Connected to the UAE’s Transmission Grid

 The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), the Nuclear energy company of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), has announced that Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, its operations and maintenance subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), is successfully connected to the unit to the UAE’s transmission grid, paving the way to add more clean electricity at a time of global energy shortages. 

Thousands more megawatts of clean electricity capacity have been connected to the grid, showing the significant progress being made in activating the four units of the Arab World’s first multi-unit operational nuclear plant. The nuclear plant consists of four APR-1400 nuclear reactors. 

Unit 3 of the plant delivers the first megawatts of carbon-free electricity. It will now be increased and the unit will be tested in preparation for commercial operations in the coming months. It will also undergo the process of gradually raising power levels, known as Power Ascension Testing (PAT). The authorities will continuously monitor and test the PAT until maximum electricity production is reached. 

According to ENEC, the Unit 3 grid connection improves the UAE energy security and the development of a Net Zero Economy. Reportedly, Unit 3 will add another 1,400 megawatts of zero-carbon emission electricity capacity to the national grid, a major step towards tackling climate change.

The project aims to guarantee the UAE's energy security and energy sustainability to tackle climate change – two of the biggest challenges facing the world today.

The announcement by the ENEC comes at a time when many countries are looking to mitigate shortages because of the global energy crisis. 

Reportedly, the four units at the Barakah plant are contributing 25% of the UAE’s National Determined Contributions to Net Zero and are the largest source of dispatchable clean electricity. It will also boost efforts to address climate change and accelerate the global energy transition. The Plant would demonstrate how nuclear energy projects can be delivered safely to tackle growing carbon emissions.