- Engie finished Egypt’s 650MW Red Sea Wind Energy project four months ahead of schedule, supplying power to over one million homes.
- The firm plans to scale renewables in the MENA region, focusing on wind, solar, and hybrid projects to meet its 2030 goal of 95GW installed capacity.
French utility Engie has finished construction of Africa’s largest wind farm in Egypt four months ahead of schedule, stepping up its focus on renewable energy growth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
The 650 megawatt (MW) Red Sea Wind Energy project can supply power to more than one million households annually. It arrives at a critical time for Egypt, which now spends billions on liquefied natural gas to address electricity shortages, making it a net gas importer for the first time in 2023.
“This renewable energy is cheaper than burning gas or other fossil fuels. It helps Egypt burn less gas and import less or export more,” said François Xavier Boul, Engie’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa.
Meanwhile, as regulatory delays stall renewable energy growth in Europe and U.S. offshore wind leasing remains frozen, Engie is shifting focus to the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to meet its 2030 target of 95GW in installed renewable capacity, up from 51GW today.
According to Boul, strong economic growth, rising energy demand, streamlined permitting, and short lead times make investments attractive to countries like Egypt, Morocco, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia. Engie plans to pursue tenders in these markets aggressively.
Furthermore, the Red Sea Wind project marks Engie’s second wind installation in Egypt, with a third site under development that will exceed 900MW. Engie recently signed a preliminary agreement with phosphate giant OCP in Morocco to explore green hydrogen, ammonia, and renewable energy projects starting in 2026.
In the near and medium term, Engie will prioritise solar, wind, battery storage, and hybrid projects across the MENA region.
Engie owns 35% of the Red Sea Wind Energy project, with Orascom Construction PLC holding 25%, Japan’s Toyota Tsusho Corporation and Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation sharing 40%.