The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and ADNOC have signed a Strategic Collaboration Agreement (SCA) to conduct a comprehensive technical and economic assessment of nuclear reactor technologies.
The deal aims to identify the best-fit solutions for ADNOC’s operations by leveraging ENEC’s expertise in evaluating advanced nuclear technologies and performance in pilot projects.
The collaboration will tap into ENEC’s extensive knowledge of both current and emerging nuclear systems, aligning with ADNOC’s commitment to innovation and sustainability.
The collaboration with ENEC will focus on exploring the deployment of Small Modular Nuclear Reactors (SMRs) to develop innovative energy solutions aimed at enhancing operational efficiency.
“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,” said Ali Al Rawahi, Senior Vice President for Technology and Innovation at ADNOC.
In addition to reactor technology assessments, the agreement includes a joint exploration of excess heat utilization from the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, focusing on opportunities to integrate advanced technologies into industrial applications through pilot projects.
“By focusing on cutting-edge nuclear innovations and exploring new methods to harness excess heat for industrial applications, we are strengthening the UAE’s green economy,” said Ahmed Al Mazrouei, Nuclear Research and Development Vice President at ENEC.
Al Mazrouei added that the collaboration supports ENEC’s commitment in advancing new technologies and driving research and development in the UAE’s energy sector. He stressed both companies’shared commitment to leveraging combined expertise to develop nuclear solutions that simultaneously enhance energy security and sustainability.
The collaboration comes amid growing momentum in the global nuclear energy sector, as energy-intensive industries increasingly recognize nuclear power as a reliable and clean energy source.
Small modular reactors (SMRs) are gaining traction for their ability to provide scalable, baseload power for industrial operations, complementing large-scale gigawatt nuclear plants already in operation or under license extension.
The agreement is also aligned with the UAE’s Energy Strategy 2050, which aims to increase the share of clean energy sources in the national energy mix and enhance energy efficiency across all sectors.
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, developed by ENEC, has been instrumental in transforming the UAE’s energy landscape. Generating 40 TWh annually, it meets 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs and drives substantial decarbonization of the national power grid.
