Egypt officially inaugurated the $500 million Abydos Solar PV Plant in Aswan on Saturday, marking a significant milestone in the country’s transition to renewable energy. Developed by Dubai-based AMEA Power, the 500-megawatt solar plant was completed in just 18 months and is expected to generate 1,500 gigawatt-hours of clean energy annually. This output will provide power to approximately 300,000 households while reducing CO2 emissions by 782,300 tonnes.

At the commissioning ceremony, Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly highlighted the project’s importance in reducing reliance on traditional energy sources. “This is a pivotal step in boosting renewable energy usage in Egypt,” he stated, emphasizing the plant’s role in addressing the frequent summer power outages caused by high electricity demand.

AMEA Power chairman Hussain Al Nowais noted that the first electricity from the plant was delivered to the national grid last week, calling it a significant contribution to Egypt’s green power strategy.

The project was financed by the International Finance Corporation, the Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

Renewable Energy Expansion
Egypt also signed a $600 million agreement with AMEA Power on Saturday for a 500-megawatt wind power project in Ras Shukeir, near the Red Sea.

Egypt’s renewable energy ambitions include increasing clean energy's share in its power mix from 11.5% in 2023 to 42% by 2030. Aswan, with its abundant solar radiation, is already home to the 1,650-megawatt Benban Solar Park, one of the largest in Africa and the Middle East, inaugurated in 2019.

The government’s renewable energy push is part of a broader strategy to mitigate power shortages and combat climate change, positioning Egypt as a regional leader in clean energy development.