This is one component of the country’s efforts to increase renewable energy production. With near-perpetual sunshine and windy shores on the Red Sea, experts say Egypt is well placed to pass green.
However, it is also an emerging country and, like many others, faces obstacles to making changes. Much of its infrastructure relies on fossil fuels to power the country of about 104 million people.
The solar panel farm, Egypt’s flagship assignment called Benban, named after a local village, puts it at the forefront of the African continent when it comes to renewable energy.
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Karim el-Gendy, an expert at Chatham House who specializes in urban sustainability and climate policy, says Egypt has met its goal of 20% of its electricity coming from renewables by 2022. The current figure is now closer to 10%, according to the International Energy Agency.
There is less demand for solar energy, partly due to the influx of natural gas, thanks to new discoveries in the Egyptian part of the Mediterranean Sea.
“We have noticed less interest in recent years for renewable energy projects incorporated in Egypt, in terms of solar, southern and wind power,” he said.
Hosting this year’s global climate summit, known as COP27 and most recently held at Sharm el-Sheikh’s Red Sea hotel, Egypt said it would press other countries to enforce climate pledges made at previous conferences. carbon limits, but has committed to mitigating and reducing the accumulation of its emissions in key polluting sectors, such as electricity and transport.
Its use of herbal fuel has also helped, allowing Egypt to move away from burning coal and oil, industries that are far more polluting; However, fuel remains a fossil fuel.
From Sharm el-Sheikh, President Joe Biden, who attended the climate conference, said Friday that the United States, the European Union and Germany would provide a $500 million package to finance and facilitate Egypt’s transition to blank power, and boost the country. . Ambitious goal of generating 42% of electricity from renewable resources by 2030, five years ahead of schedule.
Biden also announced that he would work with Egypt to reduce fuel emissions by capturing “nearly 14 billion cubic meters of vegetable fuel, which Egypt is burning, evacuating or leaking lately from its oil and fuel operations. “
“Through this cooperation, Egypt has increased its climate ambition,” Biden said, referring to the climate goals nations must submit to the United Nations in the Paris Agreement.
The Egyptian government has revealed some important points about how it will implement or fund Vision 2035, or the revised 2030 plan that the United States and Germany discussed Friday in conjunction with Egypt. Foreign investment is likely to play a vital role. , while European countries look south for solar energy. The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development has allocated $10 billion in financing to more than 150 projects across Egypt, with Benban being one of its main successes.
The sprawling farm is designed to grow as the demand for solar energy increases.
“This is wonderful for us and other investors,” said Faisal Eissa, managing director for Egypt at Lekela, a Dutch company that invested in Benban.
Egypt’s New and Renewable Energy Authority says Benban has already reduced the country’s annual production of greenhouse fuel emissions. But there is still a long way to go. In 2020, renewables accounted for 6% of Egypt’s energy consumption, according to the U. S. Energy Information Administration. In the US, petroleum products accounted for 36% and herbal fuels for 57%. Coal accounted for 1%.
Egypt would also likely have less incentive to invest in renewable energy as it grapples with domestic challenges, adding an economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic, Russia’s war in Ukraine and a years-long government crackdown on dissent. Last month, Cairo reached a first deal with the International Monetary Fund that would allow a $3 billion loan.
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The effects of climate replacement are already being felt in the Nile Delta, where emerging seas have led to salt creeping into farm roots and cakes, devastating the livelihoods of Egyptian farmers.
The country with the largest population in the Arab world accounts for just 0. 6% of global carbon dioxide emissions from cars. But it faces elevated levels of urban pollutants. Exhaust fumes and diesel-powered public transport clog the streets. Egyptians’ exposure to air pollutants is, on average, thirteen times higher than the recommendations of the World Health Organization. It is responsible for 90,559 premature deaths in 2019, according to statistics compiled through the UN.
The country’s congested capital, Cairo, is the second largest in greenhouse fuel emissions, after the giant Zohr offshore fuel field, according to Climate TRACE.
The remaining 90% of Egypt’s territory is an uninhabitable desert. Making greater use of the vast expanse and coastline, the Abu Dhabi-based International Renewable Energy Agency said the North African country could generate more than a portion of its electricity from renewables by 2030.
Another is to take a look at the country’s sunburned landscape.
“People here have to look to the sun as a source of energy,” said Ahmed Mustafa, who runs one of the many logistics corporations new to the domain that works with Benban developers and engineers, offering them equipment.
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For residents, the solar farm has been transformative. Thousands of other people worked on the site when it was under construction, and many stayed on as technicians and cleaners once it became fully functional.
Ultimately, increasing wind and solar capacity will come down to what makes sense for the government, despite its expressions of clever intentions, according to el-Gendy.
“It wants to expand its renewable energy sector entirely in Egypt’s commercial interests,” he said.