Wind Energy in Egypt

Forward-thinking or overly ambitious? A plan to use the MENA region’s vast deserts to generate solar power for Europe is raising eyebrows.
By Jeff Neumann

It could be a savior or a half-trillion dollar bust, but if one group of scientists’ scheme works, patches of the Sahara Desert could supply at least 15% of Europe’s electricity needs in the next 30 years through solar energy. Stretching from Morocco to the Gulf to Turkey, a vast network of solar panels would power much of the continent and the MENA region at an estimated price tag of $560 billion. If nothing else, it is ambitious.

Read More:
Business Today - Egypt
http://www.businesstodayegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8680

The sun has the potential to power our lives if both public and private sectors can learn to see the light
By Zeinab Abul-Gheit

It was once unimaginable that solar energy could be the primary source of power in our homes, but as the government strives to encourage development of new communities in rural areas, it is making significant steps toward turning this dream into reality. Scientists at the National Research Center (NRC) are working on a diverse range of projects that may ultimately contribute to the emergence of a solar energy industry here.

A key requirement for continued development in remote, arid regions of the country is a supply of affordable energy for both domestic and commercial use. Since traditional grid electricity is currently unavailable in many of these regions — and is likely to remain so for quite a few years due to the lack of necessary infrastructure — solar energy is arguably the most suitable energy source for these areas, given their environmental conditions.

Read More:
Egypt Today - August 2009
http://www.egypttoday.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=8614

The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has decided in its meeting this week in Sharm El Shiekh that Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City will host its headquarters and that Hélène Pelosse will be the first director-general of the organization. Ms. Pelosse currently works in the office of the French Minister for Ecology, Energy, Sustainable Development, and Town and Country Planning.

Germany, Austria and Denmark also bid to host IRENA, but the United Arab Emirates (UAE) offered a $136 million grant over the next six years to support the agency. The German city of Bonn will, however, get to host the agency’s technology and innovation centre, while a liaison office in Vienna, Austria will coordinate cooperation with other relevant organisations. Masdar City is being planned as the world’s first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city, which will be powered entirely by renewable energy by the Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company. The project, which started in 2006, is estimated to cost $22 billion and take around eight years to build. Construction on the first phase is due to be completed next year.

For further information:
irena.org/
www.masdar.ae/en/home/index.aspx

Source: World Wind Energy Association
Date: 12 February 2009

Highlights of the World Wind Energy Report 2008:

· Worldwide capacity reaches 121 GW, out of which 27 GW were added in 2008.
· Wind energy continued its growth in 2008 at an increased rate of 29 %.
· All wind turbines installed by the end of 2008 worldwide are generating 260 TWh per annum, equalling more than 1.5 % of the global electricity consumption.
· The wind sector became a global job generator and has created 440,000 jobs worldwide.
· The wind sector represented in 2008 a turnover of 40 billion €.
· For the first time in more than a decade, the USA took over the number one position from Germany in terms of total installations.
· China continues its role as the most dynamic wind market in the year 2008, more than doubling the installations for the third time in a row, with today more than 12 GW of wind turbines installed.
· North America and Asia catch up in terms of new installations with Europe which shows stagnation.

Full Report: http://www.wwindea.org/home/images/stories/worldwindenergyreport2008_s.p...

A workshop for identification of Energy Research Priorities‏ will be held in Cairo, Egypt, on 23rd & 24th of March 2009. The workshop is organized by MIRA(Mediterranean Innovation and Research Coordination Action) Project (www.miraproject.eu) and the RDI (Research, Development and Innovation) Programme (www.rdi.eg.net) and in collaboration with the European Commission’s DG-RTD Energy Directorate.
The workshop will discuss and identify common Energy research priorities/topics for the Mediterranean Partner Countries and the EU Member States, in addition to the Industrial Initiative of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan). The workshop will focus on 4 topics: Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Energy Efficiency and the Industrial Initiative of the European Strategic Energy Technology Plan (SET-Plan).

MED-EMIP: Euro-Mediterranean Energy Market Integration Project

The overall objective of the project is to support the implementation of the Euro-Mediterranean Energy Partnership’s on key energy policy and industry issues. In conjunction with the activities of the MENA Regional Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), MED-EMIP will help both parties to address the challenges of securing energy supply, promoting sustainable development and giving a boost to the regional integration.

MED-EMIP Website: http://www.medemip.eu

On the occasion of the First Board of Trustees meeting of the Regional Centre of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (RCREEE), a round table dealing with topical issues in the field of renewable energies will be held on Feb 4, 2009.

The round table will bring together leading experts on renewable energies from the MENA region. It is intended to serve as a forum to exchange views on recent developments in the field of renewable energies.

