ENGIE has announced the full commissioning of the Red Sea Wind Energy wind farm located in Ras Ghareb, Egypt, bringing its total installed capacity to 650 megawatts (MW). This makes the project the largest operational wind farm to date in the Middle East and Africa, completed four months ahead of schedule. The latest extension phase of 150 MW allowed the farm to reach its current total capacity. Over the past six months, three successive phases have gradually connected the facility to the national grid.
A major project with several key stakeholders
The consortium behind the project is owned 35% by ENGIE, 25% by Orascom Construction PLC, 20% by Toyota Tsusho Corporation, and 20% by Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation. Financing was provided by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) in cooperation with Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Norinchukin Bank, and Société Générale S.A., also benefiting from coverage by Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI). The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) also participated in financing the project.
According to ENGIE’s statement, the Red Sea Wind Energy farm now supplies enough electricity to power over one million homes. This project has been subject to a 25-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) signed with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), ensuring long-term revenues for the facility.
Industrial performance and exemplary safety
Construction of the wind farm was completed without significant incidents, accumulating seven million working hours without any recorded accidents. This achievement was highlighted by ENGIE, emphasising the importance of safety measures throughout the construction period. The project is expected to achieve an annual reduction of carbon emissions estimated at 1.3 million tonnes, according to calculations provided by the company.
Paulo Almirante, ENGIE’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Renewable & Flexible Power activities, stated: “This achievement demonstrates our group’s industrial performance and our ability to deliver large-scale renewable projects in record time. It also illustrates the strength of our consortium and its contribution to the decarbonisation of Egypt’s energy mix.”
Development of a neighbouring new wind project
ENGIE indicated that another wind project with a capacity exceeding 900 MW is currently under development. It is located on a site adjacent to the existing Red Sea Wind Energy farm and will be undertaken by the same consortium partners. This new infrastructure is part of ENGIE’s growth strategy in the Middle East and Africa, where the group now operates nearly 1 gigawatt (GW) of wind energy capacity in Egypt.
