ENGIE fully commissions largest wind farm in Africa

ENGIE has officially announced the full commissioning of the Red Sea Wind Energy wind farm in Ras Ghareb, Egypt. With a total installed capacity of 650 MW, it now stands as the largest operational wind farm in the Middle East and Africa

This significant milestone follows the completion of a 150MW expansion, delivered four months ahead of schedule. The expansion increased the total capacity from 500MW to 650MW. The project progressed through several commissioning phases: 306MW came online in December 2024, followed by 194MW in April 2025, and the final 150MW in June 2025. Initially slated for the third quarter of 2025, the grid connection of the entire 650MW capacity was successfully achieved by June 2025.

The Red Sea Wind Energy project is also notable for its health and safety standards, having completed 7 million hours of work without a lost time injury. Once fully operational, the wind farm is expected to supply renewable electricity to over one million homes, reducing carbon emissions by approximately 1.3 million tons annually.

A 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) has been signed with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company (EETC), ensuring long-term revenue stability for the project.

The development was led by the Red Sea Wind Energy consortium, comprising ENGIE (35%), Orascom Construction PLC (25%), Toyota Tsusho Corporation (20%), and Eurus Energy Holdings Corporation (20%). Financing was arranged through the Japan Bank for International Corporation (JBIC), with coordination from Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, the Norinchukin Bank, Société Générale S.A, under a Nippon Export and Investment Insurance (NEXI) cover, and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Paulo Almirante, ENGIE executive vice-president in charge of renewable & flexible power, stated, "This achievement demonstrates our Group's industrial performance and our ability to develop large-scale renewable projects in record time. It also illustrates the strength of our consortium and its contribution to decarbonizing Egypt's energy mix. With the commissioning of Red Sea Wind Energy, ENGIE now operates nearly 1GW of wind power capacity in Egypt, consolidating our position as a leader in the renewable energy sector in Africa and the Middle East."

ENGIE is also advancing plans for a new wind farm exceeding 900 MW near the Red Sea Wind Energy site, continuing its development efforts with the same consortium.

Also read: JUWI, JA Solar power South Africa’s transition