Egypt, one of Northern Africa’s largest economies and the most crowded nation within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region with more than 100 million inhabitants, is relentlessly moving towards clean energy transition. The country has achieved an electrification rate of more than 95 per cent. However, due to rapid population growth and an expanding economy, the country continues to witnesses an increase in energy demand. Given Egypt’s limited and depleting fossil fuel endowments, the country is now turning to renewable energy to meet the rising power demand.
The country’s high voltage grid developer, Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), is working towards establishing a robust grid network across the country to reap the benefits of the upcoming capacity and increase regional power exchange via the establishment of cross-border interconnections.
Sector overview and recent growth trends
Egypt’s electricity sector is dominated by the state-owned Egyptian Electricity Holding Company (EEHC). EEHC is affiliated with 16 companies: six for electricity generation [Cairo, Hydro Power Plant Executive Authority (HPPEA), East Delta, West Delta, Upper Egypt, and Middle Delta electricity production companies]; nine for distribution (North Cairo, South Cairo, Alexandria, Canal, North Delta, South Delta, Behera, Middle Egypt, and Upper Egypt electricity distribution companies); and one for transmission—EETC. Egypt also has privately-owned power plants that were built on the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) model.
Private electricity distributors are also allowed to develop, implement, operate and maintain the distribution network in a licensed geographical area. Currently, around 33 companies have the licence to distribute electricity in the country. However, EEHC holds the monopoly in the distribution sector, accounting for 99 per cent of the network.
The Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy (MERE) is in charge of developing sector plans, recommending electricity prices, and supervising the study and execution of critical projects. The Egyptian Electric Utility and Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency oversee Egypt’s electricity sector (EgyptERA).
In the early 2010s, the country’s generation sector faced many challenges, including an ageing generation fleet (one-third of thermal generation capacity was over 20 years old), fuel shortages, load shedding and high transmission constraints and losses. To address these challenges, the government focused on fast-tracking the development of the generation sector by developing both mega-scale conventional power plants and renewable energy-based capacity and involving the private sector. Between 2015 and 2021, around 28.5 GW of generation capacity was added to the Egyptian power grid, enabling the country to become a power surplus nation from a power deficit one.
Egypt has increased its share of renewable energy -based resources (primarily wind and solar) over the years to reduce its reliance on fossil fuels. During the last five to six years, the share of renewable energy sources has increased at a CAGR of 35 per cent. The completion of the 1,465 MW Benban solar park in 2019 was a significant achievement in this context. It is one of the largest solar power plant in the world, with a USD2 billion investment.
Overview of the Benban Solar Park
To support the new generation capacity, EETC worked relentlessly on the expansion and strengthening of the country’s high voltage grid. Between 2015 and 2021, around 4,136 km of new lines, 31,875 MVA of transformer capacity and 19 new substations at the 500 kV level were added to the grid. It is estimated that Egypt’s high voltage network comprised 31,840 km of transmission lines and 112,207 MVA of capacity at voltages from 132 kV to 500 kV by the end of June 2021.
During the fiscal year 2020-21, EETC invested approximately EGP7.7 billion to improve the performance of the electrical network and maintain the level of quality of electrical supply, with the total amount of energy sold during the year amounting to approximately 189 TWh. The investment was made to improve network efficiency and reduce losses in order to transfer sustainable electric energy from all sources to all customers.
The past investments and initiatives have strengthened the electricity sector with electricity transmission and distribution networks and the sector is capable of absorbing and benefiting from the large capacities that will be added from new and renewable sources.
Egypt’s efforts to transform it power sector have been supported by financial assistance from multilateral lending institutions such as the European Investment Bank (EIB), the World Bank, the Arab Fund for Economic and Social Development (AFESD), and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
The Egyptian government had also announced plans to privatise the electricity sector by 2025, transforming it from a vertically-integrated, regulated state monopoly model to a fully competitive market. Separating power generation from transmission and distribution is part of the privatisation programme. However, little progress has been made in this regard and the 2025 privatisation deadline is unlikely to be met.
