Lessons for Nigeria as Egypt launches €1bn Africa’s largest wind energy project

Ben Eguzozie

Big lessons now exist for Nigeria in renewable energy from Egypt’s upcoming €1 billion 1,100 MW wind energy project, which is Africa’s largest wind energy project, and is set to boost the North African country’s renewable energy capacity.

The project is in partnership with Meridiam, French infrastructure fund, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Hassan Allam Utilities and Saudi Arabia’s ACWA Power, to build a massive wind farm along the Gulf of Suez, which will help Egypt meets 42 percent of its renewable energy target by 2030.

With investment exceeding €1 billion, the plant will create a massive wind farm on two sites along the Gulf of Suez, aligning with Egypt’s renewable energy plans, which aims to increase the share of renewables in its energy mix from 11.5 percent to 42 percent by 2030.

Meanwhile, Nigeria, a country of more than 230 million people, despite having a moderate potential for wind power generation across the country, especially in the northern regions, currently generates an insignificant 3 MW wind energy capacity, with the majority of this capacity coming from the Katsina Wind Farm, which has a 10 MW installed capacity. This same amount was registered since 2014, according to data from Statista.

The companies for the Egyptian massive wind farm plan to start operations by 2027. The wind farm will operate for an estimated 25 years. EBRD will offer financial and technical backing, while ACWA Power and Hassan Allam Utilities will apply their expertise in energy infrastructure development.

Additionally, the project supports Egypt’s broader efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and modernize its electricity infrastructure. Egypt continues to make substantial progress in its renewable energy sector. The government has attracted substantial investments from international partners, accelerating its shift to cleaner energy solutions.

The partnership between Meridiam, EBRD, Hassan Allam Utilities, and ACWA Power marks a significant milestone in Africa’s renewable energy landscape. According to development experts, the partnership lays credence to collaboration between international investors and local companies to advance the continent’s renewable energy projects.

Egypt has recently launched other significant renewable projects. In December 2024, the North African country installed a 500 MW solar power plant in Aswan. Only last month (January 2025), Engie, a French energy company, expanded its wind farm in the Gulf of Suez, raising its capacity to 650 MW. These projects form part of Egypt’s strategy to tackle frequent electricity shortages, especially during the summer when demand peaks. The country continues to focus on upgrading its national grid and diversifying its energy sources to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The 1,100 MW wind farm will contribute significantly to Egypt’s growing renewable energy portfolio. The project aims to generate enough electricity to power hundreds of thousands of homes, helping Egypt meet its emission reduction goals.