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The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and US-based Westinghouse Electric Company have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to explore the deployment of advanced nuclear technologies in the United States, the companies said.
The agreement, signed in Washington, DC, aims to support the expansion of nuclear power in the US, in line with federal ambitions to quadruple the country’s nuclear capacity by 2050.
It comes as the US seeks to meet growing electricity demand driven by emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data center expansion.
Supporting US plans to quadruple nuclear capacity
Under the terms of the MoU, ENEC and Westinghouse will explore opportunities to accelerate the rollout of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactors.
The companies also plan to collaborate on US nuclear new build and restart projects, reactor deployment models, fuel supply chain cooperation, and operations and maintenance.
ENEC touts Barakah experience as model
“This marks a significant step in supporting the United States’ bold ambitions to rapidly expand its nuclear fleet,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of ENEC. “With ENEC’s proven track record in large-scale nuclear deployment, our collaboration with Westinghouse brings together two leaders in our fields.”
The AP1000 is currently the only large modular reactor design fully licensed and ready for construction in the U.S., according to Westinghouse. Interim CEO Dan Sumner said the company is working with partners to meet a federal target of having 10 new large-scale reactors under construction by 2030.
“A fleet of AP1000 reactors would generate billions in direct economic impact and create tens of thousands of skilled jobs,” Sumner said. “ENEC’s expertise in nuclear deployment is a valuable asset to this goal.”
The partnership also aligns with ENEC’s international strategy to export nuclear development expertise gained from the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE, which is now fully operational and supplies approximately 25 per cent of the country’s electricity.
ENEC is pursuing global opportunities through its ADVANCE programme, which includes an interest in small modular and advanced reactor technologies.
Westinghouse, which built the world’s first commercial pressurized water reactor in 1957, is involved in about half of the world’s operating nuclear plants.
Financial details of the agreement were not disclosed.
