Scatec Egypt, Benban Solar Plants

Benban, Egypt

Africa50-Project Finance

Scatec Egypt is a 400 MWDC portfolio of six utility scale solar power plants, developed under Round 2 of the Egyptian feed-in tariff (FiT) program. The plants are part of the 1.5 GW Benban solar park, which is one of the largest in the world. The power is sold to the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company under a 25-year power purchase agreement.

The Benban’s links to the infrastructure of the Aswan Dam will help combine hydro, wind, and solar power.

Impact

Development

• The plants are expected to increase Egypt’s generation capacity, helping to address growing demand.
• They are also expected to contribute to reducing dependence on imported oil and gas, thereby improving the country’s energy security.
• Africa50’s six projects created about 1,000 construction jobs (out of the 4,500 jobs created for all 41 plants at the Benban site) and a quarter of the 250 permanent operations jobs.

Environment

• The production of 870 GWh per year of clean energy are expected to avoid 350,000 tons of CO2 emissions, enabling Egypt to meet its climate commitments. In 2020, Scatec Egypt avoided over 537,000 tCO2 emissions.

Employment

• Africa50’s six projects created about 1,000 construction jobs (out of the 4,500 jobs created for all 41 plants at the Benban site) and a quarter of the 250 permanent operations jobs.