EGYPT – Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) has signed a partnership deal with Vestas Wind Energy that will see the two entities work together in developing a 250MW wind farm in the Gulf of Suez.
According to a report by Egypt Today, the wind farm project which is estimated to be the largest in Egypt will be implemented at a cost of €228 million.
The Denmark based, Vestas Wind Systems A/S is among the world’s largest wind energy companies specializing in the manufacturing, installation and servicing of wind turbines.
According to a report by EVWind the German Development Bank (KfW) is to arrange a €260m loan to the project.
The German loan will finance the project, and has been granted with the participation of a number of European parties.
The parties in the loan include the EU, the French Development Agency, the European Investment Bank, according to Egypt Today.
Earlier, The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) approved a US$50 million loan for a 500 MW Wind Power Project in the Gulf of Suez.
The wind energy project is being implemented by the Red Sea Wind Energy company, a special purpose vehicle led by a consortium formed by French giant Engie and Japanese Eurus Energy/Toyota Tsusho Corporation.
In addition to the Red Sea Wind Energy project, the German-Spanish company Siemens Gamesa has received approval from the Egyptian authorities to produce 500 MW from two wind farms of 180 and 320 MW.
The ongoing construction of renewable energy sources in Egypt come as part of the government’s electricity and renewable energy sector plan.
It aims to bring the share of Egypt’s renewable energies to 20% of the national energy output by 2022, and to over 42% by 2035.
This will contribute to increasing the output of Egypt’s renewable resources to 6 GW, including hydropower and other projects currently underway.
Although greatly beneficial, the increased concentration of wind farms in the Gulf of Suez area is however raising concern among environmental conservationists who fear that it will adversely affect the migratory of birds.
Birds are known to leave Europe to spend the winter in Africa, particularly in the Great Lakes region.
Tired from this long journey, they rest by letting themselves be carried by the wind, a manoeuvre which can prove fatal since the birds can be hit by the blades of wind turbines.
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