The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) have signed a strategic collaboration agreement to research and explore developing innovative energy solutions to enhance energy efficiency. They will evaluate the deployment of advanced nuclear technology such as small modular reactors (SMRs) to support the UAE’s energy diversification strategy, and will look into using excess heat from the Barakah NPP in ADNOC’s oil and gas operations.
The agreement includes a comprehensive technical and economic assessment to identify the best-fit nuclear reactor technologies for ADNOC by leveraging ENEC’s expertise in assessing technological performance in pilot projects as well as future technologies under development, ENEC said. It also covers feasibility studies to assess opportunities to use excess heat from Barakah, with recommendations for advanced technologies that can be demonstrated through existing or upcoming pilot projects.
ENEC Vice President for Nuclear Research & Development, Ahmed Al Mazrouei, said the collaboration was a significant step forward in the company’s ongoing commitment to advancing new technologies and driving research and development in the UAE’s energy sector. “Together with ADNOC, we will leverage our combined technical capabilities and expertise to identify and develop nuclear solutions that enhance energy security and sustainability in parallel,” he said.
“In collaborating with ENEC, we will explore the deployment of small modular nuclear reactors as we develop innovative energy solutions to enhance our operational efficiency,” said ADNOC Senior Vice President for Technology and Innovation, Ali Al Rawahi. “Our partnership underscores our mutual commitment to scaling a reliable and clean energy source, as well as developing pioneering advancements in lower-carbon energy and technological innovation.”
ADNOC has allocated an initial $23bn to advance and accelerate lower-carbon solutions, and is investing in new energies and decarbonisation technologies to reach its ambition of net zero by 2045 and a commitment to zero methane emissions by 2030. ENEC said the new collaboration aligns with the UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to increase the contribution of clean energy sources and improve energy efficiency across the country.
The fourth and final unit of ENEC’s Barakah NPP began commercial operation in September. The plant is now generating 40 TWh annually, equivalent to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs, while preventing the release of 22.4m tonnes of CO2 a year.
