- 1 GW solar plant paired with 600 MWh battery storage strengthens grid reliability.
- US$700 million investment backed by IFC and global lenders.
- Project to supply over 500,000 homes and cut up to 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
Egypt has reached a major milestone in utility scale renewable energy with the energisation start of the Abydos 2 solar and battery project at Benban Solar Park in Aswan. The facility, combining 1 GW of solar PV capacity with 600 MWh of battery storage, signals a shift toward dispatchable clean power designed to meet peak demand and support grid stability.
Developed by AMEA Power in partnership with Kyuden International Corporation, the project is being delivered under a power purchase agreement with the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, with land allocated by the New and Renewable Energy Authority. The total investment exceeds US$700 million, with around US$570 million in senior debt led by the International Finance Corporation and supported by a group of international financiers.
The integration of large scale solar generation with battery storage allows the plant to manage intermittency and deliver electricity when it is most needed. This approach reflects a broader transition in Africa’s energy sector from variable renewable output to reliable, grid ready infrastructure.
The project has been engineered to operate in high temperature and dust intensive conditions typical of Upper Egypt. Systems across the solar array, battery storage and substation have been designed to maintain performance and safety under extreme environmental stress. Independent technical oversight was provided by DNV, acting as Owner’s Engineer through design review, construction supervision and commissioning.
Once fully operational, Abydos 2 is expected to generate between 3,000 GWh and 3,100 GWh of electricity each year. This output will be sufficient to power more than 500,000 households while reducing emissions by up to 1.6 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
