Within the framework of cooperation in the field of renewable energy, the Federal Republic of Germany through Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KfW), the European Union (EU), and the European Investment Bank (EIB) jointly with the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy have inaugurated the largest windfarm in Africa, 200 Megawatt (MW)—in the area of Gulf of Zayt in Egypt on the Red Sea coast. The project is an integral part of the Egyptian long-term energy strategy to utilize of the enormous renewable energy potentials of Egypt. The total budget of the project amounts to 340 million Euros. It is co-funded by European Partners. The EU has granted a total of 30 Million Euros of the total project’s budget. The German Development Cooperation through KfW has offered a loan of 191.5 million Euros; EIB has loaned 50 million.
“The Gulf of Zayt windfarm represents a major renewable energy resource that will help boost Egypt’s economy, create jobs and reduce greenhouse gas pollution. It is also particularly relevant at a time when the international community is working hard for a new global climate deal in Paris at the UN climate conference. Indeed, the new wind farm will increase the Egyptian wind installed capacity by 35 per cent, which will decrease the carbon emissions by 400,000 tons per year,” said Ambassador James Moran, Head of the EU Delegation to Egypt.
The project’s objective is to address Egypt’s energy needs through promoting the use of renewable energy to capitalise on the country’s remarkable potentials for wind and solar power generation. The project is part of a larger national programme to further expand power generation from renewable energy in Egypt and, thus, will enhance the security of supply through more diversified electricity sources. The project generates up to 800 GW per year, which is sufficient to supply approx. 500,000 people with electricity and contributes to preventing about 400,000 tons of Carbon Dioxide CO2 emissions per year. Another200 MW wind farm “Gulf of Suez” co–funded by the German Development Cooperation through KfW, EU, EIB and the French Development Agency (AFD) is underway with a scheduled construction date in 2016.
Watani International
30 November 2015