The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and US-based Westinghouse Electric Company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to explore the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies in the US. The agreement aims to support the expansion of nuclear power in the US, in line with federal ambitions to quadruple US nuclear capacity by 2050.
ENEC and Westinghouse will explore opportunities to accelerate the rollout of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactors. The companies also plan to collaborate on US nuclear new build and restart projects, reactor deployment models, fuel supply chain cooperation, and operations and maintenance.
The partnership aligns with ENEC’s broader strategy to pursue opportunities for investment, collaboration and deployment of nuclear technologies internationally, to support the rapid delivery of civil nuclear energy to boost energy security and sustainability. By sharing the expertise and insights gained from the successful delivery and operation of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE, ENEC is supporting other countries and organisations seeking to integrate nuclear energy into their clean energy strategies, accelerating responsible nuclear energy growth to meet rising global power demands while strengthening power grids.
“With ENEC’s proven track record in developing one of the world’s most advanced nuclear energy programmes, our collaboration with Westinghouse brings together two leaders in our fields,” said ENEC Managing Director & CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi. “This marks a significant step in supporting the United States’ bold ambitions to rapidly expand its nuclear fleet, reinforcing the deep and long-standing energy partnership between the UAE and the United States.”
Dan Sumner, Interim CEO of Westinghouse, said: “The US has a bold vision to have 10 large-scale nuclear reactors under construction by 2030, and Westinghouse is working closely with industry partners to make this a reality.… We believe that ENEC’s expertise in large-scale nuclear deployment will help us achieve this objective.”
The four units of ENEC’s Barakah plant are generating 40 TWh of clean electricity a year for the UAE. The plant generates about 25% of the UAE’s electricity. ENEC is now looking beyond the Barakah plant as it seeks to capitalise on its expertise on large-scale plant development, advanced reactors, research and development and clean energy. As part of its strategy, ENEC is pursuing global opportunities through its ADVANCE programme, which includes an interest in small modular and advanced reactor technologies. In May ENEC teamed up with GE Vernova Hitachi Nuclear Energy to jointly evaluate the deployment of the BWRX-300 SMR technology internationally.
