Britain is reportedly considering a groundbreaking initiative to import electricity from solar farms and wind turbines in Egypt. A recent report by The Telegraph suggests that the details of this ambitious project, which involves the installation of subsea cables linking the North African nation to Europe through the Mediterranean, will be unveiled at an upcoming energy summit in London.
Carlos Diaz, Director of Renewables and Power at Rystad, an energy research and business intelligence firm organizing the EMEA Summit scheduled for this week, emphasized the surging European demand for low-carbon electricity in the coming years. He was quoted as saying, “Building infrastructure in Europe may never be sufficient, so we need to look at other sources.”
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The report highlights Egypt's potential as one of these alternative sources, with a series of massive solar farms either already in operation or under construction in the Egyptian deserts. Additionally, wind farms situated near the Suez Canal, renowned for its consistent and strong winds, add to Egypt's green energy credentials.
Collectively, these renewable energy projects have the capacity to generate approximately 10 gigawatts of power, roughly equivalent to the output of ten British power stations. Carlos Diaz further elaborated that around one-third of this electricity is slated for domestic use in Greece, while the remainder will be exported to the broader European market.
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Diaz expressed optimism about the feasibility of transmitting this electricity across Europe, emphasizing the robust existing grid network on the continent. This would enable the seamless distribution of power, reaching as far north as Northern Europe and the United Kingdom.
Egypt's commitment to renewable energy aligns with this initiative. In July, Egypt's Environment Minister Yasmine Fouad announced an accelerated timeline for the country's National Determined Contributions (NDC), targeting 42 percent of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030 instead of the previously planned 2035. Notably, Egypt is home to Africa's largest solar park, the Benban Solar Park near Aswan, which was launched in 2018 as part of the government's renewable energy strategy.
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This prospective collaboration between Britain and Egypt signifies a significant step toward enhancing energy security and promoting sustainable energy solutions on a global scale.
