The Abu Dhabi-based Masdar has completed the delivery of 30 megawatts (MW) of utility-scale clean energy projects and 7,000 solar home systems in Egypt.
The four projects developed by the clean energy company’s special projects unit will power 25,800 homes and displace 42,700 tonnes of CO2 annually, according to an official statement.
Masdar last week completed a 14MW project in the Red Sea governorate comprised of four photovoltaic diesel hybrid plants. The new projects complement existing diesel-based plants with solar energy, which in turn saves costs associated with purchasing and transporting diesel. This reduces the risk of fuel price increases and supply shortages, while also greatly reducing CO2 emissions.
The plants in Marsa Alam (6MW), Shalateen (5MW), Abu Ramad (2 MW) and Halayeb (1 MW) are specifically designed to ensure that the area’s tourism sector is supported by reliable electricity, Masdar said.
Meanwhile, another three photovoltaic diesel hybrids in Al Wadi Al Jadeed Governorate became operational in December last year. The three plants in Al Farafra (5 MW), Abu Minqar (0.5 MW) and Darb Al Arbaeen (0.5 MW) bring power infrastructure to Egypt’s largest but least populated governorate.
Masdar has also recently completed the deployment of standalone off-grid solar home systems in remote areas across Egypt that previously had no access to electricity. The 7,000 systems, consisting of two solar panels, two batteries with up to two days of storage capacity and lighting units, were provided to homes, mosques, clinics, schools and community centres.
“These projects demonstrate how renewable energy can help countries meet a broad array of strategic aims – from empowering local communities, to strengthening energy security, to driving economic development,” said Masdar CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi.
“I am proud that Masdar can support Egypt’s strategic development aims as well as the critical global goal of delivering sustainable energy for all.”
The locations for the utility scale plants and the individual beneficiaries of the solar home systems were selected in coordination with Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity and local authorities in the designated localities.
The program, initiated and funded by the Abu Dhabi government, extended over a period of two years from inception to completion of construction, testing and commissioning, and handover.
Khaled Ballaith, Director of the Masdar Special Projects unit, said that each project was customised to the needs of the local community. “Our priority was ensuring the right solution was deployed for the unique needs of the 70 villages and over 140 communities in seven governorates touched by these projects.”