Egypt's New and Renewable Energy Authority (NREA) targets boosting renewable energy contribution to national energy mix by around 20 percent by 2020 with the capacity of 9,000 MW. Speaking to Amwal Al Ghad Saturday NREA Chairman Mohamed Salah El Sobky stated that the mix is set to include 12 percent of wind power, around 4-5 percent of water power, in addition to 3-4 percent of solar power. He clarified that the authority works to achieve this increase by issuing more new renewable energy projects. The official added that Egypt is currently generating 750 MW through wind power and 2,800 MW by water power, thus the total capacity of renewable energy -after the 20 percent increase- is set to reach 12,000-13,000 MW by 2022. El Sobky added that solar power projects are divided into two major technologies; photovoltaics (PV) and concentrated solar power (CSP). Hence, NREA and electricity ministry support depending on latest global technologies and techniques in alternative energy industry to hike efficiency of power plants being executed currently. The chairman noted that the government is currently executing a massive number of projects in fields of solar and power energies mostly in Suez Gulf region. NREA is set to finalise a number of MoUs that have been signed recently with a number of international energy firms and start implementing them within the coming period to boost efficiency of national electricity grid as well as power plants capacities, chairman El Sobky pointed out.
