Emirates Nuclear Energy Company commemorated Monday the first full year of operations with all four APR-1400 reactors at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in commercial service, having produced a cumulative total of 120 TWh of clean electricity. Over that span, the fleet delivered 40 TWh, now supplying approximately a quarter of the country’s power and reinforcing energy security through its status as the region’s largest clean energy source.
The plant’s sustained output equates to powering nearly 574,000 households and has slashed carbon emissions by about 22.4 million tonnes annually, and more than 58 million tonnes since Unit 1 entered service—equivalent to removing about 12 million cars from UAE roads. The facility has also underpinned the nation’s energy transition, by delivering roughly 75 percent of the additional clean electricity per capita added over the past five years. Barakah the region’s leading clean-power source is thus central to national decarbonisation efforts.
ENEC’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Al Hammadi, emphasised that one year into full-fleet operations, the plant is “delivering on its promise – clean, dependable power, around the clock.” He credited that achievement to long-term vision, sustained investment and high-quality execution at every stage. Through Barakah’s model approach, the UAE is now sharing expertise globally to bolster civil nuclear energy adoption.
The project’s construction timeline and cost efficiencies further illustrate its global leadership. Between the first and fourth reactors, cost, time and labour were reduced by around 40 percent, with each reactor delivered on average after 7.9 years. At its peak, Barakah was the world’s largest nuclear construction site, with four identical reactors under simultaneous construction. Unit 4’s construction wrapped up in December 2023 and commercial operations began in September 2024.
Construction milestones date back to July 2012, with Unit 1 commencing commercial operations in April 2021, followed by Units 2 and 3 in March 2022 and February 2023 respectively. The final reactor began operations in September 2024, enabling full-fleet status.
Beyond its electricity output, Barakah has played a substantial role in building human capacity, with more than 2,000 UAE nationals working alongside international experts to operate and sustain the plant’s performance. Its operation underlines the feasibility of safe, transparent, efficient delivery of large-scale civil nuclear projects, setting a benchmark for the industry.
Efforts are now underway to leverage Barakah’s success through international partnerships, reinforcing the UAE’s position as a model for clean energy development. The plant’s sustained output and efficiency gains offer a strategic advantage in serving energy-intensive sectors and global decarbonisation agendas.