Nuclear energy to supercharge global clean energy transition: ENEC CEO

Image: ENEC/X

Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, managing director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), showcased the role of nuclear technology in decarbonising hard-to-abate sectors during the World Nuclear Symposium 2023, which took place from September 6-8 in London, UK.

Al Hammadi along with Dr Angela Wilkinson from the World Energy Council, Todd Noe, director of Nuclear Technologies Engineering at Microsoft, and Mikal Boe, CEO of Core Power, participated in the discussion session titled ‘Achieving End-users Decarbonization Goals with Nuclear Energy’.

During the discussion, Al Hammadi highlighted how nuclear technology can sustainably power energy intensive industries. These include artificial intelligence (AI) and data centres.

These centres alone utilise 4-5 per cent of total global power supply, and this will only grow as greater digitalisation occurs.

Highlights from HE Mohamed Al Hammadi’s, ENEC MD & CEO, participation at the World Nuclear Symposium 2023 in London where #NetZeroNuclear was launched and HE highlighted the essential role of nuclear in pushing the wheel of climate action forward. pic.twitter.com/gh9qleXFMP

— Emirates Nuclear (@ENEC_UAE) September 8, 2023

UAE is harnessing the potential of nuclear energy, says ENEC CEO

“The UAE is a success story for harnessing the potential of nuclear energy to create a range of clean products through the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. Today, we are supporting the green industrialisation by providing clean electricity and enabling Clean Energy Certificates. They play an important role in decarbonising businesses and helping unlock global ESG funds, which are valued at $30tn and forecast to double by 2030,” the ENEC CEO explained.

During the discussion, Al Hammadi also stated how essential nuclear energy is to net zero, and how it can supercharge the energy transition. With urgent global collaboration, nuclear energy can be scaled up to meet energy challenges.

He also mentioned that through recognising nuclear energy as a key clean source for decarbonising and ensuring its prominence in conversations at events such as COP28, the industry can obtain the necessary support to have the impact required to achieve net zero.

The development of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE is a catalyst for innovation and R&D in new areas, including small modular reactors which are a key part of the future growth of ENEC, alongside other next-generation technologies.

Nuclear energy and the Barakah Plant are bridges to future fuels such as clean hydrogen and other clean molecules.

Other topics covered at the symposium included ‘Fueling Our Nuclear Future: The Nuclear Fuel Report 2023,’ ‘People First: Leading the Industry to Success,’ ‘Investing in Nuclear,’ and ‘Optimizing Plant Life Performance (in collaboration with WANO).’