Saudi Arabian independent power producer (IPP) Acwa Power has reached an agreement with the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) for its project to build a 10,000 MW wind farm in Egypt. The NREA is granting land for this mega-project to the west of the town of Sohag.
Acwa Power is making progress with the development of its 10,000 MW wind megaproject in Egypt. The Saudi company has just secured the land needed to build this energy infrastructure. Under the agreement signed recently, the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) has granted it 3,000 km2 to the west of Sohag, the main town in the governorate of the same name, on the left bank of the Nile.
“Today’s signing reinforces our commitment to promoting sustainable development and powering Egypt’s future with clean, reliable and renewable energy. We are determined to harness the vast potential of wind energy, create jobs, reduce emissions and ensure a greener, brighter future for Egypt, in line with our vision for a sustainable planet,” said Marco Arcelli, CEO of Acwa Power, after signing the agreement with NREA, in the presence of Mohamed Shaker Al-Marqabi, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy.
The creation of 120,000 jobs
Acwa is making good progress in the development of this mega-project, having already signed an agreement in November 2022 with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), which will purchase the electricity produced to the west of the town of Sohag. According to Saudi Arabia’s Independent Power Producer (IPP), the wind farm will be capable of injecting up to 50,000 GWh of clean electricity a year into Egypt’s national grid, enough to power at least 11 million Egyptian homes.
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According to Acwa Power, the 10 GW park is expected to save Egypt $6.5 billion in annual natural gas costs, while creating up to 120,000 jobs. During the construction phase, Acwa is expected to employ 45,000 people, and around 75,000 indirectly. At least 2,500 jobs will be created in the operation and maintenance phase of the wind energy production facilities.
The construction of this mega wind farm is part of Egypt’s strategy to generate 42% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2035. In 2022, Egypt had an installed capacity of 59.5 GW, 11% of which was generated from renewable sources, including hydroelectric, solar and wind power.
Jean Marie Takouleu
