Barakah Plant preapres for Unit 4 operations

THE EMIRATES NUCLEAR Energy Corporation (ENEC) has announced that Unit 4, the fourth and final unit at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi, has begun its operational readiness preparations. The operations team at Barakah have now commenced the operational readiness testing required to demonstrate the unit is ready to receive the operating license from the UAE’s independent nuclear regulator, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).

The news comes following commercial operations of Unit 3 earlier in 2023, which joined

Units 1 and 2 in generating 30TWh annually.

Once commercially operational, Unit 4 will raise the Barakah plant’s total clean electricity generation capacity to 5.6GW, equivalent to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs, delivering more than 40TWh of clean electricity per year.

ENEC’s leadership has showcased a new model to the world for nuclear developments, with Barakah widely recognised as one of the most advanced nuclear plants in the world.

It is the first of its kind nuclear new­build project in 27 years and has set an international benchmark for project management and cost effectiveness.

Gas demand in Abu Dhabi emirate is now at an 11­year low because of the significant transformation in how the emirate is generating its electricity.

ENEC is now leading efforts in research across areas like development of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), clean hydrogen, and other clean technologies.

The Barakah plant’s baseload, constant clean electricity provides the ‘always on’ foundation for the emirate’s solar plants while removing millions of tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Bahrain’s first clean energy data centre

BEYON CHAIRMAN, SHAIKH

Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, announced the completion of Phase 2 of the company’s Solar Park at a ceremony which took place, in the presence of H.E. Kamal Bin Ahmed Mohamed, president of Electricity and Water Authority; H.E. Mohamed bin Thamer Al Kaabi, Minister of Transportation and Telecommunications; H.E. Yasser bin Ibrahim Humaidan, Minister of Electricity and Water Affairs; H.E. Noor Bint Ali Al Khulaif, Minister of Sustainable Development; and Mohamed Almoayyed, director YK Almoayyed & Sons.

The event was held at the Royal Golf Club in Riffa, where members of Beyon’s Board of Directors, Beyon’s Executive team and team members involved in the project were present on the occasion.

Speaking on the occasion, Al Khalifa said, “Beyon’s efforts towards sustainability and clean energy production continues, and we have made great progress since the launch of the first phase of the Solar Park in November 2021. Today, we are glad to announce the completion of the second phase of the project.

“We are also very proud of an unprecedented achievement in the telecommunications and technology sector, as Beyon's Data Centre became the first in Bahrain to rely entirely on clean energy generated from the company's Solar Park, which is located in the Beyon Data Oasis.”

Beyon’s Solar Park Phase 1 and 2 will generate 3.6 GWh of clean energy leading to a carbon footprint saving of more than 2,000 tonnes and a cost saving of US$278,540 annually.