National Economy
The population of the Arab Republic of Egypt is approximately 106.72 million people[1]. In 2020, 100 % of the people in this northeast African country had access to electricity[2].
In 2021, Kenya’s economy was ranked 44th in gross domestic product (GDP) in the world[3]. The country’s economy is dependent on the export[4] of refined petroleum, gold, nitrogenous fertilizers, citrus, and aluminum powder.
Environment Policies
In 2016, Egypt signed the Paris Climate Agreement[5], committing to “high CO2 mitigation levels” by phasing out energy subsidies by 2021. Egypt also committed to the development of new zero-carbon emission power plants.
In 2020, the Egyptian government announced the 2035 Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy, which makes the development of renewable energy a priority. The government’s goal is to increase the supply of electricity from renewable sources to 20% by 2022 and 42% by 2035.
In 2021, the state-owned electric company[6], Egyptian Electric Holding Company used natural gas (76.0 %), renewable energy (12.4%), and oil (11.4 %) to generate electricity in the country. Hydropower, wind, and solar are the dominant types of renewable energy used to generate electricity in Egypt.
Recent utility scale, renewable energy projects in Egypt include:
- 700 MW High Voltage Transmission Line Project – In October 2022, Greek infrastructure company, Copelouzos Group announced plans to lay a submarine cable to link 9,500 MW capacity of wind and solar projects in Egypt to Greece. The project is forecast to be commissioned in 2028.
- 500 MW Wind Project – German multinational, Siemens AG is continuing work on the Red Sea Wind Energy project, located in the Gulf of Suez, governorate of the Red Sea. The project is forecast to be commissioned by year-end 2023.
- 262 MW Wind Farm – In December 2019, a multi-national joint venture company commissioned the Ras Ghareb Wind project, located in the Gulf of Suez, governorate of the Red Sea.
- 252 MW Wind Project – Danish wind turbine company, Vestas is continuing work on the Gulf of Suez 1 wind project, located approximately 150 miles southeast of Cairo. The project is scheduled to be commissioned in 2023.
- 250 MW Wind Project – In November, Dutch renewable energy company, Lekela Power commissioned the West Bakr Wind project, located approximately 150 miles southeast of Cairo.
- 200 MW Solar Project – In October 2022, Saudi Arabian company, Acwa Power commissioned the Kom Ombo solar power plant, located approximately 325 miles south of Cairo.
- 50 MW Solar Project – In September 2022, German solar company, Belectric commissioned a solar project in the town of Zaafarana, located approximately 100 miles southeast of the capital, Cairo.
Conclusions
Egypt imports oil for power generation, heating, and transportation. In 2020, Egypt spent[7] U.S. $3.42 Billion just for imported crude oil.
On 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine, resulting in the United States, Canada, and the European Union placing embargos on Russian exports. The international price for crude oil has increased by over 50% from May 2021 to May 2022.
In 2021, Egypt replaced coal-fired power generation plans with domestic natural gas power plants. Egypt is now replacing oil-fueled power plants with green, low-cost renewable energy.
Egypt has significant undeveloped renewable energy resources, including onshore wind, offshore wind, solar, hydropower, and biomass. Egypt’s energy strategy is to develop the nation’s significant renewable energy resources and to become a green energy exporter to Europe.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has resulted in soaring fossil fuel (coal, oil, and natural gas) prices. Soaring fossil fuel prices has accelerated the development of low-cost renewable energy, like wind and solar.
Egypt is now moving from a net oil importer to clean, green energy exporter.
Jack Kerfoot
Website – “Our Energy Conundrum”
www.jackkerfoot.com
Jack Kerfoot is a scientist, energy expert, and author of the book FUELING AMERICA, An Insider’s Journey and articles for The Hill, one of the largest independent political news sites in the United States. He has been interviewed on over 100 radio and television stations from New York City to Los Angeles on numerous energy related topics.
[1] Egypt Population (2022) – October 11, 2022, www.worldometers.info
[2] The World Bank Group, Access to Electricity (% of Population) – Egypt
[3] Gross Domestic Product By Country 2021 – Worldometer
[4] The Observatory of Economic Complexity – Egypt
[5] Carbon Brief “Paris 2015: Tracking Country Climate Pledges”
[6] Our World In Data, Egypt: Energy Country Profile by Hanna Ritchie and Max Roser
[7] The Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC) – Egypt Imports