The morning session is reserved for a discussion of recent developments relating to the Mediterranean Solar Plan and a position paper on the Use of EU Policy Initiatives to Promote RE-based Electricity Generation in MENA Countries.

In the afternoon, a round table discussion will bring together perspectives on the amendment of the regulatory framework for electricity production from renewable energy sources from across the MENA region. It hereby is intended to initiate a regional dialogue on how to best promote renewable energies, drawing on experiences from the region and integrating the perspective of the private sector.

By Abdel-Rahman Hussein

Due to the sophisticated nature of operating nuclear power, any Egyptian program is at least a decade away, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Mohamed ElBaradei said. “Nuclear power requires very sophisticated infrastructure. Right now, it will take [Egypt] 10 years to build it,” he added, speaking at a dinner held in his honor Tuesday by the British Egyptian Business Association.

“The agency is working with Egypt very closely to make sure that if Egypt were to start operating nuclear power, it has to start operating at higher safety and security and I underline particularly safety. As we know, the safety culture in Egypt is not one of our highest strengths,” he added.

Read More:
http://www.thedailynewsegypt.com/article.aspx?ArticleID=19691

The 19th Middle East & Africa Power & Energy Exhibition (ELECTRICX 2009) will be held in Cairo, Egypt, 12-15 December, 2009.

Opening hours
12 December 2009 Official opening 18:00 to 22:00(special invitation)
13 to 15 December, daily 10:30-20:00 (Registered visitors)

Location
The event is held at Halls 1-4, Cairo International Convention Center (CICC)

Website: http://www.electricx-egypt.com

The event is held at Halls 1-4, Cairo International Convention Center (CICC)

Opening hours
20 December 2008 (By invitation only)
21 to 23 December, daily 10:30-20:00

Address
Cairo International Convention Center (CICC)
Nasr Road
Nasr City
Egypt
+20 (2) 2263 4631
+20 (2) 2263 4640

Getting to CICC:
By car or taxi: 15 minutes from the Cairo International Airport or 40-50 minutes from Zamalek, Garden City, Giza, Zamalek and Mohandessin.

Website: http://www.electricx-egypt.com

Egypt based SWEG (El-Sewedy for Wind Energy Generation), a wind power subsidiary company of ELSEWEDY Cables, last August acquired a 30% share in Spain’s mTorres. The latter has already developed a novel direct drive 1.5-MW turbine that is now available in a 1.65-MW version with three different rotor diameters.

A larger 2.5-MW sister turbine model is under development, with a prototype planned for 2010. Part of SWEG’s ambitious wind power plan is to commence wind turbine manufacturing in Egypt. One 1.65-MW turbine as part of a special project will be erected at a demanding Red Sea desert location, explained SWEG managing director Faisal Elssa: “Egypt’s New & Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) will conduct a comprehensive turbine duration testing program. These tests especially focuses at the (air-cooled) generator extreme temperature behavior and turbine built-in capabilities to cope with continuous exposure to fine sand dust particles,” he said.

Read More:
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/05/wind-turbin...

Source: STEELGURU
Date: 1 November 2009

MEED reported that Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company has short listed developers for a 250 MW wind farm project and will announce which companies it has prequalified in early November. About 90 companies bought prequalification documents and 34 companies applied to prequalify for the scheme. It will be the country’s first private wind farm. The prequalified bidders will take a year to carry out a study of the site. This includes wind measurements, environmental impact assessments and soil testing, either individually or as part of a group of bidders. In parallel to its search for a developer, EETC is now evaluating bids for a consultancy services contract on the project. A total of 18 companies have bid for the work.

Mr Hafez el Salmawy MD of the Egyptian Electric Utility & Consumer Protection Regulatory Agency said that “They will make an award very soon.” He said that “The consultant will prepare the request for proposals which EETC will send to the prequalified developers. The winning consultant will also draft an agreement for EETC to buy the power produced by the wind farm and help the utility select a developer to build the farm. The winning developer will build, own and operate the farm on the Gulf of Suez between Zafarana and Hurghada.” He added that EETC will buy the output of the wind farm under a 20 year to 25 year power purchase agreement. The farm is due to begin producing electricity in late 2013 or early 2014.

CAIRO, May 18 (Reuters) - A total of 26 international companies have expressed interest in a tender to build a 250-megawatt wind farm on Egypt's east coast, state news agency MENA said on Monday. The companies have all asked to buy the booklet of conditions for the tender, the agency said, without naming them.

Egypt announced the tender for the wind farm on a build-operate-own (BOO) basis on May 9. Firms were invited to submit qualification documents by July 21 for short-listing. The project developer would be required to design, finance, construct, own and operate the power plant for 20 to 25 years, and would sell the power produced during that period to the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company.