UAE’s ENEC to collaborate with US’ Idaho National Laboratory on delivering its Net Zero roadmap

10.12.23

- ENEC and INL to develop a roadmap and pathway for nuclear-energy powered net zero solutions.

- A new agreement builds on a letter of intent signed between the two entities earlier this year to collaborate on clean molecule generation technologies.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) will collaborate with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory (INL) to develop a joint roadmap to deliver on its net zero pledges. This aligns with ENEC’s commitment to the UAE’s Net Zero 2050 Strategic Initiative and the recently launched Net Zero Nuclear (NZN) initiative. The collaboration was announced during the Net Zero Nuclear Summit on the sideline of COP 28 in Dubai, UAE.

Through the collaboration, the two organizations will collaborate on a roadmap that will establish a pathway for ENEC’s activities to achieve net zero utilizing cutting-edge technology and the innovation of INL’s expert teams. ENEC’s flagship Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi is set to provide 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs by 2025, significantly decarbonizing the nation’s power sector in pursuit of delivering on national net zero commitments. At the same time, it helps local businesses become part of the net zero economy by generating the majority of the clean electricity for Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Certificates.

The roadmap will look at routes for decarbonizing the Barakah plant site, through mapping emissions and decarbonization of activities such as transportation, energy storage and utilizing carbon capture offsets.

Finally, the roadmap will incorporate the next phase of ENEC’s wider vision and mission for the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program. ENEC is now focused on pursuing opportunities for civil nuclear energy expansion projects in the UAE and overseas, and for advanced nuclear technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), as well as nuclear-powered production of hydrogen and synthetic fuels. It will also explore international collaboration opportunities to contribute toward and support the global pathway to net zero, helping decarbonize heavy industries and transportation, as well as advancing the conversion of gas and coal power plants to nuclear energy plants.

The Net Zero Pathway model framework will consist of a governance model, policy and regulations, R&D and innovation planning, national and international partnerships and ecosystem, new technologies, funding and incentives, stakeholders’ engagement and awareness, and capacity building.

His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC commented: “By collaborating with INL, we are advancing toward the next phase of our goal to achieving the UAE Net Zero by 2050 and driving the global clean energy transition. We are mapping out our pathway beyond the significant decarbonization we already deliver through the Barakah plant to identify routes to maximize our impact to delivering Net Zero. We intend to rapidly decarbonize our existing activities at the Barakah Plant site and support hard-to-abate industries in achieving their net zero goals. In addition, we will continue to leverage international collaboration to boost new nuclear energy capacity and maximize the value of the technologies we have today, as well as those of tomorrow, to drive the clean energy transition and meet climate change goals.”

ENEC and INL previously signed a Letter of Intent, which set the foundations for discussions regarding INL working with ENEC on clean molecule generation systems that could be deployed at the Barakah Plant. It also allowed for exploring systems to generate commercial-scale clean molecule production, including hydrogen, ammonia, oxygen, water and steam, with the long-term view to export clean hydrogen and ammonia to meet growing global demand.

“Idaho National Laboratory is a recognized world leader in designing, demonstrating and deploying nuclear energy technology around the world,” said INL Director John Wagner. “Through this agreement, we will leverage our capabilities and expertise in nuclear and renewable energy and net zero systems to support ENEC’s clean molecule goals.”

INL has also confirmed its participation in the Net Zero Nuclear platform at COP28, which is taking place in Expo City, Dubai.

ENEC, along with World Nuclear Association (WNA) and with the support of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Atoms4NetZero initiative, launched Net Zero Nuclear in September during the World Nuclear Symposium – an initiative for action and advocacy for nuclear energy’s role in achieving global clean energy security.

The Barakah Plant is one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world, with four APR-1400 units. Once fully operational, the plant will power homes and businesses, as well as decarbonize industry as the largest source of clean electricity for the nation’s Clean Energy Certificates in addition to supporting the UAE’s strategy to become a net-exporter of liquified natural gas by 2030.

For the next phase of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, ENEC is focused on exploring and incubating strategic investments in nuclear energy locally and internationally that support the UAE’s growth and development goals.

Idaho National Laboratory is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory founded in 1949. At 2,305 square kilometers, the laboratory is about the size of Luxembourg. It is home to more than 6,000 researchers and support staff who are focused on developing innovative technology for nuclear energy, renewable energy systems and security solutions. Most notably, INL operates the Advanced Test Reactor, the world’s largest high-flux thermal neutron test reactor, and several associated nuclear facilities including the Materials and Fuels Complex.