ACWA Power to build gigawatt wind farm in Egypt

The consortium, led by ACWA Power, will work together in the development phase to complete siting studies and secure financing for the facility. Located in the Gulf of Suez and Gabal el Zeit area, the wind project is the largest wind farm in the Middle East and one of the largest onshore wind farms in the world for which a single contract has been signed. The project will use state-of-the-art wind turbines with hub heights of up to 220 meters, contributing to the most efficient use of the designated land.

When completed, the project will mitigate the impact of 2.4 million tons of CO2 emissions per year and provide electricity to more than 1 million homes.

"This milestone wind project falls within the framework of the Egyptian government’s strategy to diversify its energy sources and leverage the country’s rich natural resources, especially in renewable energy. The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy is taking concrete actions to ensure the resilience of our energy strategy, because of the escalating changes that the world is witnessing, which aim to increase the contribution of renewable energy to up to 42% by 2035," said Dr. Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, Egypt’s Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy.

Mohammad Abunayyan, Chairman of ACWA Power, added, "We are honoured to contribute to the strengthening ties of Saudi Arabia, our home, and Egypt via this milestone wind project, and extend our sincerest gratitude to the leaders of both countries in entrusting their faith in our abilities to realise their renewable energy mandates."

The 1.1-GW wind project is expected to be completed in the third quarter of 2024. The plant will be operational by the end of 2026.