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ABU DHABI / WAM
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) has signed a memorandum of understanding with X-energy, a leading American developer of advanced small modular nuclear reactors and fuel design engineering company, to collaborate on the advancement of nuclear energy technologies.
The memorandum of understanding was signed at COP28 and comes in line with Enec’s recently announced ADVANCE Programme. It was signed by Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Enec and J Clay Sell, Chief Executive Officer of X-energy.
The central aim of Enec’s ADVANCE programme is to harness the latest advancements in nuclear energy technologies and to strengthen the UAE’s position as a leading nation in delivering climate action by accelerating the global clean energy transition to Net Zero. Enec and X-energy will work together to assess the technical design and commercial viability of X-energy’s nuclear technologies for the UAE market to meet the growing demand for clean electricity generation, along with generating steam, heat and hydrogen to decarbonise industries from manufacturing to petrochemicals and other energy-intensive sectors like data centres.
The companies will also evaluate potential project partnerships for developments in the UK and Europe and will develop a regional deployment framework for Enec-led projects in the Middle East, Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
At COP28, Enec is showcasing how nuclear energy through the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is leading the largest decarbonisation effort in the UAE’s history. Barakah is the largest single source of clean electricity in the Arab World, with the 4th and final unit of the plant due to come online in 2024.
X-energy is a leading developer of advanced SMRs and fuel technology for clean energy generation.
X-energy is advancing nuclear energy generation through its latest-generation high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR), the Xe-100, and its proprietary tri-structural isotropic (“TRISO”) encapsulated particle fuel, TRISO-X, to deliver reliable, zero-carbon and affordable clean electricity to people around the world.
Enec will work with X-energy to capitalise on the full value of the UAE’s investment in the nuclear energy sector, working closely to identify the right technology and meet the growing demand for clean electricity and molecules.
Al Hammadi said, “Nuclear energy has had a transformational impact on the UAE’s energy landscape.” The clean electricity generated from Barakah is powering high tech industries whilst preventing millions of tons of carbon emissions each year. At COP28, we are demonstrating the essential value of nuclear and building our network by signing a series of global agreements as part of ENEC ADVANCE Programme.”
Sell, in turn, said, “Around the world, ENEC is recognised as one of the most successful and capable nuclear project developers and operators. Our partnership will explore how we can combine X-energy’s leading technology with ENEC’s delivery expertise to address a broad range of decarbonisation challenges in the region and worldwide. This announcement at COP 28 further demonstrates the incredible global opportunities and demand for nuclear in being a key driver in the expansion of clean, reliable energy.”
The agreement also helps advance the US-UAE Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE), which was launched in November 2022 and aims to help catalyse $100 billion in clean energy and decarbonisation projects by 2035.
The ENEC ADVANCE Programme offers a clear example of the action-oriented approach the UAE is taking to fast-track the clean energy transition through leveraging the latest technologies in the nuclear energy sector.