Egypt’s solar capacity gains have stalled in recent years with wind taking pole position in the country’s renewables strategy (MEES, 9 June 2023). But that could be about to change with Cairo on 27 December signing an MoU with China Electric Power Equipment and Technology, a subsidiary of China’s State Grid, to build a massive 10GW solar park in Upper (southern) Egypt
The Chinese state firm will “begin preliminary studies and measurements to develop a solar energy project, with a capacity of 10GW,” according to an Egyptian cabinet statement, which adds that “the project will form a key element of the Egypt Green Corridor initiative.” Cairo estimates that the project will generate 29.8TWh/year, for an implied average load factor of 34%, saving around $1bn in annual natural gas costs. Natural gas is Egypt’s predominant power fuel, contributing over 90% of the total, but shortages this summer saw Egypt plunged into darkness amid rolling power cuts (MEES, 8 December 2023). (CONTINUED - 205 WORDS)