Egypt is turning to the desert for its energy needs

Egypt plans to build a $10 billion, 10-gigawatt wind farm by 2026, set to be one of the world's largest and completed by 2032.Currently, the world's largest wind farm is Gansu Wind Farm in China, with over 10,000 MW capacity, targeting 20,000 MW. In Africa, the largest wind farm is Lake Turkana Wind Power in Kenya, with a capacity of 310 MW.

Why this is important: Egypt  is grappling with power outages due to high temperatures and rising electricity demand from its population of over 105 million.

• The wind farm will help Egypt phase out gas-powered plants and reduce reliance on fossil fuels, saving an estimated $50 billion in natural gas costs annually.

• It supports Egypt's goal of sourcing 42% of its energy from renewables by 2030, marking a significant step forward in the country’s energy strategy.

The project faced initial delays due to land acquisition issues in West Sohag. However, the project is now on track to start in early 2026, with access to a 3,025 km² area in West Sohag for development studies.

• French company Voltalia has also signed an agreement to develop over 2.5 GW of solar PV and wind capacity in Egypt to support green hydrogen production.

• Voltalia’s project will be developed in two phases, each with a 500 MW hydrogen electrolyser powered by 1.3 GW of solar PV and wind capacity, located in the Suez Canal Economic Zone.

• Voltalia also plans to construct a 130 MW PV project in Tunisia, expanding its presence in North Africa, which is becoming a strategic region for European energy players.