On the edge of the vast Egyptian desert, a land that will be covered with white windmills in the future is becoming the focus of attention for global renewable energy giants. Recently, the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company officially released the pre qualification invitation letter for the "West Suhag 1000MW Wind Power Project", issuing a green call to the scorching sun and sandstorms in North Africa. This mega onshore wind farm with a planned installed capacity of 1 gigawatt is not only a key milestone for Egypt to achieve its 2030 renewable energy goals, but also a barometer for the influx of international capital and technology into the African energy market.

Gigawatt wind power

The project is located in Egypt, equivalent to 150 to 200 modern onshore wind turbines operating simultaneously, with an annual power generation capacity that can meet the needs of hundreds of thousands of households. Egypt plans to increase the proportion of renewable energy to 42% by 2030, and this project is a core component of its energy strategy. In recent years, Egypt has promoted multiple large-scale wind and photovoltaic projects and collaborated with companies such as Siemens Gamesa to develop a 500MW wind power project in the Gulf of Suez. The launch of the West Suhag project marks the transition of Egypt's green energy layout from a blueprint to large-scale implementation.

BOO mode

The project adopts the "build own operate" model, and the winning bidder will be responsible for the entire cycle of financing, design, construction, operation and maintenance, and recover investment through electricity sales. The pre qualification stage aims to screen developers with financial strength, technical experience, and performance to form a shortlist for bidding. Global enterprises can participate in a single or consortium form, and must submit application documents and pay $500 to obtain pre-approval materials before March 1, 2026. The Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company, as the tenderer and purchaser, will lead the evaluation process.

Opportunities in China

For Chinese enterprises, the project is a major opportunity to participate in the the Belt and Road energy cooperation and expand the North African market. The high temperature and sandstorm climate in Egypt requires extremely high reliability of wind turbines, and Chinese companies have advantages in adaptive technology and cost control. Participants need to conduct in-depth research on Egyptian policies, power grid conditions, and project details, and prepare financial certificates, performance records, and other materials in advance. The success of the project not only promotes Egypt's energy security, but also provides a new pivot for China's wind power industry chain to go global.

At present, the West Suhag project has entered the pre qualification sprint stage. The developer needs to contact the Egyptian Electricity Transmission Company as soon as possible to obtain documents, conduct due diligence, and pave the way for bidding. This gigawatt wind farm, standing tall in the wind and sand of the future, will not only be a symbol of Egypt's energy transition, but may also become a new model for global renewable energy cooperation.Editor/Yang Meiling