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The UAE and Egypt have agreed to construct one of the world's largest wind farms in Egypt. UAE President Sheikh Mohamed and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sisi witnessed the signing of an agreement to develop a 10-gigawatt onshore wind project between Masdar, Egypt's Infinity Power, and Hassan Allam Utilities. Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, Special Envoy for Climate Change, and Chairman of Masdar signed the memorandum of understanding in Sharm El Sheikh. According to Sheikh Mohamed, the agreement is "consistent with our commitment to advance renewable energy solutions that support sustainable development." According to Dr. Al Jaber, the project's size — "one of the largest wind farms in the world" — is a "testament to the renewable energy ambitions of the United Arab Emirates and the Republic of Egypt, and demonstrates Masdar's status as a global leader in clean energy." The 10-gigawatt wind farm will generate 47,790 gigawatt hours of clean electricity per year and offset 23.8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions — around 9% of Egypt's current carbon dioxide output. The project will be part of Egypt's Green Corridor plan — a grid dedicated to renewable energy projects — and will help Cairo meet its target of having renewable energy account for 42% of the country's energy mix by 2035. According to state agency new WAM, the wind farm will save Egypt an estimated $5 billion in annual natural gas costs and help create as many as 100,000 jobs. The construction is expected to employ around 30,000, with about 70,000 people employed indirectly directly. Following construction, around 3,200 jobs will be added for operation and maintenance. Masdar and Hassan Allam Utilities inked two agreements in April with Egyptian state-backed organizations to collaborate on developing 4-gigawatt green hydrogen production plants in the Suez Canal Economic Zone and on the Mediterranean coast. BKM/ Expat Media
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