Emirates Nuclear Energy launches a roadmap to reduce the carbon footprint at Barakah plants

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced the launch of a road map to reduce the carbon footprint of all activities, whether in the corporation’s facilities or at the site of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plants, and began developing the implementation plans for this initiative in cooperation with the “Idaho National Laboratory” of the US Department of Energy, one of the largest and most scientific research institutions. progress in the world.
This comes in line with the UAE’s strategic initiative to reach climate neutrality by 2050, and the “Nuclear Energy for Climate Neutrality” initiative launched by the Corporation and the International Nuclear Organization.
The roadmap, which was launched during the “Nuclear Energy for Climate Neutrality” summit on the sidelines of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP28, will include setting a path that enables the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation to reduce its carbon footprint and achieve climate neutrality for all its activities using advanced technology. And the expertise of the American Idaho Laboratory team, especially that the Barakah nuclear power plants developed by the corporation in Abu Dhabi, which are scheduled to provide 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs once fully operational, will significantly reduce the carbon footprint of the energy sector in the country, in addition to enabling sectors Businesses can be part of the carbon-free economy by producing the environmentally friendly electricity needed to obtain clean energy certificates in Abu Dhabi.
The road map also includes developing ways to reduce the carbon footprint of various activities at the Barakah plant site, such as transportation, energy storage facilities, and carbon capture. It also takes into account the broader missions of the UAE peaceful nuclear program, as the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation is exploring opportunities to expand nuclear energy projects inside and outside the UAE. In addition to advanced nuclear energy technologies, including mini-modular reactors and hydrogen production using nuclear energy.
The Foundation’s focus includes international cooperation to contribute to strengthening the world’s journey towards climate neutrality, and to contribute to reducing the carbon footprint of the transportation and heavy industry sectors, in addition to converting coal plants into nuclear power plants.
The road map for reducing the organization’s carbon footprint includes a model of governance, policies and regulations, research, development and innovation, local and international partnerships, and the ecosystem, in addition to new technologies, financing and incentives, communication with partners, awareness campaigns, and developing human competencies.
Mohammed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, said: “Through cooperation with the American Idaho National Laboratory, we are moving forward towards achieving our goals of contributing to achieving climate neutrality in the UAE by 2050, and promoting the global process of transitioning to environmentally friendly energy sources.” We at the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation are planning beyond the broad reduction of the carbon footprint carried out by the Barakah plants, as we seek to increase our contribution to achieving climate neutrality, in addition to accelerating the reduction of the carbon footprint of all activities at the Barakah plants site, and supporting industrial sectors in which it is difficult to reduce carbon footprint and enabling it to contribute to achieving climate neutrality.”
He continued: “In addition, we will continue to strengthen international cooperation in order to increase the production capacity of nuclear energy and develop its current and new technologies, with the aim of supporting the global process of transitioning to energy sources free of carbon emissions and confronting climate change.”
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and the American Idaho National Laboratory decided to cooperate to develop systems for the production of hydrogen, ammonia, oxygen, water and steam in the Barakah plants on a commercial scale, as part of the future vision of exporting carbon-free hydrogen and ammonia in order to meet the growing global demand.
For his part, John Wagner, director of the US Idaho National Laboratory, said: “The US Idaho National Laboratory has a recognized leadership scientific position in the design, development and deployment of nuclear energy technology throughout the world. Through this cooperation, we will benefit from our capabilities and expertise in the field of nuclear energy.” And renewable and climate neutrality systems to support the goals of developing new nuclear energy technologies that the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation seeks to achieve.”
The Corporation and the International Nuclear Organization, with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency, launched the “Nuclear Energy for Climate Neutrality” initiative in September 2023 during the World Nuclear Conference, in order to double the production capacity of nuclear energy and enhance its role in achieving global goals for ensuring energy security and reducing emissions. carbonaceous. In the next phase of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation is focusing on exploring and attracting strategic investments in nuclear energy locally and internationally, with the aim of supporting growth and development in the country.