UAE's Barakah nuclear plant now powers 57% of household bills amid decarbonisation push

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) mentioned during Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week 2026 that, over the past month, about 57 percent of household electricity bills in the UAE came from power generated at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. ENEC pointed out that this statistic highlights how increasingly important Barakah is becoming in helping the country secure reliable, low-carbon electricity around the clock, especially as demand keeps climbing, things like electrification, artificial intelligence, and data centers all play a part.

ENEC presented this figure as part of a broader push to make the case for nuclear energy as a key element of the UAE’s shift towards cleaner power sources. They noted that Barakah now outputs roughly 40 terawatt-hours of clean electricity each year, which accounts for about a quarter, so roughly 25 percent, of the nation’s total electricity consumption. Additionally, ENEC emphasized that this capacity is sufficient to power hundreds of thousands of homes and helps cut down on millions of tonnes of carbon emissions annually. They shared these numbers while also talking about plans to broaden international collaborations and invest in advanced nuclear technologies, such as small modular reactors, along with maintaining a focus on operational excellence.

This announcement comes not long after Unit 4 officially started commercial operation, which ENEC described as completing the entire Barakah project. The four units combined will provide up to 5,600 MW of capacity, thereby boosting domestic power generation and reducing reliance on fossil fuels. “Barakah now produces 40 TWh of clean and reliable electricity every year, meeting 25% of the UAE’s energy needs,” ENEC stated in its press release about the milestone with Unit 4.

Industry data cited by ENEC suggests that the plant’s operation avoids about 21 to 22.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year. ENEC has even compared this savings to removing millions of cars from the roads in the UAE or to the amount of carbon that hundreds of millions of trees could soak up over a decade. Those comparisons, while useful to get a sense of scale, do vary a bit in different releases and media articles. For example, one climate briefing from ENEC says the plant’s output could power 574,000 households for a year and prevent some 22.4 million tonnes of emissions. Other materials from ENEC have used similar but not identical calculations.

In discussing Barakah’s impact, ENEC framed its achievements as fulfilling two main policy goals: ensuring energy security and reducing emissions. The company argued that nuclear as a base-load power source is especially valuable, particularly as electricity demand becomes more unpredictable. Industry experts and government officials point out that this rising demand isn’t just driven by population and economic growth but is also fueled by the rapid push to electrify transportation, the expansion of data centers, and the increasing use of digital technologies like artificial intelligence that consume lots of power.

ENEC also plans to pursue new partnerships in research and development, especially around advanced nuclear tech. They singled out small modular reactors as a promising area, these could offer more flexible and affordable options for future energy systems. According to ENEC, such small reactors could work alongside larger ones, providing modular capacity additions that help support decarbonization while keeping the power grid resilient.

At the same time, the UAE’s nuclear programme has been constructed to showcase high safety standards and long operational lifespans. ENEC has stated that Barakah complies with both national and international safety and quality benchmarks and is designed to provide dependable electricity for around 60 years. Regulatory bodies and independent agencies have been involved in inspections and certification processes as the units went online, according to company statements.

Of course, critics of nuclear expansion still emphasize ongoing concerns, like dealing with nuclear waste over the long term, the hefty capital costs involved, and the pace of deployment compared to faster renewable options. Still, in the UAE’s official view, Barakah’s operations strengthen the national grid and deliver reliable, low-carbon energy that complements solar and other renewable sources.

This recent update from ENEC coincided with Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week, a gathering where climate action and clean energy solutions are front and center. The company used this platform to reinforce nuclear energy’s role in helping the UAE reach its climate neutrality goal by 2050. They argued that, as countries boost electrification and digital infrastructure, having a reliable base-load power supply is crucial, avoiding the risk of getting locked into carbon-heavy energy solutions and supporting ongoing economic growth.

For those involved in climate technology and energy policy within the Gulf, Barakah serves as an example of integrating large-scale nuclear into a rapidly evolving energy landscape. ENEC’s claim that it contributed approximately 57 percent to household electricity bills last month offers a clear illustration of this integration. Whether similar nuclear projects will be adopted in other countries will depend heavily on national priorities, regulatory frameworks, financing models, and public acceptance.

Looking ahead, ENEC has indicated that it will keep working with international partners and pushing forward research into new nuclear technologies, ensuring that Barakah and future innovations can support the UAE’s pathway toward decarbonization. Industry watchers will be closely monitoring how the plant’s long-term performance, cost efficiency, and synergy with renewable energy sources influence regional energy planning in the future.

Source: Noah Wire Services