https://arab.news/gmhff
- Achieving 100 percent power is one of the final steps of the Power Ascension Testing phase
DUBAI: The Barakah nuclear energy plant has achieved full capacity at its unit 1 operation, and is now capable of supplying 1,400 megawatts to the UAE’s power grid, the largest single source of electricity in the country.
This major milestone brings the Barakah plant one step closer to commencing commercial operations, scheduled in early 2021, state news agency WAM said in a report.
Achieving 100 percent power is one of the final steps of the Power Ascension Testing phase of the start-up process for Unit 1. Nuclear operators will carry out a series of tests before the reactor is safely shut down in preparation for the check outage.
During this period, the Unit 1 systems will be carefully examined, and any planned or corrective maintenance will be performed to maintain its safety, reliability and efficiency prior to the commencement of commercial operations.
The Barakah nuclear facility, located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, is one of the largest nuclear energy new build projects in the world, with four APR-1400 units.
Construction of the plant began in 2012 and has progressed steadily ever since. Units 3 and 4 are in the final construction stages at 93 percent and 87 percent completion respectively, while the Barakah complex as a whole is now more than 95 percent complete.