Egypt plans to generate 42% of its electricity using renewable energy sources by 2035 and 60% by 2040. The majority of this capacity is projected to be provided by the private sector, with several major projects contributing to supply.
Benban Solar Park: 1.8 GW
The 1.8 GW Benban project, Africa’s largest solar park, is located near Aswan in Egypt. The 37km2 park has been connected to Egypt’s National Grid since 2019 and was developed in line the Egyptian New and Renewable Energy Authority’s agenda.
The project comprises 41 solar power plants and was built to the tune of $4 billion by 30 companies.
Gabal Al-Zait: 580 MW Wind Farm
The 100km2 Gabal Al-Zait wind farm is located near Ras Gharib and has a total capacity of 580 MW. The 300-turbine wind farm was built by Spanish corporation Gamesa before it merged with Germany’s Siemens. With construction starting in 2015, the European Union and Germany have contributed to the project’s total cost of €340 million.
Gabal Al-Zait was included in the list of 32 companies and assets earmarked for privatization announced by the government in 2023. It has garnered interest from private equity giant Actis which threw its hat in the ring to acquire the farm in July 2023.
Zafarana: 545 MW Wind Farm
The state-owned Zafarana wind farm is located in Suez and was built in eight phases between 2000 and 2010, making it one of Egypt’s first wind farms. The farm is 120km2 in size and boasts 700 turbines with a combined capacity of 545 MW. The €110 million wind farm was supported by soft loans from Denmark, Spain, Japan and Germany. The project is linked to the New and Renewable Energy Authority, the government institution responsible for the promotion and development of renewable energy projects in Egypt.
Maersk, the multinational shipping firm, has indicated interest in acquiring the farm for its green hydrogen initiatives in July 2023, and the Egyptian government is currently studying the offer.
Gulf of Suez I: 262 MW Wind Farm
The Gulf of Suez I wind farm has an installed capacity of 262 MW, generated by 125 onshore wind turbines. Located near on the Gulf of Suez, the project is owned and operated by Ras Ghareb Wind Energy Company, a joint venture comprising Engie, Toyota Tsusho, Orascom Construction and Eurus Energy. The project began commercial operation in 2019, ahead of schedule.
Kuraymat Solar Thermal Power Plan: 150 MW
The Spanish renewable energy firm TSK developed the first Solar Thermal Power Plant in Kuraymat in 2011. It has a total installed capacity of 150 MW, with a solar contribution of 20 MW based on parabolic-trough technology linked with a natural-gas-fired combined-cycle power plant. The Global Environmental Facility and the Japan Bank for International Development provided financing for the power plant.
Siwa Solar Project: 10 MW
Masdar’s 10 MW solar PV project in Siwa is part of a rural electrification plan in Egypt supported by the UAE, which includes solar solutions for 264 villages without reliable access to power. The facility contains 74,640 solar panels and supplies approximately 6,000 homes in Siwa City and the surrounding areas. It was developed on behalf of the Abu Dhabi government, and Al Behira Electrical Distribution Company currently operates it. The project was completed in 2015.
