Wind Power Development in Egypt
Introduction In Egypt, the high reliance on increasingly scarce of the availability of conventional energy resources (crude oil & natural gas) is becoming a cause for concern, as the dynamic population and economic development is fast driving up electricity and energy consumption. It is expected that t the energy consumption growth continues and energy consumption in 2022 will be double compared to 2010 or higher, depending on continuous population growth, expected growth per capita and limited increase of energy efficiency.
Wind power generation in Egypt Egypt has an excellent wind regime, in Suez Gulf. The wind speeds ranges 7-10 m/s. The Egyptian Wind Atlas indicates large regions of high wind energy resources in the Western and Eastern Deserts (East and West of the Nile) The availability of National experts through the New & Renewable Energy Authority (NREA). The availability of the local manufactured components. The recent share percentage reaches 70%. The production energy price from wind power stations is approximately near to the conventional electricity production energy price
Wind power generation Wind Energy is scheduled to be the largest contributor to the generation of renewable energy in Egypt. 12% of the 20% of total renewable energy generation is to come from this source. Therefore its implementation and further promotion is central to the NREA activities and future plans. By the year 2020 it is expected that t wind energy will contribute 7200 MW to renewable energy generation. 550 MW will be added per year of which 200 MW will be generated through NREA.
The Renewable Energy Development Program Wind Energy The Egyptian government is promoting the private sector investments in order to reach the proposed addition of 550 MW per year. Wind energy is the most developed renewable energy source in Egypt to date, not least because it is the most cost-effective renewable energy source. Wind energy development in Egypt will be implemented by constructing wind power projects connected to the National Grid through two different programs.
The Renewable Energy Development Program Solar Energy: The executed solar energy project in Egypt: 1. The first solar thermal power plant with total installed capacity of 140MW with solar share of 20MW, based on parabolic trough technology integrated with combined cycle power plant using natural gas as a fuel. 2. Commercial operation of the project was by the end of 2010.
The use of the Renewable Energy New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), responsible of disseminating the use of new and renewable energy resources in Egypt, cooperation with the leading countries in wind energy. NREA succeeded to became one of the leaders in renewable energy in the region and installed 490 MW of wind capacity until the year 2010. in
The use of the Renewable Energy EEHC cooperates with NREA, through the following: Generation and Operational Planning taking into consideration the contribution of the renewable energy. Wind Integration Studies and Network Planning to ensure the safe and reliable power transfer of wind energy and other renewables from renewable projects to the load centers. Purchase of energy generated from the wind farms at reasonable price to encourage the use of renewable energy. The development of all phases of the competitive bidding process for the BOO wind power projects.
Developing The Renewable Energy Projects NREA program is supported by local, Multilateral and Bilateral international financing agencies to implement its program as well as all the pre- development work for the sites, including land allocation, mine clearing, aerial marking requirements, and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
Private Sector participation the Egyptian Cabinet approved some polices to support wind energy projects to be implemented by private developers, including the following measures: 7,600 square kilometers of desert lands that have been earmarked for future wind projects, all permits for land allocation have already been obtained by NREA, and an Usufruct Agreement (Land Lease Agreement) for the area assigned to individual projects will be signed with the investors.
Supporting Private Sector Participation Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), including bird migration studies, will be prepared by NREA. 20-25 25 year Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) are available with government guarantees. Renewable energy equipment will be exempt from customs duties. The private sector projects will benefit from carbon credits under the CDM.
The Future Projects The Egyptian government aims to develop 2,000 MW of wind power in the Gulf of Suez region, in four stages. The first tender was published in January 2010 for two projects of 250 MW each, one based on build, own and operate (BOO) basis and 20 year PPA. The second project for the same amount of wind power - 250 MW owned by NREA.
The Future Targeted Projects the Egyptian target reach atotal available capacity of wind power to about 3040 MW by the year 2016 where there is so far 550 MW connected to the National Grid, and the development of the electricity sector plan to add new capacities of up to 1120 MW and to be implemented through NREA and 1370 MW through private sector.