Masdar and Infinity Power partner to develop 200-megawatt wind farm in Egypt

The Ras Ghareb wind farm is estimated to produce 810,000 megawatt-hours per year

A view of the Zafarana wind farm in Egypt. Victoria Hazou for the National

Abu Dhabi clean energy company Masdar and Infinity Power have signed an agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company to supply renewable energy from a new wind project in Ras Ghareb, Gulf of Suez.

Once constructed, the wind farm will develop a capacity of 200 megawatts and is estimated to produce 810,000 megawatt-hours a year, Masdar said on Monday.

That is expected to prevent 403,672 tonnes of carbon-dioxide equivalent emissions annually.

One megawatt of electricity can provide enough power for about 1,000 households.

“The addition of the Ras Ghareb wind farm to our growing roster reinforces our commitment to positioning Africa as a leader in sustainable energy,” said Nayer Fouad, chief executive of Infinity Power.

“This is one of the many steps we will take as we pursue our ambition to develop renewable energy projects in every part of Africa.”

Infinity Power, a joint venture between Egypt’s Infinity and Masdar, aims to have 10 gigawatts of operational renewable energy by 2030.

This goal could supply electricity to 12 million homes across Africa by the decade’s end and help cut carbon dioxide emissions by an additional 15 to 20 million tonnes annually.

“This project marks another milestone in our journey to unlocking Africa’s clean energy potential, and further advancing the clean energy transition,” said Mohamed Al Ramahi, chief executive of Masdar.

Masdar, owned jointly by the Abu Dhabi National Energy Company – better known as Taqa – Adnoc and Mubadala, is active in 40 countries.

It aims to expand its capacity to at least 100 gigawatts of renewable energy by the end of the decade, from about 20 gigawatts now.

Egypt, the Arab world’s third-largest economy, is looking to step up solar, wind and green hydrogen projects as it addresses declining natural gas production.

The country aims to increase power generation from renewables to 42 per cent of its total by 2035.

In June, Egypt’s sovereign wealth fund signed four green ammonia agreements worth up to $33 billion with several companies.

The agreements included an $11 billion deal with Frankfurt-based DAI Infrastruktur aimed at setting up a green ammonia project in East Port Said, an Egyptian cabinet statement said at the time.

The Sovereign Fund of Egypt also agreed to team up with BP, Masdar, Egyptian infrastructure company Hassan Allam Utilities and Infinity Power to invest in a green ammonia plant in Ain Sukhna Port on the western coast of the Gulf of Suez. The project is expected to attract a total investment of $14 billion.