The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Westinghouse Electric Company have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the deployment of the eVinciTM microreactor in the United Arab Emirates today.
In recognition of the role nuclear energy will play in accelerating global decarbonization, the MoU was signed during COP28 in Dubai.
This Memorandum of Understanding will facilitate collaboration on technical and commercial deployment in the Emirates, as well as overseas.
In addition to identifying potential UAE nuclear-graded suppliers, the new partnership will utilize Westinghouse’s extensive experience designing and deploying new nuclear technology and ENEC’s proven project delivery capabilities.
The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, stated, “Our latest collaboration with Westinghouse takes this vision of rapid decarbonization a step further, enabling us to assess the positive potential impact of eVinci microreactors, to accelerate global clean energy transitions. Now more than ever we need fast action and reliable solutions to guarantee energy security, whilst sustainably powering our homes, businesses, cities and hard-to-abate sectors.”
By 2035, the UAE-U.S Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy, known as PACE, will mobilize $100 billion in clean energy projects, including nuclear power.
An eVinci microreactor development award from the Saskatchewan Research Council was announced last week, and Westinghouse recently received funding from the U.S. Department of Energy to locate the eVinci Nuclear Test Reactor at Idaho National Lab.
In addition, the test reactor will allow Westinghouse to finalize the design, test the technology and license it, as it is a one-fifth scale model of a real eVinci microreactor.
In 2012, the Canadian government awarded Westinghouse a grant from its Strategic Innovation Fund to further develop the technology.