Transition to green energy
Renewable energy
The overall goal of Egypt’s Vision 2030 is to achieve a diversified, competitive and balanced economy within the framework of sustainable development. Egypt has a vast amount of untapped renewable energy resources, with a potential to add approximately 90 GW of wind and solar energy capacities. In 2015, the Egyptian government also launched the Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy (ISES) 2035, which was developed based on a least-cost scenario. It aims to ensure the energy sector’s technical and financial sustainability while also pursuing energy diversification through renewable energy penetration. The ISES aims to produce 20 per cent of the country’s electricity from renewable sources [including solar, wind, concentrating solar power (CSP), and hydro] by 2022, and 42 per cent by 2035. Furthermore, coal has been phased out of the energy mix and replaced by renewable energy. Over the years, the government has formulated various policies and strategies to attract and incentivise private sector investment in the renewable energy generation segment, and going forward, the majority of renewable energy projects will be developed by private companies.
Status of renewable energy deployment in Egypt
| Project | Capacity (MW) | Commercial operation |
| Current installed renewable energy capacity (hydro, wind and solar) | 6,378 | In operation |
| Wind projects | 1,200 | End of 2022 |
| 1,600 | End of 2023 | |
| Solar PV projects | 820 | End of 2022 |
| Total | About 10 GW |
Currently, around 3,500 MW of renewable energy capacity is under development on a build, own and operate (BOO) basis by the private sector. When this capacity comes online by 2023, it will increase the country’s renewable energy capacity to 10,000 MW. Some of the upcoming renewable energy projects are the 30 MW solar PV power plant in Benban under the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD); the 250 MW Gulf of Suez 1 wind farm, set up by the New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA), expected to generate 1,000 GWh of clean energy; and the 600 MW West Nile solar power project, owned and managed by Sky Power and EETC BOO.
Green hydrogen
The government is also focusing on developing green hydrogen in the country. In January 2021, EEHC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Siemens to jointly develop a hydrogen-based industry with the capability to export.
A cooperation agreement was also signed in March 2021 between EEHC, Aboukir Ports Construction and Management Company, Egyptian National Gas Holding Company, and a consortium of Belgian companies including Dredging, Environmental and Marine Engineering NV (DEME), Fluxys, Port of Antwerp, to prepare a feasibility study for establishing a green hydrogen production project (HYPORT-EGYPT) covering various locations in Egypt. The Egyptian government has also signed an MoU with the Italian company Eni to work on joint projects for the production of green and blue hydrogen.
Also, the world’s first 100 MW project based on green hydrogen is expected to come online in Egypt. This project will be developed in collaboration with Egypt’s Orascom, Norway’s Scatec, and the world’s largest export-focused nitrogen fertiliser platform Fertiglobe. The completion date for this project is set for October 2022, just in time for the COP27.
Waste to energy
To meet the rising energy demand, the country is not only shifting towards generating more energy from renewable resources, but it is also looking for different environmentally friendly ways to meet future demand and make the country an energy hub.
The Egyptian government is looking to develop projects based on waste to energy (W2E) technology to meet the future demand. According to the Ministry of Environment, 20 per cent of all collected municipal solid waste (MSW) will be directed to W2E technologies (about 4.2 million tonnes of MSW to W2E). Electricity generated from W2E plans could reach 300 MW in the next five years in Egypt.
Egypt as an energy hub
The country plans to transform itself into a regional energy hub, exchanging electricity with Arab, African and European countries. Egypt intends to strengthen regional cross-border links as well as build new high-capacity lines connecting to Europe and Middle Eastern countries in order to meet this ambitious goal. The following are some of the major planned interconnection projects:
Egypt–Saudi Arabia Grid Interconnection Project: EETC and National Grid SA, a subsidiary of Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) of Saudi Arabia, are developing an interconnection project that aims to connect the grids of Egypt and Saudi Arabia. The project entails the construction of a ±500 kV multi-terminal high voltage direct current (HVDC) link from Badr in Egypt to El-Madinah El Munawara via Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The interconnector will have a transfer capacity of 3,000 MW. It will allow Egypt and Saudi Arabia to capitalise on the differences in their peak power demand times, facilitate trade, and lead to cost savings of around USD3.7 billion. The package of contracts was signed for the electrical interconnection in October 2021. The investment for the Egyptian side is estimated to be USD1.8 billion.
