Scatec Solar Brings First Part of 400 MW Solar Plant in Egypt Online

Norway-based Scatec Solar has announced that it has grid-connected and reached commercial operation for 65 MW of its 400 MW Benban project in Egypt.

The Benban solar power plant is Scatec Solar’s largest project under construction, and the company is the largest contributor to the 1.5 GW Benban site – the world’s largest solar park.

“We have been a pioneer in Egypt since 2013 and have worked closely with the Government to support the implementation of large-scale solar to increase the country’s share of renewable energy. Grid connecting our first solar power plant marks a major milestone for us. This is also our first power plant with bi-facial solar panels, capturing the sun from both sides of the panels to increase the total clean energy generation”, said Raymond Carlsen, CEO of Scatec Solar.

In April 2017, the firm with its partners KLP Norfund and Africa 50 signed a 25-year Power Purchase Agreements (PPA) with the Government of Egypt for delivery of electricity from six solar plants, equal in size, totaling 400 MW.

The estimated annual 870 GWh of electricity produced from the 400 MW installations in Benban will avoid about 350,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year and provide energy for more than 420,000 households in Egypt. Scatec Solar expects to have completed all six power plants during the second half of 2019.

Scatec Solar is an integrated independent solar power producer and has a total of 1.7 GW in operation and under construction in Argentina, Brazil, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Honduras, Jordan, Malaysia, Mozambique, Rwanda, South Africa and Ukraine. With an established global presence and a significant project pipeline, the company is targeting a capacity of 3.5 GW in operation and under construction by the end of 2021.

The Benban Solar Park will produce enough electricity to power one million homes. But more importantly for Egypt, is this whole new strategy for infrastructure projects that will enable the government to work with private enterprises.

The park is expected to go live this year, and on completion, it will house 32 power stations across the 37 sq. km. site and will be able to generate close to 1,650 MW of electricity. Going a long way towards Egypt hitting its goal of having 20 percent of its energy needs met by renewables.