Egypt targets an increase in its electricity generation capacity to 55 gigawatts (GW) by 2020, Adel Khalil, coordinator of Egyptian Renewable Energy Cluster Initiative (ERECI) RDI project, said Thursday.
Speaking at the 9th Mediterranean Week of Economic Leaders in Barcelona, Khalil stated that Egypt, which has had a six percent growth rate in 2014, aims to increase its share of renewables to 20 percent by 2022 particularly in solar energy to meet this target.
Khalil stressed the solar energy potential in the country as 'the sunshine duration ranges between 9 to 11 hours per day in Egypt.'
'Direct normal irradiation ranges between 2,000 kilowatt-hours per square meter annually in the north of Egypt, while this amount is around 3,200 kilowatt-hours per square meter per annum in the south of Egypt,' he said.
Currently, the total installed capacity of renewable energy amounts to 750 megawatts (MW) in Egypt, while more than 400 MW of is under construction, Khalil said.
He added that around $500 million was invested for renewable energy during the first two quarters 2015, and noted that more than $1.3 billion was made in total investments for renewable energy in Egypt to date.
By Ovunc Kutlu in Barcelona
Anadolu Agency
ovunc.kutlu@aa.com.tr