Egypt's 2011 investigation and analysis of wind power development prospects
Mention of Egypt, most people think of are the desert and the sun, and thus the development of renewable energy, naturally think of solar energy. Indeed, the new solar energy power generation is the main force in Egypt, but Egypt has a huge wind power potential.Although Egypt's total wind power accounted for less than 1%, but according to the 2003 Egypt's wind energy potential assessment, Egypt and the solar wind can match. Red Sea coast of Suez Gulf region is very rich in wind resources, wind speed up to 7-10 meters per second; located in the east and west of the Nile desert also has two wind conditions.
Egypt's new energy and renewable energy sector (NREA) and Riso National Laboratory in Denmark together, concluded that the Gulf of Suez in the Red Sea coast can be the construction of approximately 20,000 megawatts of installed capacity of wind farms.
Currently, Egypt's total power generation capacity of about 23,500 MW, its renewable energy development plan is to 2020, 20% of national electricity supply from renewable energy sources, of which 12% comes from wind energy.
To demonstrate the potential of wind energy in Egypt, Denmark, Spain and Germany together in 80 miles south of Suez, Egypt's Red Sea coast of Egypt's first wind farm built - Zafarana. The success of wind power generation capacity by 120 MW to a total installed capacity of 545 MW; 2010 produced a total of 1147 gigawatt hours of electricity.
However, Egypt is still funding the development of wind power. Although the European Investment Bank (EIB), said Egypt's wind power projects will provide loans, but the Egyptian government is still seeking more international funds.
It is reported that in 2010, the World Bank to Egypt a loan of $ 220 million to help build the Egyptian national grid connected wind power plant infrastructure, while other wind power projects to provide support.
Egyptian Electricity Minister Hassan Younis said the government will take tender for a capacity of 1000 MW wind power plant construction project financing, is expected to be completed in 2015-2016.
In addition, Egypt is also trying to build production facilities to manufacture wind turbines, in order to meet the needs of local and regional markets. Mainly focus on the Egyptian government turbine towers and blades manufacturing, products will be exported to North Africa and the Middle East market. NREA is estimated that manufacturers need to invest $ 59 million, while the turbine towers will need $ 147 million.