If there is one country that is moving at a brisk pace towards a green transition, it is the United Arab Emirates. Although it is fossil fuel-rich, it has increased its renewable energy capacity by 70 percent between 2022 and 2023 alone. Not only are solar farms and wind turbines expanding at a rapid pace, but the country's first nuclear power plant was commissioned in 2021.
At the beginning of September this year, the fourth reactor of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant started, with a capacity of 1,400 megawatts each. It is now estimated to supply 25 percent of the country's total electricity consumption.
The last reactor has just started, but press reports suggest that Abu Dhabi is already considering building its next nuclear power plant. According to Reuters, another nuclear power plant of similar capacity is being considered due to the growing demands of the population and industrial production.
The race is already on: although Barakah was built by the South Koreans for $25 billion, the UAE has made it clear that this does not automatically mean that it will be the winner again. The United States, which is not only one of the country's main allies but also signed a nuclear deal in 2009, could also be a contender. China or even Russia could also be considered.
