Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, met with AMEA Power Chairman Hussain Al Nowais to discuss the company’s renewable energy investments in the country. The meeting took place during the Minister’s participation in the 15th session of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) Assembly and Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW).
The officials reviewed the progress of several renewable energy projects in Egypt. One of the main topics was the addition of a 300 megawatt-hour (MWh) battery storage system to the 500-megawatt (MW) Abydos 1 project, which was launched last month in Aswan. This project is part of Egypt’s efforts to expand its renewable energy capacity while ensuring grid stability through storage solutions.
They also discussed the development of a 500 MW wind energy project in the Gulf of Suez. This project is expected to connect to the national electricity grid by the summer of 2024. Plans to expand the project further by adding up to 1,500 MW of capacity, supported by standalone battery storage systems, were also examined.
Additionally, the two officials addressed the Abydos 2 project. This solar power project, with a planned capacity of 1,000 MW and an additional 600 MWh of battery storage, is part of the cooperation between Egypt’s electricity sector and the UAE-based Al Nowais Group.
Minister Esmat emphasized the importance of using Egypt’s natural resources to boost renewable energy production. He stated that “Egypt aims to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix to more than 42% by 2030 and 65% by 2040.”
Other renewable energy projects currently operating in Egypt include the Benban Solar Park, which has an installed capacity of 1,650 MW and is one of the largest solar parks in the world. The Ras Ghareb Wind Farm, with an operational capacity of 306 MW, is part of an ongoing project that will eventually reach 650 MW by 2025.
