Egypt to connect 500MW Obelisk solar phase two to national grid within weeks, says minister

The second phase of the Obelisk solar project in Egypt’s Nag Hammadi, with a capacity of 500MW, will be connected to the Egyptian national grid within the coming weeks, Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Ismat, said in a statement, quoted by Al Ahram on June 7. 

The project is part of the ministry's plan to bring new renewable energy capacity online ahead of this summer. The announcement came during a meeting with a delegation from Norwegian firm Scatec (OSE:SCATC) to review progress on the project's first phase, a 500MW solar plant paired with a 200MW/h energy storage facility, both of which were connected to the grid earlier this year.

Scatec's broader portfolio in Egypt spans solar and wind projects totalling 3,100MW in capacity, alongside battery storage projects with a combined capacity of 4,000MW/h across the Red Sea, Qena, Minya, and Alexandria governorates.

Both sides discussed accelerating the execution of ongoing projects, most notably a 900MW wind energy project at Ras Shukair, due for grid connection in 2027, and a 1,700MW solar project in Minya. Plans for additional connected and standalone energy storage stations across Minya, Alexandria, and Qena were also reviewed. The meeting further addressed progress on a battery storage manufacturing facility, which Scatec aims to complete next year at a total investment of $1.8bn. Ismat noted the importance of adhering to project timelines, in line with Egypt's strategy to expand renewable energy and reduce dependence on conventional fuels.

Egypt plans to integrate 2,500MW of new renewable energy capacity into its national grid over the course of 2026, advancing its updated national strategy to have solar, wind, and green hydrogen account for at least 42% of the country's energy mix by 2030.