High wind speeds make the most of turbine performance

 

Wind power offers Egypt both an economic source of renewable electricity and the potential for employment in the assembly , installation of wind turbines and the operation of the wind farms.

 

The wind resource in the area beside the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea is among the best in the world, allowing high load factors  in the operation of the turbines. The steady high wind speeds mean that wind power is economically competitive with other energy sources.

 

The German government in particular has been working with the Egyptian National Renewable Energy Agency in order to develop the economic and employment potential of wind power in Egypt. This has included an examination of how the Operations and Maintenance work at Zafarana and other wind farms can be sub-contracted to the private sector as well as training for wind park technicians.

 

Germany has been closely involved in establishing the recently opened Regional Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in Cairo, one of whose main aims is to encourage technology transfer.

 

In 2008, the first Egyptian company announced a major investment in the wind power sector through a joint venture with a German wind turbine tower manufacturer and the acquisition of a 30% share in a Spanish turbine maker