Egypt to increase renewable energy capacity by 2.5GW

Egypt intends to add 2.5 gigawatts of renewable energy capacity to its national grid to meet rising power demand and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The new capacity will be connected to the national grid this year, electricity minister Mahmoud Esmat said in a statement.

He said the government expects renewable energy to account for 42 percent of its electricity generation mix by 2030.

The statement followed a meeting between President Abdel Fattah El Sisi, during which progress in renewable energy projects, including wind, solar and battery storage, was reviewed.

El Sisi said there was an urgent need for a balanced expansion of renewable projects to position Egypt as a regional hub for green energy.

He said ministers of electricity, petroleum and finance need to coordinate clearly to accelerate clean energy additions and secure financing to meet rising demand while maintaining grid stability.

Egypt added more than 1.5 GW of renewable energy capacity in 2025, bringing total installed capacity to 9.25 GW, according to a report by the International Renewable Energy Agency.

In January, Cairo signed deals worth $1.8 billion with Chinese and Norwegian companies to localise its renewable energy sector.

Egypt launched the Nexus of Water, Food and Energy programme in 2022. This aims to advance its national climate agenda by mobilising climate finance and private investment in support of the green transition.In December, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development said it would provide €200 million ($235 million) to support Egypt’s plans to transition to a green economy.

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