Infinity Power Holding has announced that the solar photovoltaic plant it has developed in Sharm El Sheikh is now fully operational, and providing renewable energy to COP27, the United Nations Climate Change Conference that is taking place in the Egyptian city.
The firm is a joint venture (JV) between Abu Dhabi-based Masdar and Egypt’s Infinity. According to Masdar, the 6MWp plant will be able to generate up to 11,723MWh of energy per year – enough to power more than 5,000 homes, while cutting CO2 emissions by over 4,000t. It will continue to operate after the conference, providing clean energy to the city for years to come, Masdar explained.
“Masdar is fast developing as the partner of choice for many of Egypt’s most important clean energy projects, and I am proud that we are able to deliver clean energy to support COP27 through our Infinity Power platform. The United Arab Emirates and Egypt share a common commitment to expanding the supply of renewable energy and supporting sustainable economic growth,” said Dr. Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change and Chairman of Masdar.
In June 2022, ACWA Power signed a $1.15bn deal to develop one of the largest windfarms in the world in Egypt and, in August 2022, South Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power said it had won a $2.2bn contract from Russia’s Rosatom to build a nuclear plant in Egypt.
Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar continued, “COP27 represents a vital opportunity to turn positive words into impactful actions, so it is important that we do what we can to reduce its carbon footprint and showcase sustainable solutions to the world. This solar power plant will help deliver clean energy to the conference, and will also provide a legacy of sustainability for the people of Sharm El-Sheikh in future years.”
Infinity Power is a Principal Partner for COP27 and aims to develop renewable energy power projects, including solar and wind technologies on utility- and industrial-scales in Egypt and Africa. With current projects located across Egypt, South Africa, Senegal and Ghana, Infinity Power aims to eventually expand its operations across all 54 African countries, enabling electricity across all locations in Africa that are in most need of power, Masdar noted.
Mohamed Ismail Mansour, Chairman, Infinity Power stated, “We are delighted to be able to support COP27 in Egypt, by delivering clean, renewable energy-based solutions to power the event. We will continue providing sustainable energy solutions to Sharm El-Sheikh for years to come through our solar plant, providing clean power to a city with an important role in Egyptian diplomacy and international relations.”
In early November 2022, JLL published a whitepaper that outlined ways to decarbonise Egypt’s built environment.
Nayer Fouad, CEO, Infinity Power remarked, “The solar power plant will not only contribute towards powering COP27 but will also provide sustainable energy, making an invaluable contribution towards Sharm El-Sheikh’s growing infrastructure. We look forward to delivering similar solutions to other cities in Egypt and across Africa, as we move forward in our journey to provide sustainable energy solutions to the entire continent.”
Masdar said that it is targeting a portfolio capacity of 100GW by 2030, with ambitions to double that in following years. In December 2021, the UAE government announced Abu Dhabi energy majors TAQA, ADNOC, and Mubadala will join forces as shareholders in Masdar, creating a global clean energy powerhouse that will be a major force in renewables and green hydrogen.
Also in November 2022, Red Sea Wind Energy broke ground on a new 500MW wind farm in Egypt.