The African continent has seen its role in combating climate change shifting as more nations develop new and pioneering renewable energy projects. One such nation that is leading the charge in the renewable energy drive is Egypt. The iconic nation has outlined plans to commission a new 2 GW wind project this year as part of a broader initiative to increase renewable energy production and set the nation up to become a regional leader in the market. Egypt’s proclivity and positive sentiment toward the renewable energy market are fostering investments in the sector that are reaching new heights in 2026.
Egypt’s renewable energy ambitions have finally reached a tipping point
The Egyptian government has noted its plan to commission a new wind power facility in 2026. The planned 2 GW project is being developed by ACWA Power, a regional leader in the wind power market, and could position Egypt to become a regional leader in the successful adoption of the renewable energy sector.
ACWA Power has signed a long-term, 25-year power purchase agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company to build the astonishing 2 GW wind project at an estimated $2.3 billion price tag. The plan is for the facility to come online this year, increasing Egypt’s renewable energy portfolio to meet its clean energy and emission targets agreed upon at the Paris Summit in 2016.
The new wind farm will be Egypt’s largest wind project to date, surpassing a previous facility
The all-new wind project will surpass the 1.1 GW Suez facility, making it the largest wind project in the nation to date. The Egyptian government has detailed plans to target 43% renewables by the end of the decade, and with the astonishing new wind farm, it is one step closer to reaching its goal of increased renewable energy production, marking a new era for the African continent.
Another important milestone has been reached in Egypt’s wind power ambitions
Engie, a market leader in the renewable energy sector, has announced the full commissioning of the Red Sea Wind Energy wind farm, which is the largest operational wind farm in the Middle East and Africa. Africa’s energy sector has been the focus of several new investments in recent months.
The new milestone has been achieved way ahead of schedule, four months in fact, as the nation expected the project to only come online late in 2025. The Red Sea wind farm will provide approximately one million homes in the region with renewable, clean energy that can be used for everyday life, not to mention it will assist in reducing carbon emissions by approximately 1.3 million tons annually.
“This achievement demonstrates our Group’s industrial performance and our ability to develop large-scale renewable projects in record time. It also illustrates the strength of our consortium and its contribution to decarbonizing Egypt’s energy mix. With the commissioning of Red Sea Wind Energy, ENGIE now operates nearly 1 GW of wind power capacity in Egypt, consolidating our position as a leader in the renewable energy sector in Africa and the Middle East.” – Paulo Almirante, ENGIE Executive Vice President in charge of Renewable & Flexible Power
The wind power sector is finally reaching its full potential around the world
The African embrace of the wind power sector is commendable, but the rest of the world is also jumping on board the wind power train, with SSE Renewables greenlighting several new wind projects in Spain and Italy, pointing to a wider embrace of the sector around the world. Egypt’s sentiment for the renewable energy sector has become clear, with 2026 set to be a landmark year for the African nation’s renewable ambitions. Love it or hate it, wind power is growing, and the world will be better off for it.
