Egypt to expand renewable energy capacity between 2026, 2030

Egypt plans to integrate new solar, wind, and battery storage capacities into its national electricity grid between 2026 and 2030, aiming to achieve substantial fuel savings, Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mahmoud Esmat said on Sunday.

The announcement came during a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly to review renewable energy projects and the government’s efforts to upgrade the national grid to absorb additional capacity from renewable sources.

Esmat said the government aims for renewables to account for more than 42 per cent of Egypt’s energy mix by 2030, with a long-term target of 60 per cent by 2040 under the updated national energy strategy.

The minister outlined recent grid improvements, including the construction of 11 extra-high-voltage substations with a total capacity of 4,570 MVA, 2,000 MVA added at 500 kV, and 3,240 MVA at 220 kV between July 2024 and July 2025. Four new high-voltage substations with 440 MVA were also built, alongside 797 MVA added at 66 kV.

New transmission infrastructure includes 406 kilometres of 220 kV power lines and cables, 11 kilometres of overhead lines converted to underground cables, and at the 66 kV level, 272 kilometres of overhead lines and 7.3 kilometres of underground cables, with 28 kilometres of existing lines replaced.

Esmat also reviewed land allocations to the New and Renewable Energy Authority for future renewable power plants, underlining the government’s push to strengthen electricity infrastructure in line with long-term renewable capacity plans.

Attribution: Amwal Al Ghad English

Subediting: Y.Yasser