Masdar and Egypt step up renewable energy cooperation with new solar, wind projects

Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mahmoud Esmat met with a delegation from Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar), led by CEO Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, in Cairo to discuss progress on renewable energy projects and opportunities to expand cooperation in the sector.

According to a statement from Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, the meeting reviewed the implementation of joint solar, wind, and battery storage projects under existing agreements between the two sides.

Discussions focused on accelerating construction and commissioning timelines, integrating new generation capacity into Egypt’s national grid and increasing the contribution of renewable sources to the country’s electricity mix.

Esmat also reviewed progress on a 200-megawatt (MW) wind power project in the Gulf of Suez, scheduled to connect to the national grid by December 2027.

The meeting covered additional projects being developed by the Infinity-Hassan Allam consortium. These include a 1,000MW wind power project in Ras Shukeir, a 1,000MW solar project in Minya paired with 600 megawatt-hours (MWh) of battery storage, and a 200MW solar project in Benban supported by 120MWh of storage.

The Benban solar project and its associated battery storage capacity are scheduled to be connected to the national grid by the end of 2026, according to the ministry.

The projects form part of Egypt’s broader efforts to expand renewable generation while strengthening the grid’s ability to accommodate intermittent power sources. Battery storage is expected to play an increasingly important role in balancing supply and demand as the country adds more solar and wind capacity.

Esmat said the discussions align with Egypt’s national strategy to increase renewable energy’s share of the country’s electricity mix to 45% by 2028, with private-sector investment and partnerships playing a central role in expanding generation capacity.

He also highlighted ongoing cooperation with Masdar, describing the company as a major international player in renewable energy, and stressed the importance of maintaining momentum on projects already under development.

The latest discussions come as Egypt seeks to expand its renewable energy capacity and attract private investment in large-scale clean power projects, while addressing the infrastructure requirements for integrating additional renewable generation into the national grid.