The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with TerraPower, an American company specializing in nuclear energy innovation. The MoU aims to jointly develop advanced technology applications in this sector. Ahmed Al Mazrouei, Deputy Director for Research and Development at ENEC, and Chris Levesque, CEO of TerraPower, signed the agreement during a ceremony held on the sidelines of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change’s COP28 conference.
The signing was attended by Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of ENEC, Bill Gates, Chairman of TerraPower, David Livingston, Senior Advisor and Managing Director for Energy Affairs at the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate, and officials from both the UAE and the U.S.
ENEC and TerraPower will collaborate in various areas, including technical design and commercial feasibility for developing sodium technology, innovated by the American company, in both the UAE and the U.S. This technology will primarily be used for generating emission-free electricity and non-traditional nuclear energy applications such as hydrogen production and accelerating carbon footprint reduction in energy-intensive sectors using eco-friendly electricity.
The sodium technology focuses on reactor designs that use sodium cooling technology, known for its cost competitiveness, and an energy storage system using molten salt, providing stable supplies of emission-free energy and integrating smoothly with power grids.
The MoU enables both parties to explore collaboration opportunities in engineering, workforce development, supply chain development, support for domestic projects, and the assignment of Emirati engineers to TerraPower’s headquarters in the U.S.
Mohamed Al Hammadi stated, “Our main message at COP28 is that nuclear energy plays a pivotal role in achieving climate neutrality, aligning with recent global leaders’ declarations to triple nuclear energy capacity by 2050.” He added that nuclear energy is central to the UAE’s strategy and its advancements in clean energy, with the Barakah nuclear power plants being the largest contributor to carbon footprint reduction in the country’s history.
Chris Levesque remarked that developing and bringing advanced nuclear technologies to market is crucial for achieving global carbon footprint reduction goals. TerraPower and ENEC are pioneering the development and use of nuclear power stations.
The MoU will facilitate cooperation in advancing nuclear technology, accelerating its development, and innovating new sustainable energy solutions, including hydrogen.