The Egyptian State Authority for New & Renewable Energy (NREA) and the industrial consortium Dii today signed a memorandum of understanding to increase their collaboration, which will support local institutions to create renewable energy (RE) capacities and accelerate the dissemination of RE projects.
In the long term, their cooperation with stakeholders in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa (EUMENA) could provide an important impetus towards an integrated electricity market, with benefits for all actors involved.
The areas of collaboration will include exchange of information, in regard to, but not limited to, solar and wind resource analysis, power transmission and grid capacity and expansion, performance of RE generating technologies, legal frameworks, incentive instruments for private investments in RE in Egypt and the MENA Region, long-term opportunities for RE electricity transfers from Egypt to the EU and local support mechanisms for RE projects in Egypt.
By 2020 renewables should account for 20% of Egypt’s electricity production. Wind could play a central role in satisfying the fast-growing national electricity demand. By 2050 (see chart) Dii expects this to increase six-fold over that of 2010, to more than 800 Terawatt hours. Within the same period of time, the population could grow from over 80 million to more than 120 million.