8 Renewable Energy Development in Egypt and Transitioning …
267
used to fuel electric power plants while renewable energy share is still
minor.
4 As per the said report, the primary energy consumption in
Egypt in 2018 was 94.5 Million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe).
5
Such value comprises of 36.7 mtoe from Oil, 51.2 mtoe from Natural
Gas, 2.8 mtoe from Coal, 3.1 mtoe from Hydroelectricity and 8 mtoe
from Renewables. Moreover, the Egyptian electricity sector is the largest
gas consumer, where natural gas consumption reached 1359 BSCF
(3723.3MMSCFD), representing 62.3% of total local gas consumption.
As can be discerned from the above-mentioned statistics, the Egyptian Energy sector depends principally on fossil fuel as the main source
of primary energy in the country. Nevertheless, Egypt enjoys exceptional
conditions to produce renewable energies, especially wind and solar.
The country is in the Sun Belt where it enjoys up to 9 hours of radiation. Furthermore, it has excellent wind conditions. Moreover, reducing
carbon footprint and coping with the environmental standards became
a priority considering that Egypt has recently deposited the instrument
of ratification of the 2015 Paris Agreement. In this respect, the Egyptian Government has been trying to diversify the energy mix to make
the best out of the country’s massive potential to produce energy from
clean and renewable resources, with around 94% of the current primary
energy consumption coming from fossil fuels.
6
To this end, the country firmly displayed some decisive measures to
further patch-up the energy sector paving the way to diversify energy
sources to satisfy the local market needs and reduce carbon footprint.
This is most likely disclosed under the pillars of the new energy strategy
set by the Egyptian Supreme Energy Council including diversifying
energy resources and improving energy efficiency in addition to encouraging private sector investment in the Egyptian energy sector. Efforts to
diversify the energy sector by increasing the share of renewable energy
4 EGAS Annual Report for the Fiscal Year 2018/2019, available at https://www.egas.com.eg/ann
ual-reports/2019, accessed 19/3/2020.
See as well, BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2019, available at https://www.bp.com/
content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy-economics/statistical-review/bpstats-review-2019-full-report.pdf, accessed 19/3/2020.
5 Ibid.
6 “Renewable Energy Outlook Egypt”, IRENA and NREA, 2018, P. 9.
267
used to fuel electric power plants while renewable energy share is still
minor.
4 As per the said report, the primary energy consumption in
Egypt in 2018 was 94.5 Million tonnes of oil equivalent (Mtoe).
5
Such value comprises of 36.7 mtoe from Oil, 51.2 mtoe from Natural
Gas, 2.8 mtoe from Coal, 3.1 mtoe from Hydroelectricity and 8 mtoe
from Renewables. Moreover, the Egyptian electricity sector is the largest
gas consumer, where natural gas consumption reached 1359 BSCF
(3723.3MMSCFD), representing 62.3% of total local gas consumption.
As can be discerned from the above-mentioned statistics, the Egyptian Energy sector depends principally on fossil fuel as the main source
of primary energy in the country. Nevertheless, Egypt enjoys exceptional
conditions to produce renewable energies, especially wind and solar.
The country is in the Sun Belt where it enjoys up to 9 hours of radiation. Furthermore, it has excellent wind conditions. Moreover, reducing
carbon footprint and coping with the environmental standards became
a priority considering that Egypt has recently deposited the instrument
of ratification of the 2015 Paris Agreement. In this respect, the Egyptian Government has been trying to diversify the energy mix to make
the best out of the country’s massive potential to produce energy from
clean and renewable resources, with around 94% of the current primary
energy consumption coming from fossil fuels.
6
To this end, the country firmly displayed some decisive measures to
further patch-up the energy sector paving the way to diversify energy
sources to satisfy the local market needs and reduce carbon footprint.
This is most likely disclosed under the pillars of the new energy strategy
set by the Egyptian Supreme Energy Council including diversifying
energy resources and improving energy efficiency in addition to encouraging private sector investment in the Egyptian energy sector. Efforts to
diversify the energy sector by increasing the share of renewable energy
4 EGAS Annual Report for the Fiscal Year 2018/2019, available at https://www.egas.com.eg/ann
ual-reports/2019, accessed 19/3/2020.
See as well, BP Statistical Review of World Energy 2019, available at https://www.bp.com/
content/dam/bp/business-sites/en/global/corporate/pdfs/energy-economics/statistical-review/bpstats-review-2019-full-report.pdf, accessed 19/3/2020.
5 Ibid.
6 “Renewable Energy Outlook Egypt”, IRENA and NREA, 2018, P. 9.