Egypt to connect 500MW solar project to national grid in May

Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Essmat, announced that the second phase of the Obelisk solar power project in Nagaa Hammadi, with a capacity of 500MW, will be connected to the national electricity grid in May 2026, according to a statement cited by Al Borsa on April 21. 

The announcement came during a meeting with a delegation from Norwegian company Scatec (OSE:SCATC), which is implementing solar and wind energy projects in Egypt with a combined capacity of 3,100MW. The company is also working on energy storage battery projects with a total capacity of 4,000 MWh across the Red Sea, Qena, Minya, and Alexandria governorates.

Scatec is a leading Norwegian renewable energy solutions provider that develops, builds, owns, and operates solar, wind, and hydropower plants, as well as storage solutions, across emerging markets globally.

The meeting also covered the 900MW wind energy project at Ras Shuqayr, expected to connect to the grid in 2027, and a 1,700MW solar project in Minya. In addition, the discussion included the development of connected and standalone energy storage stations in Minya, Alexandria, and Qena, with a total capacity of 4,000 MW.

The meeting reviewed the progress of the planned energy storage battery factory, scheduled to start production by the end of 2027 with an investment of $1.8bn. The projects are being carried out in partnership with the private sector and are integral to Egypt's sustainable development goals, according to the minister.

The meeting also addressed ways to accelerate project implementation, resolve challenges, and meet grid connection timelines, ensuring the stability and flexibility of the national grid while providing clean energy to industrial areas like Wadi El Sereya.