TerraPower, a company owned by Bill Gates that focuses on advanced nuclear reactors, and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) have announced an agreement to explore the potential development of advanced reactors in the UAE and abroad. This memorandum of understanding comes as the UAE aims to expand its nuclear energy capabilities, coinciding with a pledge from over 20 countries at the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai to triple the deployment of nuclear reactors this decade to combat climate change.
Mohammed Al Hammadi, the managing director and CEO of ENEC, stated during the signing ceremony that the UAE is looking forward to a future of clean electrons and molecules that will be realized through advanced reactors. Chris Levesque, president and CEO of TerraPower, emphasized that "bringing advanced nuclear technologies to market is critical to achieving global decarbonization goals."
Currently, the UAE operates one traditional nuclear power plant near Abu Dhabi, which began producing electricity in 2020. Meanwhile, TerraPower is working on an experimental project for an advanced Natrium reactor in Wyoming, USA, which they hope will be operational by 2030. Advanced reactors are expected to be smaller, easier to construct, and more dynamic than traditional plants, making them a crucial complement to intermittent energy sources like rapidly expanding wind and solar power.
