Egypt seeks to increase renewable energy contribution by 42% by 2035

Egypt is undertaking a range of measures to hit its renewable power targets by 2035 with the support of regional and international bodies.

Egypt is seeking to increase the contribution of renewable power to its grid by 42% by 2035. The government has taken several steps to achieve its goals, including the creation of its Integrated Sustainable Energy Strategy 2035, and the National Climate Change Strategy 2050. The two strategies are designed to drive adaptation and mitigation efforts across the Egyptian power industry.

Egypt taking action

The target figure was recently announced by Minister of International Cooperation, Rania El-Mashat during a roundtable discussion held under the theme Progress Shaping an Africa-Led Just Energy Transition. The roundtable was organized by Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL) at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the event gathered together ministers from other African states, including Nigeria, Rwanda, and Senegal.

El-Mashat added that Egypt has also unveiled its nationally determined contribution (NDCs) and low-emission economic growth targets, while boosting resilience to climate change and pushing the continent’s green agenda in line with the UN Climate Change Conference (COP27), which the country is set to host in early November.

El-Mashat stated that Egypt was taking steps to accelerate the implementation of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of sustainable energy and climate action.

September’s Egypt-International Cooperation Forum

Egypt’s Ministry of International Cooperation, the ministries of foreign affairs, finance, and environment, as well as the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, organized the second edition of the Egypt-International Cooperation Forum (Egypt-ICF) earlier in September. More than 23 African governments participated in Egypt-ICF forum, which witnessed nearly 20 discussion sessions, workshops and roundtables.

Egypt’s longstanding target, set in 2016, is to produce 20% of electricity from renewables in 2022 and 42% by 2035 when solar would provide 27%, wind 14%, and hydropower 2%, according to an August 2022 report by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report claimed that Egypt could generate 53% of its electricity from renewable sources by 2030.

Ongoing green investments

The Egyptian government recently announced that it expects investments in green energy to reach USD 8 billion in 2022. Key sectors for investment have been the production of renewable energy centered on wind and solar and the production of green hydrogen.