Glimpse into ongoing renewable energy projects in Egypt

CAIRO – 30 November 2020: Egypt vies for upping the share of renewable energy in the energy mix to become 20 percent in 2022, and 42 percent in 2035.

Al Watan newspaper published a report on the ongoing projects in that realm, particularly wind energy and solar energy.

Wind Energy

The private sector has been implementing projects in the build-own-operate system (BOO). One of those entered into service in 2019, and that is a wind farm in the Suez Gulf. The farm's capacity is 250 megawatts, and it was established by Toyota, Engie, and Orascom.

Another farm – also having a 250-megawatts capacity and located in the Suez Gulf – will enter into service in the first quarter of 2021. The project is executed by Lekila.

The same location will house a third wind farm whose capacity is equivalent to those of the other two combined. The 500-megawatts farm will start operation in 2023, and is implemented by AlNowais Investment Company.

Solar Energy

By November 2019, all stations at Benban Solar Park had started operation with a total capacity of 1,465 megawatts. A month earlier, an agreement was signed to build a solar station in Aswan's Kom Ombo in the BOO system. The capacity of the project is 200 megawatts. In those station, solar energy is generated using photovoltaic cells.

Negotiations are underway to close deals that would give rise to projects generating wind and solar energy whereas the intended total capacity for the former 1,200 megawatts, and 550 megawatts for the latter.

When such deals go into effect, Egypt's capacity of renewable energy will be 8,322 megawatts.