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Abydos Solar Power Plant is new success story of Egypt’s growing renewable energy capabilities
Inaugurating the Abydos Solar Power Plant in the Upper Egypt governorate of Aswan represents a new success story of Egypt’s growing renewable energy capabilities.
The plant will generate approximately 1,500 GWh of clean energy annually, enough to power approximately 300,000 households, while offsetting 782,300 tons of CO2 emissions.
The project was financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC),Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
Egypt’s Minister of International Cooperation Rania Mashat stated that the Abydos plant is one of the most important energy projects under the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy (NWFE) program, implemented by the private sector represented by AMEA Power, a subsidiary of Al Nowais UAE.
She explained that the national platform for the NWFE program was launched in 2022 as a national program that serves as a regional and international model for addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation issues. It contributes to implementing the National Climate Change Strategy 2050. The energy sector aims to decommission thermal power plants with a capacity of 5 GW and stimulate investments worth $10 billion to establish renewable energy projects with a capacity of 10 GW from 2023 to 2028, in close partnership with the local and foreign private sectors, achieving the goals of the National Climate Change Strategy and implementing nationally determined contributions to reach 42% renewable energy of the total by 2030.
She further explained that the national NWFE platform was launched in 2022 as a national initiative to create an effective regional and international model for addressing climate change adaptation and mitigation. The platform contributes to the implementation of the National Climate Change Strategy 2050. She pointed out that the energy sector aims to decommission 5 gigawatts of thermal power plants and stimulate investments of $10 billion to launch renewable energy projects with a combined capacity of 10 gigawatts from 2023 to 2028. This will be done in close partnership with domestic and international private sector stakeholders to meet the goals of Egypt’s National Climate Change Strategy and achieve the nationally determined contributions (NDCs) to reach 42% renewable energy in the total energy mix by 2030.
She noted that these efforts will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about 17 million tons annually and save $1.2 billion annually, which is currently spent on fuel needed to operate thermal power plants.
Mashat added that efforts with multilateral and bilateral development partners since 2022 have resulted in concessional financing for the private sector, exceeding $4.5 billion, to implement projects with a capacity of 4.7 GW within the NWFE program. This is based on an innovative approach that combines blended finance, technical support, leveraging each development partner’s comparative advantage, and collaborating with international climate alliances, particularly the Glasgow Financial Alliance (GFANZ).
PM stresses gov’t allocates significant funding to stabilize power grid:
During the inauguration ceremony, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly said that the Egyptian government has allocated significant funding to stabilize the national power grid, ensuring that load-shedding practices will not return.
In addition, Madbouly noted that the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy has successfully resolved issues of power outages, securing an improved quality and efficiency of electricity supply.
He stressed that the Ministry of Electricity and the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources have developed a comprehensive plan to meet energy demands for the summer of 2025.
This includes investing $4 billion in renewable energy projects, in collaboration with the private sector, to bridge an anticipated gap of 3,000 to 4,000 megawatts. The projects are expected to operate by the upcoming summer.
This flagship project underscores AMEA Power’s commitment to accelerating the global transition to clean energy and is one of the largest solar PV plants in Africa. AMEA Power also signed a Power Purchase Agreement and Land Agreement for an additional 500MW Wind Project in Egypt.
Completed in just 18 months, it demonstrates AMEA Power’s technical expertise, and efficient project execution.
More than 3,000 personnel on site contributed to the solar plant’s construction, highlighting the strong focus on job creation and local collaboration.
Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power, said “I am proud to announce that the 500MW Abydos Solar PV Plant is now fully operational – a landmark achievement that highlights the dedication of our team, the strength of collaboration, and the importance of empowering local communities. This milestone demonstrates AMEA Power’s technical excellence and sets a new standard for renewable energy projects. The solar power plant is a significant step in Egypt’s renewable energy strategy, supporting the goal of achieving 42% of energy generation from renewables by 2030. Together, we are driving progress toward a sustainable future.”
In September 2024, AMEA Power was awarded two additional groundbreaking projects in Egypt. The first, a 1,000MW solar PV with a 600MWh battery energy storage system (BESS),which will be the largest project of its kind in Africa, once commissioned. The second, a 300MWh BESS, which is an extension of the company’s existing 500MW Abydos solar PV plant. The project will pioneer the first-ever use of a utility-scale BESS solution in Egypt.
Furthermore, the 500MW Amunet Wind Farm, located in Ras Ghareb, is currently under construction and is expected to be operational in the first quarter of 2025.
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