Mediterranean Action Plan

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ENERGY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
capacity and an isolated 55 kW wind turbine project for ice making south of the Red Sea
where such projects main objective was to test the applicability of wind projects in Egypt
along with another very important objective which is to train NREA engineers and technician
in wind technology. It worthwhile stressing that know-how and technology transfer along with
training and capacity building have been always key elements permeating all phases of wind
projects development activities.
In the early 1990s a demonstration and semi commercial wind power plant project was
concluded between NREA and UNIDO to support wind technology transfer which started by
establishing a 400 kW wind farm in Hurghada consisting of 4 units each 100 kW partially
locally manufactured in Egypt at about 50%, where the farm started operation in February
1992.
Along with the progress of wind resource assessment and the successful operation of wind
farms, the first commercial wind power generation project started in Hurghada to support the
local grid in 3 phases including:
1) Establishing a 1 MW wind farm utilizing new technology of variable pitch wind turbines of
100 kW with financial support of Germany.
2) Establishing a 2 MW wind farm utilizing 3 blades wind turbines of 100 kW partially locally
manufactured for about 50%, which started operation in August 1994.
3) Establishing a 1.8 MW wind farm consisting of 6 units each 300 kW also partially locally
manufactured with the financial support of Denmark through a grand, where the project
started operation in June 1995.
The overall installed capacity of Hurghada commercial wind farm reached 5 MW including 38
wind turbine units of different technologies and support by a Wind Technology Center
established in Hurghada through the financial support of Denmark to act as research, testing
and training center contributing to technology transfer.
The considerable success of such activities has resulted in Egypt crossing the stage of
demonstration and small scale wind power projects to large scale commercial wind power
project connected to the national grid which started by installing Zafarana (1) wind power
plant of 30 MW in cooperation with Denmark and also elaborating the present wind power
plan as indicated in part 2.
4. Proposals for more sustainable energy development
4.1 Sum mary o f unde r expl oi ted RUE and RE
Generic overview
The energy sector is still playing a vital role in Egypt's economy. However, the Egyptian
government currently faces a real challenge to make a strategic choice between satisfying
the ever increasing national primary energy demand (depending by more than 94% on oil
and gas) that is being offered to end-users with subsidized prices, and maintaining a certain
level of hard currency revenues from oil and gas exports at world prices, even with a growing
risk of accelerated depletion rates of national proven reserves. As it has been discussed
earlier, different scenarios expect that if current practices in the energy sector will continue
as it is, Egypt will become a net oil importer during the near future which would increase the
share of NG in the energy supply local matrix in addition to binding existing commitments of
long term export contracts that would rather increase and accelerate reserves depletion rate.
This tendency if continues should certainly lead to a non sustainable energy future that the
government and citizens should work hand in hand from now to avoid its occurrence.
Being aware of this fact, Egypt's energy strategic framework has adopted RE and RUE as
policy options within the strategies of main organizations of the energy sector. RE received
more attention and reached a reasonable level of exploitation as a specific ministry (MOEE)
has abided by its responsibility and created a dedicated organization (NREA) for the
development of RE national strategy and bearing the duty of its implementation. However,
RUE has not yet got its sponsor "godfather" who would develop a relevant national strategy,
set quantifiable objectives, propos or develop tools and legislations, monitor and follow up