The Egypt–Jordan Grid Interconnection Project: Currently the interconnection capacity between the two countries is 450 MW. The two countries are looking to increase this capacity to 1,100 MW. For this, a 27-km-long, 400-kV overhead line and a 12-km undersea cable connecting Taba, Egypt, and Aqaba, Jordan, is proposed to be constructed. The project will cost EUR198 million, with EUR62 million going towards the construction of new transmission facilities and the remaining EUR136 million going towards reinforcement work in the respective countries. The project’s feasibility study is currently underway.
Egypt–Sudan Interconnection Project: The first phase of this project,which entailed the construction of a 220 kV interconnection line from Toshka, Egypt, to Wadi Halfa in Sudan, was energised in April 2021 to enable 80 MW of power exchange between the two countries. Phase 2 entails increasing the exchange capacity to 300 MW. For this, Static Synchronous Compensators (STATCOMs) are being installed by Siemens at the Dongola and Merowe stations in Sudan. The substations are expected to be completed in April 2023. In the longer term, the aim is to further boost the power exchange capacity between the two countries to 1,000 MW.
EuroAfrica Interconnector: The project will link the electricity grids of Egypt, Cyprus and Greece via a subsea direct current (DC) cable and onshore HVDC converter stations. In its initial stage, the interconnection will have a transmission capacity of 1,000 MW, which will later be increased to 2,000 MW. The line will run from Damietta in Egypt to the Kofinou station in Cyprus via a subsea route. Furthermore, Cyprus will be linked via another subsea route to Korakia in Crete (Greece), and from there, the cable route will continue to Attica on mainland Greece. The interconnector will be 1,707 km long and will include the construction of four converter stations—one in Egypt, one in Cyprus, one in Crete and one in Attica—with the multi-terminal operation to connect Egypt to Greece via Cyprus. Currently, technical studies for the undersea link are underway.
Egypt–Jordan–GCCIA: The planned grid connection aims to establish a link between Gulf Cooperation Council Interconnection Authority’s (GCCIA) existing grid network, which connects its six member countries—Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—via a 1,400-km, 400 kV overhead line (OHL) to the interconnection point in Jordan, and then with Egypt via a 780-km, 400 kV OHL. The existing GCC’s interconnection project has a transmission capacity of up to 1,200 MW and was established in 2001.
The first phase of the proposed interconnection transmission link is expected to transmit 2,000 MW of power between the GCC countries, and Egypt and Jordan, but the transmission capacity may be increased, depending upon their power demand. The project aims to enhance the reliability of power systems, improve energy quality and further establish an energy market in the Arab region.
EETC, Jordan’s National Electric Power Company (NEPCO) and GCCIA recently reached an agreement on the founding principles of this project. The three parties have agreed on an action plan to complete the required procedures—preparation of a business case report outlining the benefits of the interconnection (based on a feasibility study) and regulatory structure, in addition to risks and financing options—before the end of 2022.
Conclusion
In light of the ISES 2035 ambitious renewable energy targets, Egypt’s transmission utility is working to build a strong grid network to evacuate power from planned generation capacity and supply it to its customers across the country. The country is also looking to fully utilise its strategic geographical location and develop various grid interconnections with North African, Arab and Mediterranean countries to facilitate power trade, thereby boosting the country’s economic growth and development.
To fully reap the benefits of the upcoming capacity and to establish cross-border interconnections, future transmission investments are expected to be largely directed towards developing grid infrastructure to evacuate power from new generation plants, including a significant number of renewable energy projects. Investments are also envisaged in grid refurbishment and modernisation.
The article has been sourced from Global Transmission Research
