UAE starts up fourth and final unit of new Barakah nuclear power plant

The fourth unit of the Barakah nuclear power plant has reached a significant milestone: its reactor has been started up for the first time. In the coming weeks, the unit will be connected to the electricity grid and begin testing at progressively higher power levels. The first multi-unit nuclear power plant in the Arab world comprises four APR-1400 units and aims to meet a quarter of the country's electricity needs with low-emissions power.

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced the successful start-up of the fourth unit at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates. Reactor start-up marks the beginning of the nuclear fission reaction that generates heat, which is then used to produce steam and drive a turbine.

“The start-up of the fourth unit at the Barakah nuclear power plant is a significant achievement, and we are now entering a new era. Our journey reflects a bold vision, backed by rigorous quality and safety standards. We are effectively harnessing civil nuclear energy as a proven and viable option for addressing energy security and climate change,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi, ENEC's managing director and chief executive officer.

Technicians plan to connect Unit 4 to the electricity grid in the coming weeks. The APR-1400 unit will then enter a testing phase in which its output will be gradually increased to its full capacity of 1400 MW.

A significant contribution to carbon neutrality

Once the last of the four units enters commercial operation, Barakah's total installed capacity will rise to 5 600 megawatts. The plant will generate low-emissions electricity equivalent to 25 % of the country's consumption. It will also contribute to a quarter of the UAE's carbon-reduction commitments. The UAE plans to continue developing nuclear energy and use it as part of its efforts to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.

“Over the past five years, the United Arab Emirates has added more clean electricity per capita than any other nation in the world. Barakah alone accounts for 75 %, demonstrating how crucial nuclear energy is to decarbonising the energy sector. The project is taking us a long way forward and putting the nation on a pioneering path towards sustainable economic and environmental prosperity,” Al Hammadi added.

Building on experience from previous units

Construction of the four Korean units at Barakah began in 2012 (Unit 1), while work on Unit 4 began in 2015. The first unit entered commercial operation in April 2021, the second in March 2022 and the third in February 2023.

ENEC says that start-up of each successive unit has been more efficient than the previous one. It completed Unit 3 four months ahead of the schedule for Unit 2 and five months ahead of the schedule for Unit 1.