AMEA Power has announced the commissioning of Africa's largest wind farm, located in Egypt
The 500MW wind power plant, in Ras Ghareb in the Red Sea Governorate, becomes the biggest operational wind farm in the whole of Africa, and solidifies Egypt’s position as a leading light in the continent’s renewable energy transition.
The milestone follows the recent commissioning in November 2024 of AMEA Power’s 500MW solar PV plant in Aswan, bringing the company’s total commissioned capacity in Egypt to 1 gigawatt (GW) within just six months.
The company said in a statement that the rapid deployment marks a significant achievement in scaling up clean and reliable energy on the continent.
“The commissioning of the 500MW wind power plant in the Red Sea Governorate, marks a significant milestone for AMEA Power, and for Egypt," said Hussain Al Nowais, chairman of AMEA Power.
"Bringing 1GW of clean energy online in such a short period is a tremendous achievement and a reflection of our deep commitment to delivering impactful renewable energy solutions.”
The newest project, the Amunet wind power plant, is a joint venture between AMEA Power (60%) and Sumitomo Corporation (40%).
It is expected to generate approximately 2,500 GWh of clean electricity annually, enough to power more than 500,000 homes, while offsetting 1.4 million tons of CO₂ emissions each year.
The project was completed 2.5 months ahead of schedule, underlining AMEA Power’s ability to execute complex renewable energy projects with speed and precision.
The construction phase also delivered substantial local economic benefits, employing over 800 workers at peak.
Financing was provided by a consortium of international institutions, including the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), International Finance Corporation (IFC), Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank, and Standard Chartered Bank.
The commercial tranche of the financing was backed by insurance from Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI), with additional working capital support from the Commercial International Bank of Egypt.
“This is the future of power generation in Africa – clean, inclusive, and tranformational,” added Al Nowais.
AMEA Power’s extensive portfolio in Egypt also includes 1,000MW of solar PV with a 600MWh battery energy storage system (BESS) in Aswan Governorate, an additional 500MW wind project in Red Sea Governorate, and an extension of the 500MW solar PV plant with a 300MWh BESS in Aswan Governorate.
It also has two other BESS projects in its Egyptian portfolio, including a 500MWh BESS project in Zarfana and a 1,000MWh BESS project in Benban.
The company is similarly active across the continent, with multiple projects spanning all corners of Africa.
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Africa's largest wind farm comes on stream
Africa's largest wind farm. (Image credit: AMEA Power)
