To achieve SDG 7, access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services for all must be guaranteed by 2030.
With more than190 TWh of electricity generated each year, Egypt produces enough electricity for households and businesses within the country. Few other remarks can be made:
1. Total access to electricity in Egypt is 100% (WB data in 2020), with urban areas electrified at 100% and rural areas at 100% (1st most electrified countries in Africa).
2. Egypt is in the Top 25 countries in electricity production and the country almost doubled its generation capacity from 33 GW in 2014 to 59 MW in 2020 (IRENA)
3. In 2020, fossils dominated power generation in Egypt (natural gas: 83.9%) followed by Hydro (7.8%) and renewables (Solar+Wind: 4.6%) (according to IEA)
4. Egypt has seen impressive growth on installed solar energy capacity (from 35 MW in 2012 to 1675 MW in 2021) (according to Statista).
5. The Benban Solar Park, with an installed capacity of 1465 MW is in the Top 5 largest solar parks in the world.
6. Egypt is 3rd in electricity generation from wind energy in Africa behind South Africa and Morocco.
7. Ras Ghareb Wind Farm is the 3rd largest wind farm in Africa with a capacity of 262.5 MW (according to EnergyCapital&Power).
8. The share of renewables in the country’s electricity mix remains relatively low if compared to Egypt’s potential (~11% of the installed capacity according to IRENA)
Although Egypt leads the most electrified countries in Africa (according to Energy capital&power), the country faces two main challenges:
- Ensuring energy sufficiency for the country whose population is growing at more than 1.5% per year
- Ensuring its energy transition by cutting its dependence on gas and oil (~90% of its electricity mix).
To meet this challenge, the country is multiplying initiatives, including:
The Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy 2035 (ISES) whose final objective is to produce 42% of the country’s electricity from renewable sources by 2035 (wind: 14%; hydro: 2%; solar: 25%).
The Energy Wealth Initiative which aims to close some inefficient gas-fired power plants (~5000 MW) while facilitating investments to support the installation of 10,000 MW of renewable energy capacity.
The country is also focusing on the development of green hydrogen as part of its energy mix. With the financial support of the EBRD, the country will host the first integrated green hydrogen plant in Africa.