Emirati independent power producer, AMEA Power, recently commissioned one of the largest solar PV plants in Africa, the 500MW Abydos Solar PV Plant located in the Aswan Governorate of Egypt. The solar facility was completed in 18 months, and is now feeding electricity to Egypt’s national grid.
The Abydos Solar PV Plant is expected to generate approximately 1,500 GWh of clean energy annually, enough to power approximately 300,000 households, while offsetting 782,300 tons of CO2 emissions.
The second phase of the project will see a 300MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) connected to the project. The BESS is going to be supplied by Trinasolar from its highly efficient Elementa 2 range. The project will pioneer the first-ever use of a utility-scale BESS solution in Egypt.
The Abydos solar project was financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), Dutch Entrepreneurial Development Bank (FMO), and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). An estimated 3000 jobs were created during the construction phase of the project.
“I am proud to announce that the 500MW Abydos Solar PV Plant is now fully operational – a landmark achievement that highlights the dedication of our team, the strength of collaboration, and the importance of empowering local communities,” said Hussain Al Nowais, Chairman of AMEA Power.
Abydos Solar PV Plant key to Egypt’s renewable energy targets
AMEA Power Chairman Hussain Al Nowais also highlighted that the solar power plant’s completion represents a significant step in Egypt’s renewable energy strategy, and supports the North African country’s goal of achieving 42% of energy generation from renewables by 2030.
Further to the commissioning of the project, AMEA Power also announced that it concluded a Power Purchase Agreement and Land Agreement with Egyptian authorities for an additional 500MW Wind Project.
The Abydos Solar PV Plant marks the growth of AMEA Power’s renewable energy portfolio in Egypt. The company was awarded a tender to construct a 1,000MW solar PV plant with a 600MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in September last year. The company is currently constructing the 500MW Amunet Wind Farm located in Ras Ghareb, the project is expected to be operational in the first quarter of this year.
